It is safe to say that new developments are rarely accused of having too much personality. But step inside this five-bedroom duplex in Chelsea Powerhouse, one of London’s most storied former power stations, and you may beg to differ. Designed by Angel O’Donnell, an international studio based in the UK capital and set to have a second office in Abu Dhabi in early 2026, the apartment is unapologetically rich in colour and texture, proving that developer-led projects can be every bit as layered as a private home. No uninspiring neutrals and boxy layouts here.
The apartment is sprawled across the seventh and eighth floors of the landmark riverside building and enjoys panoramic views up and down the Thames taking in Chelsea Bridge, Albert Bridge and the distant outline of the Shard. Rather than allowing the scale of the space to dominate, the studio which has also worked on homes in other iconic London buildings such as Centrepoint and The Owo has used inviting hues to bring in warmth. “We always approach our projects as if we are working with a real private client,” explains Ed O’Donnell, co-founder and creative director. “I really do think that we pioneered that change in developments and we can now see others taking a similar approach.”
The upper level is home to an expansive open-plan living, kitchen and dining area defined by a vaulted ceiling and a large bullseye window. Although the building itself is industrial in origin, O’Donnell resisted the urge to lean too heavily into that look. Instead he introduced blush-toned slip bricks high in the ceiling. “We thought adding the slip bricks would give it a bit more texture and it was a really nice element that nods both to the building’s industrial roots and its exterior,” he says. Curves make a recurring appearance. A sculptural green sofa is echoed by the rounded coffee table and softly pleated curtains. “We always wanted to reflect the view through the shapes,” says O’Donnell.
The palette is confident but controlled, greens, soft pinks and earthy tones which are layered to feel enveloping rather than dominating the space. The living area is anchored by a bespoke rug, Canvas, from an Angel O’Donnell collaboration with Riviere Rugs. With limited wall space for art, bespoke joinery allows a display of books and objets. In front of the large window is a seating area featuring Italian crafted Canaletto walnut armchairs upholstered in vibrant Pierre Frey fabric.
The dining area sits beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Chelsea Powerhouse, where pendant lights by Belgian design duo Muller Van Severen hang over a custom sculptural table. The ceiling also features a commissioned mobile by UK-based Catherine Hicks which brings in movement at height. “As there wasn't a lot of wall space for artwork – we had one behind the sofa – we decided to go for art on the ceiling,” says O’Donnell.
The kitchen continues the theme of confident colour. A convex blue circular mirror – in dialogue with large historical window opposite – also acts as a piece of artwork. “The kitchen was already in place but we decided to add a pop of colour with the stools,” O’Donnell adds. The space opens up to the terrace, with Tom Dixon’s ribbed chairs and Patricia Urquiola’s stone and metal-mesh table. Downstairs leads directly to a pink snug, a cocooning TV room with a bespoke ceiling mural. “It doesn’t have natural light so we felt we had to lean into that. We could have left it white, but that would have been boring. So we did this beautiful blush tone and carried it onto the sofa,” says O’Donnell.
The principal bedroom takes a quieter approach. Wallpaper from Élitis featuring arch motifs subtly references the building’s architecture while a bespoke headboard upholstered in woven jacquard, Eden by Métaphores adds tactility. “It is quite a neutral bedroom,” notes O’Donnell. “However it has so much texture and pattern that it wouldn’t read that way.” The room also showcases the studio’s ingenious problem-solving skills – a half-height window was visually extended using a reactive light box that mimics daylight, tricking the eye into seeing it as a full-length opening. “Restrictions didn’t allow for a larger window so it was about the team pulling their design minds together and thinking of a solution. We had never done it before but it works really well,” says O’Donnell.
Rather than filling all five rooms with beds, the studio rethought how residents live today. One bedroom was turned into a music room, complete with vinyl storage, acoustic panels and a piano while another is a combined study and yoga studio. “We felt those rooms could work harder,” says O’Donnell. “We painted the yoga studio green because it leads out onto the terrace so it connects to the outdoors.” The remaining bedrooms each have distinct identities, from a playful space with mismatched bedside tables to another designed to feel like a boutique hotel room.
Despite its unconventional layout – living space upstairs and sleeping areas downstairs – the apartment feels cohesive. Repeated curves, colours and textures create subconscious links between rooms. “The aim was to make the most out of the spaces so you would want to be downstairs as much as you want to be upstairs. We wanted it to be cosy and give a sense of joy,” Completed in just six months, it invites its future owner to move into a home with a vibrant character to build upon. As O’Donnell puts it. “I think people are bored with developments that have no personality and this project shows you can have pattern and colour and still have broad appeal.”
