Nilufar teams up with Shalini Misra on Squat London

Set of mid-century modern furniture in brown velvet. It consists of two chairs, two armchairs, and a curved sofa. It's set in a lifestyle setting, surrounded by other pieces of furniture. — (Image credit: TBC)

Celebrated Milan gallery Nilufar comes to London for the first time this week, taking up residence in a £10 million apartment in Mayfair.

The 2,355 sq m space on South Audley Street, which goes on sale imminently, was curated by Nilufar’s founder Nina Yashar and renovated by London-based interior architect Shalini Misra.

The two women have known each other for years, so a collaboration in London made perfect sense. Misra has been creating high-end homes around the world for 18 years and is well versed in the requisites of the super rich. Acres of Armani marble, seamless technology and shiny tactile finishes make up the three bedroomed space. Nilufar staples – Italian midcentury classics, limited edition pieces from young designers and hand-knotted rugs, all of which can be purchased separately – make up the rest. Cabinetry is largely handmade in the UK, marbles and veneers come from Italy and artworks (among them a £1.5m Warhol) are supplied by Italian galleries Giò Marconi and Robilant + Voena.

‘I have always been keen on creating new and unexpected associations between furniture and space,’ says Yashar, who formed her furniture-in-situ concept, entitled Squat, in 2012. London is its fifth edition, after Milan, Paris and Beirut.

Misra also runs real estate company Genessia with her old Delhi friend Ekta Varma. Together, the pair purchased the apartment, that had been in a state of neglect for 30 years. It’s one of many they have renovated for potential overseas buyers. Judging by the string of well-heeled visitors swishing down its marble hallway, it won’t be theirs for long.

An asymmetrical dining table, made out of multiple pieces brought together, in gold metal. One piece is made of wood. It's set in a lifestyle setting, surrounded by other pieces of furniture. — ‘I have always been keen on creating new and unexpected associations between furniture and space,’ says Yashar of her work

Two armchairs in grey velvet are set on the black &amp; white marble floor. Through two openings we see a view of the living room. The space is very bright and airy. — Misra has been creating high-end homes around the world for 18 years and is well versed in the requisites of the super rich

The photo on the left shows two armchairs in grey velvet set on the black &amp; white marble floor. The photo to the right shows two white armchairs, with wooden armrests on a green carpet, in front of the entertainment centre. — Inspired by the apartment’s historic features, the interiors will challenge the boundaries between art, design and architecture

The photo on the left shows a bathroom sink area. Black cabinets with gold detail, on which sits a white marble countertop with a white sink and two green lamps. Above is a huge oval mirror. The photo to the right shows a detail of the bathtub in grey marble and black and grey tiles above the bathtub. — Squat will be presenting work by those showcased at Yashar’s Nilufar gallery; from design masters such as Gio Ponti and Ico Parisi to contemporary designers and young talents such as Patricia Urquiola, Martino Gamper and Bethan Laura Wood

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Nilufar website, or Shalini Misra’s website

Emma O'Kelly is a freelance journalist and author based in London. Her books include Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat and she is currently working on a UK guide to wild saunas, due to be published in 2025.