The transformation of London’s historic Whiteley building reaches new heights with Maoliosa Murray‘s latest creation: a spectacular duplex apartment priced at £8.95 million. The Irish interior designer has crafted something extraordinary within this Grade II listed landmark on Queensway, where William Whiteley’s pioneering department store once stood.
From Department Store To Design Canvas
Foster + Partners’ architectural reimagining of The Whiteley has created one of London’s most compelling residential destinations. Murray‘s duplex spans 2,756 square feet across two levels, with soaring six-metre ceilings and dramatic lead-arch windows that define the space.
The designer’s personal connection runs deep. “I have fond memories of visiting The Whiteley as a department store, so designing a home here feels like a full-circle moment,” Murray explains. “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.”
Two decades of international experience inform every decision. Murray‘s childhood memories of her mother’s ceramics gallery in Kensington permeate the apartment’s conception, creating what she describes as a celebration of craft, materiality and artistic expression.
A Sophisticated Material Dialogue
The two-bedroom residence speaks in a refined vocabulary of onyx, tobacco and porcelain white. Bronze and silk accents introduce warmth, while chocolate and coffee tones create deliberate contrast against lighter elements. This isn’t decoration, it’s curation.
Art weaves through the interiors as a unifying thread. Working with Cadogan Gallery, Murray has assembled pieces by Richard Zinon, Leonardo Anker Vandal and contemporary Irish artist Felim Egan. The collection’s centrepiece: a monumental canvas by Jans Cools, commissioned exclusively for the apartment and positioned dramatically above the staircase.
Irish Craftsmanship Meets International Vision
The apartment’s open-plan living, dining and kitchen space anchors the residence. Two dramatic Ozone Lighting Opera chandeliers with mirrored nickel stems provide both illumination and sculpture. But the real stars are the bespoke pieces by Irish master craftsman Cillian Johnston, all designed by Murray herself.
The most impressive: a large-scale library installation handcrafted from black birds-eye maple. Hidden storage drawers and a porcelain-toned white grooved veneer panel disguise its technological secrets. A panel glides across the shelves to reveal a concealed television, demonstrating Murray‘s skill in making technology disappear.
Additional Johnston pieces include a sophisticated walnut side cabinet with hidden bar functionality and lacquered consoles that balance beauty with practicality. These Irish elements sit alongside Parisian-inspired counter stools by Pierre Frey, creating what Murray calls “a richly layered dialogue” between design traditions.
Custom interpretations of furniture by The Invisible Collection complete the international conversation. Each piece earns its place through craftsmanship rather than origin, though the Irish elements provide the apartment’s emotional core.
Private Quarters As Sanctuary
A sweeping staircase, finished with a custom silk and wool ombré runner by The Rug Company, leads to the mezzanine primary suite. Murray has collaborated with the textile house for over fifteen years, and their expertise shows in every thread.
The master bedroom offers a generous walk-in dressing room and bathroom conceived as private retreat. Every carpet is individually selected and custom-made, each piece hand-knotted from Tibetan wool and silk. Beds by luxury manufacturer Savoir pair with bespoke headboards upholstered in Dedar fabrics. These same premium textiles adorn walls and curtains throughout, creating material cohesion without repetition.
On the lower level, a corner guest suite sits beneath arched windows opening onto a Juliette balcony overlooking Queensway. Natural light bathes this secondary bedroom, which includes its own walk-in dressing room and ensuite bathroom. Layers of soft wool and deep velvet provide textural depth while custom furnishings maintain the apartment’s commitment to enduring elegance.
World-Class Amenities Define The Experience
The residence provides direct access to 60,000 square feet of amenities. A 20-metre swimming pool, state-of-the-art gymnasium, padel court, children’s playrooms, library, and world-leading Six Senses spa create one of London’s most comprehensive luxury residential offerings.
Nineteen retail tenants are planned for the development. Third Space, Everyman Cinema, live-fire restaurant Nela, 3812 Gallery, Guillam Coffee House, Adventures in Furniture and Duck & Dry have already opened. This March marks a significant milestone with the UK’s first Six Senses hotel opening, cementing The Whiteley’s return as a vibrant community destination.
The owner will enjoy direct access to Queensway’s £3 billion revival, the largest investment the area has ever experienced. This unprecedented regeneration positions The Whiteley at the centre of one of London’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.
A Legacy Investment Opportunity
Alex Michelin, Founder and CEO of development manager Valouran, reflects on the collaboration: “It has been a pleasure collaborating with Maoliosa Murray on this exceptional duplex residence. Her personal connection to the neighbourhood shines through in every detail, building on the remarkable success 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. As an exciting year for The Whiteley begins – with the opening of Six Senses London and the arrival of further commercial tenants – this residence represents an incredible opportunity for prospective purchasers to become part of an enduring legacy.”
With 76% of residences at The Whiteley now sold, this designer apartment presents one of the few remaining opportunities in this prestigious development. The £8.95 million price point reflects both the exceptional quality of Murray‘s design and the apartment’s position within one of London’s most significant residential developments.
Murray‘s philosophy extends beyond conventional luxury to embrace texture, simplicity, and emotional resonance over ostentation. Combined with the residence’s location, world-class amenities, and connection to The Whiteley’s rich history, this apartment offers more than a home. Like prestigious hotel collaborations, it’s a gateway to an established community and cultural legacy.
The completion of this residence marks another chapter in The Whiteley’s evolution from Victorian retail pioneer to contemporary luxury destination. Thoughtful design can honour historical legacy while embracing modern living possibilities. Murray has proved both are possible in the same space.
*Images: Julian Abrams
