Interior designer Neil McLachlan bought a former photography studio in Bloomsbury for £500,000 in 2018 and transformed it into an 'urban oasis'. The property, now on the market for £750,000, features high ceilings, bespoke joinery, and a garden-room aesthetic.
A 'blank canvas' in the heart of Bloomsbury
After 20 years in New Zealand, McLachlan, who starred in the country's version of Changing Rooms, found the property on Rightmove. He described it as a 'blank canvas' and 'a steal' at the price, given its location in Russell Court, a 1930s building designed by George Val Mye, the architect behind the BBC building.
The flat spans 63 square metres and has no immediate neighbours – nobody above, below, or to the sides – which McLachlan noted is unusual for London. He paid £500,000 for the shell and spent more than £150,000 on renovations, with builders working for a year.
From shell to showpiece
McLachlan built a wall to create a master bedroom, added teak French doors from a chateau, installed a fireplace, and turned a sloping wall into extensive storage. The kitchen features Carrara marble bench tops and Portuguese floor tiles, while floor-to-ceiling mirrors bring in southern light.
His design inspiration was to make the flat feel like an outdoor garden room, an 'orangery'. All walls are covered in wallpaper called Orangery from the company Mind the Gap.
Living costs and the UK buying system
McLachlan has no mortgage, having bought the property as a cash buyer. Electricity bills run around £100 per month, and water is included in the service charge, which has been £480 per month but included three years of unusually high levies for a full building renovation.
He criticised the UK home-buying process, noting that gazumping still occurs and contracts can be broken at the last minute. He suggested the rest of the UK should adopt the Scottish system, which he described as 'much more cut and dried'.
Why he's selling
McLachlan decided to sell after meeting a new partner and moving to West Gloucestershire, where he has renovated a Georgian house. The London flat is listed at £750,000 with Unique Property. He said he hopes someone who 'really loves it and appreciates it' will buy it.
