The team behind one of London’s most ambitious luxury property developments, The Whiteley in Bayswater, has drawn back the curtain on its latest show flat: Irish design guru Maoliosa Murray has worked up an “expansive” two-bedroom duplex into an elegant space that showcases artisan crafts with a luxurious take on heritage.

On the market for £8.95mn, Murray’s project spans 2,756 sq ft, featuring six-metre ceiling heights and dramatic lead-arch windows, flooding the home with natural light.

The space builds on Murray’s “deeply personal” connection with the location (her mother used to run a ceramics gallery in Kensington, and she visited Whiteley’s department store as a child), while combining Art Deco and Mid-Century design themes with Irish and international craftsmanship. Described by the team as an “homage to the elegant galleries and furniture stores that shaped [Murray’s] early years,” the space flexes a “sophisticated” colour palette and an array of tactile materials.

An open-plan main living area is carved into kitchen, dining and seating zones, under two dramatic Opera chandeliers by Ozone Lighting. Several large pieces of furniture – including a clever maple-wood library installation with hidden TV, and a walnut side cabinet with hidden bar – were designed by Murray and custom-made by Irish master craftsman Cillian Johnston. Other pieces come from The Invisible Collection.

Artworks (sourced in collaboration with Cadogan Gallery) include pieces by Richard Zinon, Leonardo Anker Vandal and Irish abstract painter Felim Egan. There is also a “monumental” canvas by Jans Cools above the staircase, commissioned specifically for this place.

A staircase – finished with a custom silk and wool ombré runner by The Rug Company – leads up to a mezzanine level housing the principal bedroom suite. Murray describes this space as “a sanctuary of understated luxury.”

The guest suite – also with dressing room and ensuite bathroom – is back on the lower level, and opens onto a Juliette balcony overlooking Queensway.

The Whiteley was originally built as London’s first department store, over a century ago, by its namesake William Whiteley. It has recently undergone a dramatic super-prime reinvention at the hands of development manager Valouran, architects Foster + Partners, and joint investment partners C C Land and MARK. The £1.5bn scheme – which also features UK’s first Six Senses hotel (opening next month) – officially launched in March 2025. 76% of apartments have been sold so far.

A host of top-flight interior designers have been brought in to dress various residences for sale, in a rather smart strategy that highlights the unique-ness of the building while turning each apartment into a marketing suite. Alongside Maoliosa Murray (who runs an eponymous studio between Dublin and London), The Whiteley’s Designer Collection includes projects by Maxalto (part of Italian furniture brand B&B Italia), American luxury interiors behemoth RH, former Soho House director Linda Boronkay, and by London and Hong Kong-based Joyce Wang Studio.

Valouran says Murray’s work “simultaneously honours the building’s heritage while embracing contemporary living.”

Alex Michelin, Founder and CEO of Valouran: “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.”

Maoliosa Murray: “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.”

Gallery: Maoliosa Murray-designed apartment, The Whiteley, London W2 (£8.95mn)