See how an Irish designer reimagined a London department store for luxury apartment living
The Whiteley, London, now a residential and hospitality hub. Right, interior design at the duplex residence, designed by Maolíosa Murray.
Irish interior concierge Maolíosa Murray lives in a Victorian redbrick in Dublin’s Rathgar, and her office is a Georgian townhouse. So you'd only expect the past to be a firm foundation block of this high-end designer's contemporary aesthetic, as soon as she steps up to her drawing board in her elegant workspace, The Apartment, on Pembroke Road.
Long regarded as a go-to for the jet set, Maolíosa’s childhood and adult life have revolved around Dublin and London. Her mother, ceramicist Anne Murray, moved to London and set up a gallery in Kensington, so Maolíosa spent her early childhood there, returning to Dublin to complete her school years in Rathgar. After working in London for many years, Maolíosa returned to Dublin, moving into her Rathgar residence with her son Max in 2022.
London’s first department store, The Whiteley, is among the many buildings Maolíosa adored visiting as a little girl.
Founded over a century ago by William Whiteley, it has now been reimagined as a landmark residential and hospitality destination — and in what she calls her “full-circle” experience, Maolíosa returned to create its wow-factor duplex residence.
The latter, launched this year, marks the latest addition to the project’s The Designer Collection, with elegant interiors hidden behind The Whiteley’s Grade II-listed Queensway façade.
The expansive two-bedroom home spans 2,756 sq ft, exemplifying Maolíosa’s signature approach to layered interiors, whilst drawing inspiration from art deco and mid-century design.
With an international reputation for creating sophisticated interiors for some of the world’s most prestigious addresses, the Dublin designer channels two decades of experience at The Whiteley, crafting a home that thoughtfully reflects both the building’s historic architectural legacy — reimagined by architect Foster + Partners— and her own unwavering dedication to exceptional craftsmanship.
Once a global emporium celebrated for sourcing the rarest treasures from around the world, The Whiteley continues to embody ambition and creativity in its new chapter.
In keeping with this spirit, Maolíosa curated an interior palette striking a balance between bespoke furniture and artisanal detail that simultaneously honours the building’s heritage while embracing contemporary living.
Set across two dramatic levels, the apartment is defined by soaring six-metre ceilings and dramatic lead-arch windows, flooding the space with natural light.
Fundamental to Maolíosa’s design lies a deeply personal narrative that lends the apartment its distinctive character, she believes.
Drawing on memories of her childhood, she says, “The apartment is conceived as a celebration of craft, materiality and artistic expression.
“I have fond memories of visiting The Whiteley as a department store, so designing a home here feels like a full-circle moment. For me, true luxury is subtle and experiential — it lies in texture, simplicity, and the way a space makes you feel.
“By combining the finest materials, carefully curated art, and seamlessly integrated, hidden technology, the apartment is designed to engage the senses from the very moment you step inside.”
The designer was also keen to weave her Irish heritage throughout the apartment in a collection of furniture that unites Irish and international makers. “Cohesion is brought to these interior pieces through a sophisticated palette of onyx, tobacco and porcelain white, enriched with accents of bronze and silk that introduce warmth and softness,” she says. “Rich chocolate and coffee tones are also deliberately juxtaposed with lighter hues to create a refined contrast that feels both grounded and luminous.”
The overarching vision creates a modern living space where craftsmanship and art take centre stage. It is, she adds, “a homage to the elegant galleries and furniture stores” that shaped her early years.
Art weaves through the interiors as a unifying thread, connecting unique furnishings in a continuous dialogue of creativity.
In collaboration with Cadogan Gallery, Maolíosa curated pieces by Richard Zinon, Leonardo Anker Vandal and contemporary Irish artist Felim Egan, alongside a monumental canvas, which hangs over the staircase, by Jans Cools, commissioned exclusively for the apartment.
“Designed for both everyday living and effortless entertaining, the apartment ultimately reflects my lifelong connection to craftsmanship and creative expression,” according to Maolíosa.
At the heart of the home sits an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space, each zone flowing seamlessly between one another and anchored by two Ozone Lighting iconic Opera chandeliers with mirrored nickel stems.
Framing the living area, several bespoke pieces by Irish master craftsman Cillian Johnston, designed by Maolíosa herself, form striking focal points.
Handcrafted from black birds-eye maple, a large-scale library installation with discreet storage drawers and a porcelain-toned white grooved veneer panel — designed to resemble a work of art — glides across the shelves to reveal a hidden television.
Additional pieces, designed by Maolíosa and crafted by Johnston, include a walnut side cabinet with a hidden bar, as well as lacquered consoles and desks.
These works are complemented by Parisian-inspired counter stools by Pierre Frey, subtly referencing the apartment’s art deco influences. Together, the Irish and international designs sit alongside custom interpretations of iconic furniture by The Invisible Collection, creating a richly layered dialogue.
Echoing The Whiteley’s commitment to detail, every element of the Maolíosa Murray-designed apartment’s two bedrooms has been carefully considered.
A sweeping staircase, finished with a custom silk and wool ombré runner by The Rug Company — with whom the designer has collaborated for over 15 years — leads to the mezzanine primary suite, complete with a generous walk-in dressing room, and bathroom conceived as a sanctuary of understated luxury.
Every carpet, individually selected, celebrates this same artistry, with each piece custom-made and hand-knotted from Tibetan wool and silk.
On the lower level, a generously sized guest suite occupies a serene corner of the apartment beneath arched windows that open onto an elegant Juliette balcony overlooking Queensway.
Complete with a sumptuous walk-in dressing room and an ensuite bathroom, the room offers a quiet retreat bathed in natural light. Layers of soft wool and deep velvet extend throughout, lending softness and depth, while custom furnishings reinforce a sense of enduring elegance.
Both bedrooms feature beds by Savoir, paired with bespoke headboards upholstered in Dedar fabrics, which also adorn walls and curtains throughout the apartment.
With 76% of residences at The Whiteley now sold, this latest designer apartment presents a unique opportunity to live in one of the few remaining homes in this prestigious development, delivered by development manager Valouran and joint investment partners C C Land and MARK.
The owner of the Maolíosa Murray-designed home will enjoy direct access to Queensway’s £3 billion revival, the largest investment the area has ever seen, as well as access to 60,000 sq ft of world-class amenities.
These include a 20-metre swimming pool, a state-of-the-art gym, a padel court, children's playrooms, a library, and a world-leading Six Senses spa.
Reflecting The Whiteley’s history as a pioneering department store at the heart of the community, a total of 19 retail tenants are planned for the site.
The building has already welcomed Third Space, Everyman Cinema, live-fire restaurant Nela, 3812 Gallery, Guillam Coffee House, Adventures in Furniture and Duck & Dry — and this month celebrates the opening of the UK’s first Six Senses hotel — marking the return of The Whiteley as a vibrant destination that celebrates local life.
This apartment is currently on the market for £8,950,000 (€10,343,470) and “represents an incredible opportunity for prospective purchasers to become part of an enduring legacy”, according to Alex Michelin, founder and CEO of Valouran, who adds: “It has been a pleasure collaborating with Maolíosa Murray on this exceptional duplex residence.
"Her personal connection to the neighbourhood shines through in every detail, building on the remarkable success of The Designer Collection to date. The result is a home that thoughtfully captures the heritage of this iconic landmark, reinterpreted through a lens of beautiful craftsmanship, elegance and liveability.”
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