Sophie Ashby and Charlie Casely-Hayford's flat in west London’s former-BBC building

The hallowed halls of west London’s Television Centre look a little different to the days when they housed the BBC. The Grade-II listed Helios building still curves around a central courtyard, where a gilded statue of the Greek sun god that is its new name's sake is centre stage. But step inside and it has had a serious makeover, led by award-winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. Interior designer Sophie Ashby saw the potential when she bought a one-bedroom flat in the building that she now shares with her husband, fashion designer Charlie Casely-Hayford.

'I never thought we would live in a modern building, but this is Grade-II listed and has character and interest,' says Sophie of the space. 'It was a very small white cube when we first bought it, but I’m often hired to inject soul into a new-build so it was a project I felt familiar with.'

The flat retains its mid-century character with ceiling rafters exposed, and original Crittall windows that flood the small flat with light. 'It’s relaxing looking out into the courtyard. You can’t see the ground or the sky - like you’re in some weird, futuristic sci-fi film,' says Charlie.

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The couple were more than prepared to decorate, having 'over-accumulated artwork and objects over years.' Enough in fact to also stock the couple's new Casely-Hayford store on Chiltern Street, with a carefully curated selection of vintage furniture, alongside the clothing and tailored suits for which the family business is famed.

In the flat's sitting room, a gallery wall of pictures hangs adjacent to a bespoke bookcase. Instantly eye-catching in the centre of the wall is a framed print by Nigerian photographer Lakin Ogunbanwo, hung on a roller to conceal the television. 'I love this artist’s work,' says Charlie, 'Sophie introduced me to it. We bought the piece in Cape Town. It sets the tone for the room.'

'I’ve become obsessed with matching that yellow,' says Sophie, who has used it as a jumping-off point for the colour scheme of the flat, most noticeably in the bedroom, with its walls in Farrow & Ball's 'Babouche'.

Brass sculptures by Charlie are on display amongst the couple's book collection, and it's not the only art by him in evidence. On the wall is a self-portrait he produced at school aged fifteen, Sophie’s favourite piece in their collection - 'the colours are so sensitive and thoughtful.' Little surprise, since Charlie grew up surrounded by creativity. 'His parents are the most chic, cultured, interesting people you’ve ever met,' says Sophie, of Charlie’s mother Maria Stevens and his late father, the fashion designer Joe Casely-Hayford, who founded his eponymous brand in the mid-1980s, establishing a reputation as one of the UK's most respected fashion designers.

Due to the flat's diminutive proportions the majority of its furniture was custom-made. 'When we decorated the place, it was important that everything doubled up as storage.' There’s a bench that can easily be tucked under the dining room table instead of chairs, Charlie’s daughter Rainbow’s "playbox" doubles up as a coffee table, and a trolley on wheels with a tiled worktop takes the place of a kitchen island.

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Custom-made pieces blend effortlessly with the couples’ antiques; brown furniture, mid-century Italian kitchen chairs, an art deco drinks cabinet from The Old Cinema in Chiswick, filled with beautiful vintage glassware that was given to the couple as a wedding present (Sophie and Charlie were married in the Algarve, where Sophie’s parents live, last summer.)

'What they’ve done here as a development provides a really amazing lifestyle,' says Charlie. 'Particularly with Soho House downstairs. It has all the convenience of a new-build, but with soul and history. But our life dream is to move to Italy, find some little crumbling place, and paint all day. When we reach that point, we know we’ve made it.'

Studio Ashby: 020-3176 2571; studioashby.com