Inside Lyons Dock

“This was a really lovely project to work on,” says Alice Tagg, part of the design team for Lyons Dock. “Bringing to life that combination of Greenford and London, being on the line between the city and the countryside of Horsenden Hill, and how we could bring those two together. It was natural to research the area, and we discovered this history of beautiful old stately homes, most of which have gone now.”  

When you set foot in the utterly contemporary entrance of Lyons Dock, the latest building to open in Greenford Quay’s canalside development and the height of quay living, ‘traditional’ is not the first word that springs to mind. Airy, perhaps. Luxe. Deeply stylish. 

Yet the interiors, from the engineered-wood floors to the soaring ceilings, are a very modern take on the principles that made country-house living so warm, convivial and appealing. That’s because the design team took direct inspiration from their research into the now lost stately homes that once peppered Greenford, a style that also happens to complement the signature fin-de-siècle notes of J. Lyon’s & Co, the iconic tea factory that gave Lyons Dock its name. The result is something akin to a modern manor house.

“The thing that stately home idea really brought us was this sense of a series of connected rooms, with their own identities, rather than, say, a corridor with rooms off them, or a big open-plan space,” says Alice. “So it feels more like a big house with public and private rooms than a block of separate apartments.”

What does that mean in practice? Let’s take a tour of some of the Lyons Dock rooms, with Alice to guide us. 

A grand entrance

Materials Board courtesy Universal Design Studio

“We’ve reimagined the chandelier of a great hall into something altogether more modern, and encaustic tiles in the feature floor complement the polished concrete, engineered wood panelling and classic brass detailing.”
 

The Garden Lounge

Materials Board courtesy Universal Design Studio

“Complementing the Entrance palette with warm greens, the Garden Lounge brings in touches of classic raffia and velvet – it almost feels like a pared-back take on an old Orangery, with super-comfortable seats and tables. The Lounge is similarly sociable, but in a more refined colourway.”

The Friends Kitchen

Materials Board courtesy Universal Design Studio

“We came back to that old idea of the kitchen being the heart of the home, so we’ve really channelled those beautiful old kitchens in country homes, with a big oak table to socialise at. Stylish blue-grey panelling looks beautiful with classic pendant lights and detailing.” 
 

The Club Lounge

Materials Board courtesy Universal Design Studio

“This seventh-floor Residents’ Lounge is a more relaxed affair, with squashy sofas and warm soft furnishings, including a woven rug over the oak parquet floor. It’s the private side of a stately home we never see: still luxe, but so comfortable too.”

The Games Room

Materials Board courtesy Universal Design Studio

“No modern manor is complete without a games room, but here we not only have a traditional-style pool table, but we’ve brought in table football and a screen too. The tiled floor and sage green walls have a heritage feel, but those floor-to-ceiling windows tell a different story.”

Residential design

Materials Board courtesy Universal Design Studio

“In the apartments, we went for a more pared-back, neutral approach, so our residents can make their apartments their own, with natural, airy palettes and lots of warm textures and materials.” 

Want to explore these beautiful interiors for yourself? Simply book a viewing at Lyons Dock – you might just find the home you’ve been looking for.