Inside a £5.5 Million Belgravia Penthouse with a 1-Ton Marble Tub
Overview
From the outside, this Belgravia townhouse appears to belong to one of London’s most recognisable architectural streets. Inside, however, a very different story unfolds. Developed as part of a wider programme of restorations on Eaton Place, this three-bedroom duplex has been transformed from a dark, dated apartment into a highly detailed penthouse, complete with a private lift, open-plan living spaces, bespoke interiors and a series of engineered upgrades. “The development process is all about adding value” says Mads Dal, describing a project where heritage architecture and contemporary living had to work together.
Developer
Kapital Estates
Type
Luxury Penthouse
Location
Belgravia, Central London
Services
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Presented by
Mads Dal
A Private Lift in Belgravia
The transformation begins before entering the apartment, with a private lift providing direct access from the entrance into the penthouse. Securing permission for the lift took almost two years, requiring approval from several authorities, including Westminster and Grosvenor. The £150,000 installation added an estimated £1.5 million in value, turning what had previously been a third and fourth-floor walk-up into a private penthouse. The apartment occupies the upper floors of the building, with views south towards Eaton Square and north across central Belgravia.
Opening Up the Living Space
When the apartment was first acquired, its interior was divided into small rooms, with a narrow galley kitchen, low ceilings and little natural light. The refurbishment removed walls and raised the ceiling to create a much more open arrangement, while storage was incorporated throughout. “We wanted to open the whole thing up” explains Mads. Original architectural details were also reinstated, including the ornate cornice, recreated using traditional plasterwork techniques to meet the requirements of the Heritage Committee. Modern heating, cooling and lighting systems were introduced alongside the restored details, bringing the apartment up to contemporary standards without losing its connection to the historic building.
Walnut, Marble and Bespoke Details
American black walnut provides one of the strongest visual threads through the apartment. The highest-grade timber was used for the floors, doors, cabinetry, storage and even the radiator boxes, continuing through the bedrooms and bathrooms. This material palette gives the interiors consistency, while bespoke furniture, lighting and fireplaces add further layers of detail.
The fireplaces were handmade in Spain, while the lighting was developed with Tigermoth as part of a new range adapted specifically for the project. As Mads explains, the aim was to bring together many specialist elements: “You assemble the right team, and you trust them to all deliver on their element.”
A Bespoke Kitchen in Spanish Marble
At the heart of the main living level is a bespoke kitchen centred around hand-selected Spanish marble. The design team travelled to Spain to select the slabs and had them laid out together so the veining could be matched across the installation. The marble continues from the kitchen around the wine fridge, creating a visual connection between the different surfaces. The kitchen itself cost around £80,000, with the wider marble work and associated elements bringing the total to approximately £150,000. Generous drawer space, integrated appliances and extensive storage make the kitchen practical for everyday use, while its position near the lift creates an easy route for bringing shopping into the apartment.
Engineering a Historic Building for Modern Life
Much of the work behind the finished interiors involved solving the technical challenges of working within a historic London property. Structural steels were required to create the open-plan layout, while the team also had to navigate party wall agreements and restrictions associated with the neighbouring properties. The original windows, almost 200 years old, could not simply be replaced, so specialist craftsmen restored them so they could perform more like modern windows. Floors were also completely rebuilt with new joists to create a level, solid foundation for the new marble and timber finishes. Energy efficiency was another priority, with modern heating and cooling systems introduced while working within the limitations of the listed building.
Photo by: Better Home Co.
A Brighter Upstairs Landing
Upstairs, the circulation space was transformed from a small, dark landing into a more generous area filled with natural light. The team pushed the landing back, introduced structural steel, added skylights and installed floor-to-ceiling mirrors to reflect the daylight. The mirrors also create a useful dressing area between the bedrooms. “It’s always about light” says Mads, pointing to one of the fundamental challenges of older London properties, where smaller windows were historically used to retain heat. Modern services have allowed the design team to bring more daylight and fresh air into the upper level while maintaining the character of the building.
Three Private Bedroom Suites
The upper floor contains three en-suite bedrooms; each designed with generous storage and modern services. Bedrooms two and three were reconfigured from the original arrangement, which had shared a larger family bathroom, to create individual suites.
One guest bedroom includes ten separate storage doors, providing space for everything from winter clothing to ski equipment. Lutron lighting, air conditioning and additional insulation were also introduced, with acoustic insulation helping create the quiet conditions expected of a central London home. Black American walnut flooring continues upstairs, paired with the same Spanish marble used elsewhere in the apartment.
A Quiet Master Suite
Positioned at the top of the building and facing south towards Eaton Square, the master suite is designed as a private retreat from the city beyond. Extensive insulation gives the bedroom a notably quiet atmosphere, despite its location in the centre of London, while built-in storage and mirrored surfaces provide a practical dressing area. A small study space sits within the bedroom, adding flexibility to the suite. For Mads, the principle was straightforward: “Master suite always needs to be a bit of a sanctuary.”
The Statement Marble Bath
The master bathroom contains perhaps the most ambitious piece in the entire apartment: a solid marble bath weighing 1.1 tonnes. Cutting the stone into its final shape cost around £25,000, with a further £10,000 to £15,000 spent on the specialist machinery and labour required to crane it into position. After installation, a crack was discovered and the bath had to be removed and replaced with another from Spain. In total, the bath cost close to £100,000 and required additional structural steel beneath the bathroom. Bespoke American walnut cabinetry and vertical marble panels complete the room, with the detailing designed specifically around the dimensions and character of the space.
The Making of a Super-Prime Home
This property demonstrates the complexity behind a super-prime development, from heritage approvals and structural engineering to specialist craftsmanship and bespoke interiors. Mads describes the developer’s role as similar to that of a composer, bringing together architects, designers, engineers, craftsmen and suppliers instead of attempting to direct every discipline personally. “You don’t necessarily have to be an expert at playing each instrument, but you make sure that they all sing in harmony” he says. Historic detailing, modern technology and bespoke craftsmanship come together to create a penthouse that feels distinctly contemporary while remaining connected to the character of Belgravia.
Kapital Estates
74C Eaton Place Belgravia was developed by Kapital Estates. The company specialises in full-service property transformations, from refurbishment and construction through to aftercare, with a portfolio that includes homes across Belgravia, Mayfair, Chelsea and other prime London neighbourhoods. For more information about Kapital Estates and its projects, visit the links below:
Website: https://www.kapitalestates.com/
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/kapital-estates
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