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Chelsea Iceberg House

Chelsea, London

Iceberg House in Chelsea. A bold and eclectic interior shaped by American and English influences. The new 2-storey basement houses a media room, gym and steam room.

Chelsea Iceberg House Chelsea, London

A home where every floor tells a story.

This seven-storey Victorian terrace in Chelsea was transformed by MWAI into a spacious, light-filled family home for an American client. The project involved a full refurbishment and extension, including two subterranean storeys, a rear extension, and a sculptural Corian staircase that visually connects the upper and lower floors through a generous stairwell crowned with a skylight.

The new 2-storey basement houses a media room, gym and steam room, while the upper floors were reconfigured to create expansive living areas accessed via a passenger lift. The front room was reserved for intimate family activities—eating and cooking—designed as a plain box from the outside but opening into a bold, blue-stained timber kitchen with stainless steel surfaces and glass-fronted display storage.

MWAI collaborated with Interior ID to design and detail all joinery, using metal trims and rich veneers to create a clean-lined, minimalist yet playful aesthetic. Woolf Interiors completed the space with soft furnishings and lifestyle objects, enhancing the eclectic character of the home.
This is one of Chelsea’s last ‘iceberg’ houses—an architectural feat that balances heritage with innovation, intimacy with grandeur.
Client: Private Client
Type: Residential Home
Year: 2017
Size: 8,500 sqft
Role: Architect, Lead Designer, Int
Photographer: Alexander James
Contractor: Grangewood
Collaborators: Interior ID, Woolf Interiors, Tintab
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