High above Battersea, on the 15th floor of the newly developed HiLight residences, two apartments unfold less like model homes and more like narrative environments. Designed by Los Angeles–based interior designer Tamara Honey of House of Honey, the spaces—named The Evelyn and The Ethel—reinterpret the traditional show apartment as something far more immersive: an exploration of atmosphere, psychology, and storytelling through design.

Set on the site of the former Prince’s Candle Factory, the residences draw inspiration from two women connected to the cultural history of Battersea—cabaret singer Evelyn Dove and novelist and activist Ethel Mannin. Rather than referencing the figures through period styling, Honey approached the interiors as emotional portraits.

“We weren’t interested in referencing these women aesthetically,” she explains. “We wanted to inhabit their psychology.”

The result is a pair of spaces that resist the safe neutrality often associated with show homes. Instead, each apartment embraces a distinct point of view—one luminous and theatrical, the other moody and intellectual—demonstrating how narrative can shape everything from material choices to spatial rhythm.

The Evelyn: A Space for Fantasy

The one-bedroom residence known as The Evelyn channels the charisma and glamour of Evelyn Dove, a celebrated performer who broke barriers on the BBC airwaves and international stages during the early twentieth century. Honey translates that spirit not through historical recreation, but through a painterly approach to material and light.

Walls dissolve into soft ombré gradients while cashmere drapery casts a golden glow across the bedroom. Sculptural lighting and walnut nightstands hint at smoky cabaret corners, while reflective surfaces quietly amplify the room’s luminosity.

In the living area, a watercolor-washed sofa edged in tassels anchors the space beneath a chandelier that feels both Parisian and slightly rebellious. Carved sculptures, faceted stone lamps, and mirrored reflections create an environment that feels at once glamorous and mysterious.

Honey describes the apartment as intentionally theatrical—but carefully controlled.

“Drama needs discipline to feel intentional,” she says. “We establish internal rules—a palette, a rhythm of shapes, a repetition of curves. Once those parameters exist, you can take bold swings within them.”

The Ethel: A Space for Creating

If The Evelyn glows, The Ethel settles into something deeper. Inspired by writer and political activist Ethel Mannin, the two-bedroom residence is darker in tone, leaning into sculptural forms, layered textures, and moments of unexpected color.

Colored glass elements catch and refract light across matte surfaces, while tonal layering adds depth rather than uniformity. The overall atmosphere feels contemplative—less performance, more introspection.

Perhaps the most striking space within the apartment is a small retreat dubbed the “Room of Her Own,” a surreal writer’s studio designed to encourage imagination and reflection. A molten silver desk and blush velvet chair sit beneath walls adorned with symbolic motifs—hands and eyes that seem to watch quietly over the room.

The environment feels slightly alchemical, balancing softness with intellectual tension.

“Restraint comes from editing, not minimalism,” Honey explains. “When the underlying structure of a room is disciplined, expressive pieces can exist without overwhelming the space.”

Designing for the Senses

While the visual language of the apartments is striking, Honey’s concept extends beyond what can be seen. The homes are conceived as “sensorial galleries,” layered environments that engage multiple senses simultaneously.

Music plays softly in the background—Evelyn Dove’s jazz standards drifting through the first apartment, while the soundtrack in The Ethel becomes more contemplative and brooding. A bespoke fragrance introduces a subtle olfactory dimension, while materials such as velvet upholstery, polished stone, lacquer, and brushed metal respond differently to touch and light.

“When multiple senses are engaged,” Honey notes, “you stop observing a room and start inhabiting it.”

It’s a philosophy that reflects a broader shift in residential design, where emotional wellbeing is increasingly tied to sensory experience rather than purely visual aesthetics.

“Wellness isn’t just about gyms and green juice,” Honey says. “Sound, scent, texture, and light temperature are all part of how a space regulates your nervous system.”

The Power of Point of View

Traditional show apartments are typically designed to appeal to the widest possible audience. Honey intentionally resisted that formula.

“People don’t connect to neutrality,” she says. “They connect to point of view.”

Rather than diluting the narrative to appeal broadly, House of Honey leaned into specificity—collaborating with artisans and design partners to create pieces that emphasize tactility and personality.

The interiors feature work from a number of notable collaborators, including Elitis, Nilufar Gallery, PINCH, and Cox London, alongside bespoke pieces created specifically for the project.

The result is a set of spaces that feel less like marketing tools and more like immersive design statements—environments that invite visitors not only to see a home, but to experience one.

For Honey, that distinction is essential.

“We don’t design rooms,” she says. “We design emotional landscapes.”

Credits:

Photography by Emily Marshall

Follow Tamara Honey | @houseofhoney