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MO RE INSPIR AT I O NA L HOM E S T HA N AN Y OT HER MAGA ZINE

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES COLOUR CRUSH

FRESH LOOKS FOR 2022

Uplifting, achievable schemes

INSPIRED BY A BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Bringing energy to a run-down house

ART & SOUL

A home created for paintings and posters

NEW YEAR DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Plan your dream spaces – extensions, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms

FEBRUARY 2022

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES M ORE IN SPIRATIO NAL HO ME S T HAN AN Y O THE R MA GA ZI NE

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Redesigning two run-down country cottages was a hugely rewarding project (p14)

A four-storey townhouse in Brooklyn has been restored to its former glory (p48)

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The owners decided to re-energise their family home with colour (p22)

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This former worker’s cottage is now filled with pattern, colour and joy (p54)

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This historic home won the country category in our Reader Awards (p28)

The addition of a basement playroom was a game changer for the family (p61)

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A former cowshed has been transformed into a welcoming guest cottage (p34)

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Brilliant storage solutions make this busy house functional and pretty (p66)

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A top-to-toe renovation mixes period and contemporary to perfection (p8)

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Bright and beautiful, this Edwardian terrace has had a modern makeover (p42)

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Rich colours and textures lend luxury to this home in the Netherlands (p72)

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To make the best use of space, this terraced house was extended up and out (p80)

Australian coffee shops inspired the colour palette of this semi (p106)

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This home’s redesigned kitchen-diner manages to be both stylish and family-friendly (p130)

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A feeling of drama and This Victorian terrace is the perfect showcase elegance radiates in for the owner’s vibrant this cool-but-cosy art collection (p90) family home (p86)

An interior designer united large spaces in this house with bold colour schemes (p110)

The owners of a Georgian terrace gave their sitting room a standout look (p134)

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A family-first design Contemporary and doesn’t preclude a classic designs give this stylish finish in this home distinctive Californian home (p115) character (p120)

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Striking slate tiles are the star of the show in this farmhouse’s bathroom (p138)

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Earthy tones reflect this apartment’s scenic surroundings in Amsterdam (p100)

An Edwardian home renovation with a luxe Mediterranean vibe (p96)

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Pale colours and minimal furnishings evoke a zen-like calm in this bedroom (p140)

A stylish new kitchen has been designed with its grand Georgian setting in mind (p126)

Room Envy

The Audo, a hybrid hotel in Copenhagen, is a lesson in how to do Scandi style (p146)

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EDITOR’S LET TER

| 25bh

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Sarah Spiteri Homes Editor Fiona Mace Group Creative Director Emma Williams Group Chief Sub Editor/Production Editor Jennifer Spaeth Content and Product Development Director Michael Holmes Brand Development Director Laura Crombie Homes Content Team Editorial Director Rhoda Parry Group Art Director Alison Walter Deputy Art Director Emma Jackson Art Editors Melanie Brown and Paula Jardine Group Production Editor Maxine Clarke Hub Chief Sub Editor Carly Rigley Senior Sub Editors Marian McNamara and Karen Wiley

MANAGEMENT Senior Vice President, Womens, Homes & Country Sophie Wybrew-Bond Managing Director of Homes Jason Orme Chief Audience & Ecommerce Officer Aaron Asadi Finance Director Mags & Subs Dan Jotcham SVP Global Operations & Marketforce Adrian Hughes

SYNDICATION Sales Executive Efi Mandrides (efi.mandrides@futurenet.com)

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WELCOME Bold colour is big news – just take a peek at our cover – and as we step into the new year, and look forward to the longer days, it’s often the time many of us want to embrace a fresh new look for our homes.

Colour can play a big part. We love the way interior designer Louise Robinson reinvigorated a family home with delightfully bold shades of rose and raspberry – turn to page 42 to see her stunning schemes.

If you want to pep up your house by other means, Luq Adejumo’s Victorian terrace (page 90) illustrates art’s transformative powers.

He wanted his large pictures to take centre stage and has redesigned his house to give him plenty of space to display all of his favourite pieces. If you’re still in need of more colour confidence, see how interior designer Samantha Todhunter (page 34) has used vibrant shades and fabrics to bring a barn conversion to life. It’s joyful.

FIONA MACE, HOMES EDITOR

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Signature ST YLE

Calligrapher Stephanie Gill’s Edwardian semi may be classic but it also has a creative edge that is a reflection of her artistic talents FEATURE EMMA J PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY MARY WADSWORTH

SITTING ROOM Pocket doors create a neat transition to the hallway while allowing extra light into this space. A contemporary artwork and a colour-themed display of books (right) add personality.

Amos console table, £435, Barker and Stonehouse. Original Marilyn screen print, price on request, D*Face . Bouclé & Walnut armchairs, £425 each, Six The Residence. Brass mirror, £345, Loaf. Hereford ribbed glass globe pendant lights, £150 each, Fritz Fryer

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KITCHEN ‘We wanted a sleek, unfussy look that still delivered character,’ says Stephanie.

Bulthaup kitchen, price on application, Kitchen Architecture. Bespoke bar stools, Ambrose Vevers. Thornton glass pendant lights, £135 each, Jim Lawrence

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Edwardian semi L O C AT I O N Southwest London R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, pantry, laundry room, boot room, four bedrooms (one en suite), cloakroom, two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Victorian terrace in Richmond,’ says Stephanie.

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DINING/LIVING AREA Panelling was added to the new extension to reflect the home’s heritage.

Bespoke dining table, Andrzej Pietka Joinery. Wishbone dining chairs, £442 each, Carl Hansen & Søn at Heal’s. Sofa, Willow & Hall; upholstered in Smooth III Cayenne, £47.50m, Romo

LANDING The stairs were painted to bring boldness.

Large seascape by Nicola Wakeling PA N T RY This useful space is cleverly concealed within the kitchen cabinetry.

The wood shelving was sourced from Etsy

SITTING AREA A deep pile rug and a contemporary fireplace make this an ideal relaxation spot in the winter.

Try Theodore armchair, £846, and footstool, £383, Soho Home. Frinky floor lamp in hammered bronze, £110, Pooky. Ikat lampshade by Matthew Williamson

ARTHUR’S ROOM A black metal bed anchors this creative space, where the eaves walls look like the night sky.

Time Living Miami metal bed frame, £139, The Home and Office Stores.

Ogilvy swing arm wall lamp, £69, Made. Stars S103/3017 wallpaper, £95 a roll, Cole & Son

GUEST BEDROOM Brass and velvet enrich the fresh pale blue and pink palette.

Ercol bed, from £999, Barker and Stonehouse. Tongue-and-groove wall panelling in Maid of the Mist CC-728, £71 a gallon, Benjamin Moore. Wall lamp in brass, £116, House Doctor

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MAIN EN SUITE A marble light is the finishing touch.

Vanity unit, price on request, Lusso Stone.

Gabriel marble pendant light, £49, Made GEORGE’S ROOM The mural brings a sense of fun.

Forest wall mural, £207, Photowall.

Cabinetry and desk (far right) in De Nimes estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball G U E S T B AT H R O O M Decorative floor tiles give the scheme a modern edge.

Emily vanity unit, £809, Tikamoon. Palm Springs tiles, £66sq m, Porcelain Superstore

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ld effortlessly meets new at the London home of Stephanie Gill, her husband James and their children Arthur, eight and George, 11. Classic panelling sits easily with the sleek lines of a contemporary rear extension, period features blend with new windows, and eye-catching patterns complement a timeless eau di Nil colour scheme.

It’s the result of a happy partnership between the German-born calligrapher and Finnish interior designer Pia Pelkonen. ‘Our starting point was that everything in the house should serve a purpose rather than exist purely for decoration,’ says Pia.

MAIN BEDROOM Hanging pendants are a dramatic touch.

Panelling in Mount St Anne CC-710, £71 a gallon, Benjamin Moore. Ormond bed, from £949, Made

A MODERN APPROACH

When the couple found the property three years ago, it was well-preserved but largely unmodernised.

They reappraised its layout with the help of AceSpace Design, planning a rear extension built

by ABU Renovations to accommodate flexible, open-plan living, while preserving the proportions of the original front room. Aside from that, the property’s interior was completely reworked. A spare bedroom on the first floor made way for a utility room and en suite, and the loft was reconfigured to accommodate plenty of space for Arthur and George. ‘We reused as many materials as we could though,’ says Stephanie. ‘Original roof tiles were replaced and blended with new; fireplaces were repositioned and damaged cornicing was replicated by specialists.’ It’s a marriage of contemporary and period style that means that each room is ‘in easy conversation with the others’.

M I X A N D M AT C H

A sleek-contoured kitchen is a favourite addition.

‘James likes clean, unfussy lines so we went for a streamlined look,’ says Stephanie. ‘We incorporated a pantry, accessed by a completely invisible pocket door, which has proved so useful.’

Channelling the creative mores of this couple was essential. ‘James has a preference for vintage pieces, while I’m drawn to Scandi style,’ says Stephanie. ‘Pia worked to marry our tastes so that the house projected our characters. As we have children, we needed the schemes to be practical, but a sense of fun was essential, too.’ Storage was incorporated throughout, but always with a flourish. Built-in joinery in the study is finished in a vibrant powder blue, while under-eaves space in George’s room has become a cherished reading nook. ‘We wanted to introduce quirky elements like these that feel unexpected and fun,’ she says.

The result is a home that feels relaxed yet considered. ‘It was all about getting texture, pattern and colour in perfect balance,’ reflects Stephanie.

‘We weren’t interested in a home that felt pompous or grand - we wanted a playful space that we could write our names on.’ And fittingly, that’s exactly what this creative calligrapher has achieved.

‘We renovated during the pandemic, taking out every interior wall in the house and the roof, leaving us with just the exterior walls’

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

Country dream

Full of rustic features and with its own woodland, this cottage was everything the Byrnes were looking for FEATURE ALI HEATH | PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT DARBY

DINING AREA Natural materials and patina-aged pieces perfectly suit this historic 17th-century cottage.

Moreton oak dining table, from £1,825, Neptune, has this look. Try the Hoxton cone wall light, £60, Garden Trading

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SITTING ROOM Painting the ceiling and beams grey enhanced the cosiness.

Bluebell sofa, from £1,115, Sofa.com.

Amelia armchair, £730, Neptune.

Ceiling painted in Palimpsest emulsion, £49 for 2.5ltr, Atelier Ellis.

Cushion covers, from £55, Oka

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FAVO U R ITE FE AT U R E

home truths

‘The indoor-outdoor feel – in spring,

LIVING AREA Two walls of glazing give this new addition to the home an amazing sense of space and light.

Ashcott wood-burning stove, around £1,122, Mendip Stoves.

Natural Kasbar pouffe, £180, French Connection. Skye jute rug, from £140, John Lewis & Partners. Beso armchair, £995, Nkuku

THE PROPERTY 17th-century Cotswold stone cottage, originally two dwellings L O C AT I O N The Cotswolds R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, utility, five bedrooms (three en suite) P U R C H A S E D 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a London townhouse before moving here,’ says Sonya.

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hen Sonya Byrne and her husband Toby decided to relocate from London to the Cotswolds, little did they know how long their property search would take. ‘We were house-hunting for four years and viewed 50 properties in five counties before we found the right one – a pair of Cotswold stone cottages with scope to be knocked together,’ says Sonya. ‘Despite being almost derelict, it was the character, the location and the outdoor space that made it the one for us. We had a vision for how

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we wanted to live and with its outbuildings and private woodland, we knew this place could provide it.’

With the purchase agreed, Sonya and Toby decided not to rush the renovation. ‘We spent a year living here before we began the work,’ says Sonya. ‘During that time, we were working out how we wanted to live, getting to know the space and the way it flowed, as well as the views from each room, and what kind of storage we needed. We wanted to create a home that would make us happy and also make life as easy as possible while juggling full-time jobs and the

the doors are flung open and the outside becomes an extension of our living space’ KITCHEN Toby made the island worktop from recycled scaffolding boards.

Weathered oak bar stools, £165 each, Rose & Grey. Hoxton steel trio glass pendant, £160, Garden Trading, is similar

needs of our three young children, aged 11, 10 and five.

After a year had elapsed, the couple began gutting and transforming the interiors. ‘A friend drew up the plans and we worked with a great local building firm. We lived on site for a year in an old outbuilding with no running water or heating!’ says Sonya. ‘All that was left of the original cottages were the exteriors and interior stone walls, the fireplaces, beams and the roof. We completely reorganised the internal layout to link the buildings to make a single, family-friendly house.’ The couple also

added a new kitchen and living space overlooking the garden. ‘We wanted a large room where our family and friends could hang out,’ adds Sonya. ‘The new extension is a very sociable space and perfect for entertaining.’

The garden and grounds were also transformed.

‘We cleared and re-landscaped all the overgrown areas,’ says Sonya. ‘We also created an outdoor kitchen and play areas as well as a flower garden and orchard.’

In keeping with the spirit of the renovation, Sonya’s interior style has a stripped-back, tranquil feel, mixing 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 17

LESSON LEARNT

‘That your house can enable you to live a whole new lifestyle’

B AT H R O O M The windowsill was left unpainted to add another flash of warm wood.

Winchester cast iron bath, £1,971, C.P. Hart, is similar to this one. Bath painted in Railings estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

MAIN BEDROOM Symmetry is the key to the modern look in this space.

Similar herringbone Midnight throw, from £59, Secret Linen Store. Chelsea adjustable wall light, £40, John Lewis & Partners, would work here

BEDROOM Beautiful panelling was created with slim beams of painted wood.

Panelling painted in Clay Slip true eggshell, £72 for 2.5ltr, Atelier Ellis. Baldwin desk lamp, £47.20, John Lewis & Partners, has this look

Scandinavian, industrial, vintage and home-made decor.

‘We wanted to use natural materials as they create a calming, minimalist feel,’ explains Sonya. ‘There are dark, cosy areas that are lovely during winter and we also have light, bright spaces that can be opened up to the outside in summer.’ Walls are painted in a selection of Atelier Ellis paints in earthy hues, teamed with natural linens and organic textures. All of the bedrooms have a simple, pared-back feel, while statement bathrooms add an understated luxury.

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Now that the project is complete, Sonya and Toby feel they have realised their original vision. ‘The move has been more than a house renovation for us,’ says Sonya. ‘We love the outdoors and the house supports that in a way that our London house never could. Our home has enabled a whole new lifestyle and a new way of thinking for us all – it has helped us all unwind and enjoy the simple pleasures of country life.’

Sonya and Toby’s home, In Clover, is available to hire for photo shoots through uniquehomestays.com

FRESH START The beautiful new look of Nancy and Paul Edwards’ Victorian home came courtesy of bold designs and dashes of vibrant colour FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK SMITH

TV ROOM The sleek black lines of some of the room’s key pieces add depth to the neutral scheme.

Aero open shelving unit, £499, Swoon.

Porada Gilda armchairs, from £1850, Lime.

Moooi Non Random light pendant, £649, Made In Design. Phoenix low table, from £1,444, Archiproducts. Maquis rug, £1,297, Ligne Roset

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A Victorian detached house L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, TV room, kitchen, study, music room, utility room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2006 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a smaller Victorian terraced house,’ says Nancy.

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DINING ROOM A contemporary fabric adds just the right amount of colour to this pared-down dining space. The chairs are a favourite of Nancy and Paul’s as they’re so comfortable.

Lasvit Neverending Glory pendant light, £2,209, Heal’s. Roisin curtain fabric, £120m, Margo Selby. Panton chair, £275 each, Finnish Design Shop.

Bontempi Delta round dining table, price on request, Go Modern

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fter living in their family home for 15 years, Nancy and Paul Edwards decided it was time for a major overhaul to re-energise their much-loved house.

‘We knew we didn’t want to move,’ explains Nancy, ‘but we really wanted to inject some colour and vibrancy into the house. I’d been admiring a friend’s recent renovation and she recommended interior designer Susan Venn from Susan Venn Design, whose been invaluable throughout the whole project.’

With her holistic approach to creating impactful and timeless schemes, Susan was the perfect partner for Nancy and Paul who favour classic quality over quick fixes and fleeting trends. ‘We knew we were in safe hands with Susan because she was so thorough

throughout the whole process,’ remembers Nancy. ‘Her visual concept and mood boards gave us the confidence to invest in bold colours and textures because everything we saw was clear and concise from the start. I wanted the house to feel renewed and energised and when Susan suggested the vibrant orange wall covering in the breakfast area, although it was bold, I could see it would work alongside the much softer palette in the cook space.’

Alongside the use of bold colours running throughout the house, Nancy and Paul were also keen for the quality of the craftsmanship and natural materials to take centre stage.

Susan was able to find understated pieces that fitted the couple’s brief for a contemporary feel that was still homely. ‘Her idea for the

FAVOURITE ROOM ‘We love the energy the orange palette in the kitchen brings to our mornings – there’s a real zing when you walk into the space’

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B R E A K FA S T A R E A Painting the French doors and windows to match the orange wallcovering increases the paper’s impact and the room’s modern look.

Shinok wallpaper in Orange by Casamance, £83.36 a roll, Top Designer. Analog dining table by Fritz Hansen, £1,608, Skandium. Rick Rack curtain fabric

by Christopher Farr, £270.50m, Jane Clayton. Secto Octo pendant light in walnut, £755, AndLight H A L LWAY The dramatic colour in the hallway highlights the original features of the Victorian house.

Wall in Chasm active emulsion, £44.30 for 2.5ltr, Sanderson at Brewers. Blown pendant lamp, £316, Skandium KITCHEN Cream hexagonal tiles were used across the entire wall for a subtle decorative effect.

Try the White Elise tiles, £37.67sq m, Victoria Plumbing

MAIN BEDROOM The beautiful views have been cleverly accentuated by painting the window frames in a darker hue.

Novamobili Ninfea dressing table, £1,510; Porada Astrid chair, £895, both Go Modern. Hereford dish cluster chandelier, £1,144.50, Fritz Fryer. Try the Keaton chest, £549, Made

FREDDIE’S BEDROOM The sleeping area has been defined using a contrasting hue.

Walls in Pleat absolute emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Headboard in Grand Vida in Lost Teal, £69m, Jane Clayton JOSH’S BEDROOM Painting the period fireplace in a bold colour modernises the scheme.

Tam Tam 3 ceiling light, from £1,505, Twentytwentyone. Fireplace in Hicks’ Blue, intelligent eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene EN SUITE A half wall has created a shower nook and wall space for a long vanity unit.

Picasso stone sink, £198, Lusso. Bespoke vanity unit, price on application, Susan Venn Design

lesson learnt ‘Statement lighting can make such a difference to the overall feel of a room – it’s transformative’

darker hallway came from the cosy interior of a typical private members’ club and beautifully defines the lovely, original wall features,’ says Nancy. ‘It’s also a striking contrast to the lighter rooms which you can see as you walk through the house.’

Upstairs on the landing, Susan encouraged the couple to further embrace their relationship with colour by adding a vibrant chair and an unusual colourful side table. ‘We love sculpture and the table has the look of a piece of art,’ enthuses Nancy.

After knocking through some walls, the main bedroom now includes a dressing room and an en suite, all tastefully flowing together through colour and harmonious design. ‘The bedroom is very calm with understated colours as we didn’t want anything

too fussy to distract from it being restful,’ says Nancy. To make the most of the wonderful views from this room, the window frames have been painted in a darker shade.

On the top floor, a bright and fun area has been created for sons Josh and Freddie using funky lighting and daring colours to define each space. Utilising the sloping ceiling in an innovative way, Susan suggested using darker paint to cleverly define the sleeping area in Josh’s room. ‘It was fun to see the upstairs come to life again,’ says Nancy. ‘I especially love the moodiness of the music room which is painted in such a lovely inky palette. It doesn’t feel like we’ve lived here for 15 years. There’s now an uplifting energy flowing through every room in the house.’

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A detached village house with parts dating from 12th and 16th centuries L O C AT I O N Northamptonshire R O O M S Sitting room, snug, dining room, kitchen, utility room, five bedrooms, (two en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a large, rambling house nearby,’ says Sarah.

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MODERN history

Sarah and Charles Jarman, winners of the country category in our Reader Awards, took on the challenge of bringing their historic village house into the 21st century FEATURE ANNABELLE GRUNDY | PHOTOGRAPHY COLIN POOLE

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES READER AWA R D S

DINING ROOM

Velvet chairs provide a soft contrast to the wood pieces and chime with the space’s subtle blue tones.

Walls in Skylight estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Swinton dining chairs, £229 for two, Made

KITCHEN

The existing painted kitchen and quarry tiles suit the country setting. Sarah and Charles had the table made and added contemporary chairs.

Chunky seamless cottage table, £500, Tobias Woodcraft.

Similar Tolix chairs, £228 each, Made in Design

Favourite featur e ‘I wouldn’t be without the Aga – I used to warm the children’s pyjamas on it and now it’s where everyone leans to chat’

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SITTING ROOM

Off-white walls act as a backdrop for some tongue-in-cheek artwork.

Regal Bubble Gum wall hanging, £50, Rockett St George. Mouse and Me print (in hall), £250, Sweetpea & Willow

Decor ating tip ‘I like to accessorise with wood, glass, stone and wicker pieces as they add more layers of rich textures’

HALLWAY

Beautiful vignettes bring charm to corners.

Portobello Black table, £284, Nicky Cornell, is similar

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25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES READER AWA R D S

T

he timing was perfect when Sarah and Charles Jarman came to view the pretty village house that would become their home.

With a busy family life, they were struggling to manage their extensive rural property and were looking for something that combined period character with modern convenience. ‘This house was unique and full of history, and had also just been completely refurbished after a fire, so it was ideal,’ says Sarah, ‘The minute I walked in, I knew we were going to live here.’

SITTING ROOM

The eclectic mix of rustic and modern pieces contributes to the home’s character, while the pink and blue accents are a common thread.

Oops-a-Lazy velvet footstool, £805, Loaf. Oscar sofa in Chalky Pink vintage velvet, £2,605, Loaf, is a good match for this one

The Grade 11-listed stone house is a prominent local landmark. It occupies a commanding position at one end of an attractive village and has parts dating from the 12th and 16th centuries. It became even more well-known after the interior was severely damaged by a dramatic fire in 2011.

In the five years following the disaster, the historic house was painstakingly renovated with the help of photographs and conservation records. Everything that could be salvaged was reinstated, and structures that had been destroyed were replicated.

‘The house had been beautifully restored,’ says Sarah. ‘At the same time, it had modern electrics and plumbing, a brandnew kitchen and bathrooms, and it had been decorated in neutrals all through.

It was a real blank canvas.’

Sarah and Charles brought most of their existing furniture with them and Sarah was happy to get to know their new surroundings before making any changes.

‘The style and feel is similar to our old home, so a lot of our things fitted in well,’ she says. ‘I’ve replaced other items, but very

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES READER AWA R D S

MAIN BEDROOM

A bench was created over the radiator so there is a place to watch the world go by.

Try the Hartford bed, £675, Next.

Pebble Velvet Rose quilt, £195, Graham and Green

BATHROOM HARRY’S BEDROOM

A cubbyhole chest of drawers hides away clutter.

Gingham duvet set, £69, The White Company. Try the large Tetbury storage unit, £265, Furniture.co.uk

gradually. I think it’s important to live in a house for a while, just to learn about it.’

Initially, the family would gather to relax in the imposing front room, which acted as a combined sitting room and dining room, while the second, smaller reception room was barely visited. Over time, and as the children, Charlie, now 24, Ella, 22, Gretel, 15, and Harry, 11, have grown up, the rooms have adapted. The smaller sitting room is now a cosy evening retreat for Sarah and Charles, while the larger one is a frequently used dining room. ‘It’s my 3 2 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2

favourite room,’ says Sarah, ‘We love celebrating special occasions as a family and we’ve had so many happy times in there.’

Although the house has evolved to suit the family’s lifestyle, the listed status means some aspects can’t be altered. Sarah would love a more spacious kitchen, but she fully appreciates that interior alterations or extensions are not possible. ‘With a modern house, you can do anything,’ she says, ‘but I don’t resent the restrictions because I love my home and everything else about it definitely outweighs any kitchen issues.’

Sarah added a weathered cabinet and plants to enhance the simple style.

Try Avignon chest of drawers, £495, Maisons du Monde

Instead, Sarah has embraced the house’s character, keeping walls plain in order to highlight dramatic architectural features like exposed timbers, flagstone floors and huge fireplaces. Furniture is a mix of vintage finds, antiques and modern pieces, and the rooms are dotted with velvety textures, pops of colour and quirky accessories.

‘I always have pretty arrangements dotted around, and lots of comfy cushions and fresh flowers, to soften the house,’ she says, ‘Home is our sanctuary and I want it to feel safe, cosy and welcoming.’

TRUE

COLOURS During the renovation of this former cowshed, interior designer Samantha Todhunter was tasked with ensuring its original character still shined through FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY JONATHAN BOND

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Former Victorian cowshed L O C AT I O N Dorset R O O M S Kitchen-diner/living area, playroom, four bedrooms (three en suite), bathroom PURCHASED Over 20 years ago PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘The owners were living in the 17th-century farmhouse alongside when they decided to renovate the cowshed,’ says Samantha.

DINING AREA

A farmhouse table and mismatched chairs accentuate the relaxed, rustic look of the house.

Christie rise and fall pendants, £525 each, Original BTC. Dining table and chairs, sourced at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair. Curtains in Sintra in Multi, £94m, GP&J Baker

LIVING AREA

Stripes were chosen for their classic look but a bold colourway was picked for a contemporary feel.

Armchairs in Sintra in Multi, £94m, GP&J Baker. Bespoke sofa, price on request, Samantha Todhunter Design

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‘Metal-framed windows and doors have a modern edge and here they are also a nod to this former cowshed’s industrious past’

DESIGN TIP

W

hen the owner of this revamped Victorian cowshed first viewed its tumbledown stone structure, her first impressions were far from favourable. ‘I poked my head inside and thought, how the heck will this ever become a wonderful space to spend time in,’ she cheerfully admits.

She and her husband had wanted to renovate the cowshed and adjacent threshing barn ever since they’d bought the neighbouring 17th-century farmhouse more than 20 years before. ‘These outbuildings used to be part of the farm, and we’d always thought they’d make great accommodation for our grown-up children, family and friends,’ she says.

BEDROOM

The free-standing bath is a boutique hotel touch, while the exposed brick is full of rustic charm.

La Rochelle bath, £2,895, The Cast Iron Bath Company.

Rander ceramic stool £195, Oka

T R U E T O I T S H E R I TA G E

Aware that a complete refurbishment of the cowshed would be needed, the owners decided to call in the professionals and enlisted the help of architects Llewellyn Harker Lowe and interior designer Samantha Todhunter. ‘The architects have worked on a lot of historic buildings in the West Country and we knew the barns would be in good hands,’ explains the owner. ‘We wanted to show the workings of the building – all the beautiful old trusses and purlins.’

These original features were seamlessly juxtaposed with a boldly modern steel structure and generous Crittall openings that pull in the light. The architects highlighted the volume of the cowshed by designing a soaring doubleheight entrance, complete with a steel staircase.

With the renovation under way, Samantha Todhunter began to help envision the decor. ‘The owners are very sociable and have a great sense of fun, which were both at the heart of their brief,’ says Samantha. She helped select the furnishings and also the key finishes, such as the bathrooms, kitchen and lighting, as well as the fabulously textural sawn oak floor which runs through all the spaces. ‘The barn needed to be cosy, comfortable and practical and it had to work for all generations,’ says Samantha. ‘Nothing could be too precious; the owners wanted it to be easy for little ones to crawl around or play hide and seek.’

RELAXED APPROACH

With this in mind, the furniture is eminently robust and practical, ranging from a large, bespoke slouchy sofa covered in denim-coloured linen to sturdy antiques sourced by Samantha and the owner over the course of numerous shopping trips. The fabrics are colourful and joyous, including an exuberant embroidered striped fabric that’s been used to upcycle a pair of armchairs and also dress the floor-to-ceiling windows in the relaxed open-plan living space.

The colourful striped fabrics also complement the open-plan kitchen, with its vibrant emerald green cabinets.

‘The owner was adamant about having a green kitchen, so I was equally adamant about having dark worktops,’ says Samantha. ‘The combination of green and black definitely has the edge.’ The project took around a year to complete.

‘It was tremendous fun,’ says Samantha. ‘My client has a fantastic eye and had a very clear picture of what she and her husband wanted – a space for people of all ages to kick back and enjoy themselves. It’s a great success – so much so that my clients regularly do midweek escapes from their main house to the cowshed – for dinner or even overnight!’

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ENTRANCE

The architect made this space double height for a dramatic look.

Try the Gooch Afghan rug, £300, John Lewis & Partners

BEDROOM

Pattern was used to great effect to make this space sing.

Headboard, valance and cushions in Ravenna, £139.50m, Christopher Farr

SHOWER ROOM

The wood truss highlights the shower space.

Try the Matrix red gloss tiles, £29sq m, Topps Tiles

LANDING

A steel balustrade was chosen to tie in with the steelwork.

Sawn oak flooring, price on request, Havwoods

BEDROOM

The plaster was left exposed as it’s so pretty.

Headboard in Haveli in Pink, £163.80m, Penny Morrison

SNUG

Painting everything pink – from the picture rail to the skirting – enhances the room’s luxe look.

Pick-n-Mix pendants, from £375 each, Rothschild & Bickers.

Gosling ottoman, £3,636.36, The Odd Chair Company; upholstered in Rooksmoor Velvet in bespoke Burgundy, £94.40m, Lewis & Wood.

Caldwell drinks trolley, £450, Graham and Green

The bright side

Anya and Michael Kings reinvigorated their Edwardian terrace with the help of interior designer Louise Robinson, whose vibrant additions helped them see design through a colourful lens FEATURE EMMA J PAGE | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

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no.

SITTING ROOM

Black metal-framed doors complement the period fireplace, while pops of red and pink provide vibrant contrast.

Waver hand-spun hemp flatweave rug, £540sq m, Adam Bray for Vanderhurd. Original ottoman, £1,950, The Odd Chair Company; base upholstered in Rooksmoor velvet in Mulberry, £94.40m, Lewis & Wood, and top in Lost and Found, £190m, Christopher Farr Cloth.

Sugar chairs, £934.20 each, Julian Chichester; upholstered in Jajim Stripe in Red, £320m, Soane Britain

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I

t would be fair to say that the evolution of this family home in London has been a slow burn. Anya and Michael Kings moved here more than a decade ago with their two young daughters, now 18 and 13, and for several years everyday life got in the way of renovation.

‘We both have busy jobs and I travel extensively,’ says Anya, who works in financial services, ‘so tailoring our home to suit our lifestyle was put on the back burner for a long time.’

That all changed recently when the couple decided that their Edwardian home had been failing to reach its full potential for too long. The dining room was barely used; a ground floor study obscured the light and the steeply tiered garden was difficult to make the best of. ‘We decided to rethink the rear of the house completely,’ says Anya.

‘That meant extending outwards a little, digging out and

re-landscaping the garden and reworking the hallway to make it lighter and more generous in scope.’

Bosnian-born Anya grew up spending summers on Croatian beaches, and has always enjoyed colour and texture, but the interiors of her home tended not to stray too far from ‘safe’ territory. ‘We love architecture, sunshine colours and the deep blues and greens of the Adriatic and the Mediterranean,’ she explains. ‘What I lacked was the courage and knowledge to incorporate those elements.’

Fortunately, interior designer Louise Robinson, known for her playful and relaxed colour combinations, was able to translate the family’s style. ‘It’s easy to fall into a bit of a design fatigue,’ she reflects. ‘Sometimes fresh input is invigorating. It was a question of introducing tactile fabrics, a few unexpected elements, such as the framed woven panels

SITTING ROOM

A corner sofa makes good use of this tight corner.

Crescent sofa in River 01, £2,597, Camerich. Mustard column lamp, £495; gathered shade in Mustard Great Check, £260, both Salvesen Graham. Fan table, £480, Howe

KITCHEN

‘We chose streamlined units then softened them with pops of pattern,’ says Anya.

Häcker kitchen, £50,000, including Miele appliances, The Kitchen Group. Walls in Slate I architects’ matt, £56.50 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library

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DINING AREA

‘We opted for a contemporary, mid-century vibe in this space,’ says designer Louise Robinson. ‘The look was inspired by Anya’s love of Mediterranean schemes.’

Saarinen Tulip table, £4,512, Heal’s. Bertoia side chairs with seat pad, £1,056 each, The Conran Shop. Sybil lamp base, £490; Turmeric silk linen shade, £281, both Porta Romana. Palomar brocade panels, from £900, A Rum Fellow. Contemporary Kilim, £2,016, London House Rugs

home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Doublefronted Edwardian terrace L O C AT I O N North London R O O M S Sitting rooms, kitchen-diner, snug, cloakroom, six bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved here from a smaller period house nearby,’ says Anya.

in the kitchen and sitting room and warming up the interiors with some playful colour clash.’

Now, two distinctive sitting rooms allow for both relaxation and entertaining. In one, called the snug, blush pink walls create a cosseting feel, complemented by a generous burgundy velvet ottoman. A brass bar trolley and a trio of smoked pendant lights ramp up the glamour factor.

Adjacent, the other sitting room opens directly out onto the garden and it’s where the couple’s daughters tend to hang out when they need space. ‘This room had a largely neutral palette before and felt cut off from the rest of the house until we knocked a wall down and added Crittall doors,’ says Anya.

Now it’s a room that effortlessly combines colour and pattern.

‘The metal-framed doors, dark fireplace and graphic ceiling light provide a unifying note that anchors the whole scheme.’

Anya’s travels have played their part, too. Hand-painted tiles in the cloakroom were inspired by some designs that she fell in love with in the Armenian quarter of Israel’s Holy City.

‘Eventually, I found a supplier in Spain who could provide them,’ she says. Meanwhile, the bedroom, with its sumptuous velvet headboard, reflects the couple’s appreciation for hotel living. ‘We took the best of hotel design with its emphasis on the ergonomic and softened it with pink tones and plenty of tactile fabrics, which feels incredibly restful.’

For the first time, the family feels their home is truly reflective of the way they live. ‘It took a while for the timing to be just right,’ says Anya. ‘But it was worth the wait – it sounds strange to say this, having lived here for 12 years already, but it’s only now that we feel truly at home – we love returning to this space.’

BATHROOM

An egg-shaped bath introduces fluidity to an otherwise linear scheme.

The Picasso free-standing stone bath, from £1,395, Lusso Stone, is similar.

Walls in Knightsbridge intelligent matt emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene.

Mini scallop rug in Coral, £310, Salvesen Graham x Jennifer Manners

MAIN BEDROOM

The curvy mirror picks out the hues of the original fireplace.

Ripple mirror, £1,251.60, Julian Chichester. Max refined planter, £79.99, Hortology

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MAIN BEDROOM

The tongue-and-groove design of the wardrobes is a decorative feature in itself.

Skipper pendant, £297, Tom Raffield. Roman blinds in Grande Gran 002, £130m, Fermoie.

Bespoke bedspread in Carnival Olive, £130m, Christopher Farr Cloth. Joinery in Dove Tale estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

KITCHEN The vintage rug brings warmth to the space, while picking up on the red details of the cooker.

Wolf dual-fuel range cooker, price on request, Sub-Zero. Clear glass globe ceiling light, £65, Reflections & Glory, has this look. Vintage Oushak runner, $450, Etsy

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BALANCING ACT Mary and Ben Jones wanted their Brooklyn brownstone to be modern, but showing off its period details was a must too FEATURE KARINE MONIÉ | PHOTOGRAPHY SEAN LITCHFIELD

DINING AREA A custom banquette has been built into one corner to maximise the seating space . Framed menus are a characterful addition.

Lippa pedestal table, $700, LexMod. White dining chairs, £69 each, Cult Furniture, are a close match

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SITTING ROOM The painted window frames echo the other black notes in the space.

Hannah leather sofa, $3,600, ABC Carpet & Home.

Mill steel coffee table: $300, CB2. Crosshatch chair and ottoman designed by EOOS for Geiger, $3,300, Herman Miller. Hudson mirror, $699, Room & Board.

Masinissa wool rug, $2,600, Annie Selke

HOME TRUTHS T H E P R O P E R T Y A brick townhouse built in 1910 L O C AT I O N Brooklyn, New York City R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen with dining area, three bedrooms, two bathrooms.

P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We previously rented a modern duplex apartment with a garden, also in Brooklyn,’ says Mary

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MAIN BEDROOM A chair and table in the bay window area create the perfect spot for morning coffee.

Cloudburst wallpaper, price on request, Quercus & Co. Vivian king-size bed, $2,200, ABC Carpet & Home.

Fjord spotlights, $219 each, Cedar & Moss

I

t took Mary and Ben Jones years of searching in different areas of Brooklyn and several rejected bids before they finally found their home in the progressive residential neighbourhood of Park Slope, an area close to Prospect Park characterised by tree-lined streets and historic brownstones.

SPECIAL STORY

What made the couple and their seven-yearold daughter fall in love with the property was, first and foremost, its story. ‘The previous owners had purchased it from the city in the 1970s when it was an abandoned building,’ says Mary. ‘They raised three generations here and there was clearly lots of love and memories created in this space. We also loved the back garden, which they had meticulously planted and nourished.’

The family embarked on an extensive renovation to make the three lower floors of the building their own, while renting the

top level apartment. ‘One unique feature, which we credit to our architect Nick Moons (founder of MontesBuild), is that we had the plaster wall framing the three-storey staircase removed to expose the original brick,’ Mary says. ‘It’s the first thing you see when you enter and it creates a very dramatic yet original effect.’

For the interior design, the couple sought help from designer Liz Lipkin. ‘I love to strike a balance between old and new in my work,’ says Liz. ‘Here, Mary wanted to respect the history of the house and highlight original details where possible, while adding modern conveniences.’

PERFECT PALETTE

Neutral tones and natural materials were mostly used throughout, while the textures and pops of colour varied depending on the mood that Liz wanted to create in each room. Informal yet elevated, the kitchendiner is bright and white with blue accents.

‘The built-in banquette is our favourite spot,’ says Mary. ‘It is surrounded by menus and photos of the restaurants we’ve visited that hold special memories. It’s the most comfortable space in the house and the area guests are most drawn to when we host.’

SETTING THE MOOD

With its grey and brown tones, the sitting room is mellow, while the main bedroom, with its atmospheric wallpaper and luxurious fabrics, works as a wonderful retreat. ‘Our home is a tranquil space to de-stress,’ says Mary. ‘It is also somewhere we love to share with our family and friends.’ Achieving this result, however, was not easy. ‘A full renovation is a lot of work and takes a lot of time – more time and money than anyone could ever warn you about, so be prepared,’, she says. ’You need to want it wholeheartedly and be in it for the long haul. That being said, we are 100 per cent happy with the outcome.’

‘Definitely the reclaimed marble mantelpiece for the fire in the sitting room’

BEST BUY

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A semi-detached Victorian cottage L O C AT I O N South London R O O M S Sitting room/dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here I was renting close by,’ says Aoife.

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HEART & SOUL FEATURE HOLLY REANEY | PHOTOGRAPHY POLLY ELTES

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SITTING ROOM

Painting the bespoke bookshelves in a different colour has the effect of widening this space as it draws the eye.

Bookshelves in Hicks’ Blue intelligent eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Blind in Willow Bough in Crimson, £37m, William Morris & Co at Loome Fine Furnishing Fabrics. Framed fern prints, £450 for set of eight, Oka

When Aoife Kenny found her dream renovation project, she wasted no time in throwing herself into creating a home bursting with pattern, colour and joy 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 5 5

DINING AREA

Accents of verdigris and coral bring a Mediterranean flavour to this welcoming space.

Carved cupboard, Toad Hall Antiques And Salvage. For a selection of ladder-back dining chairs, try Wayfair. Kilner jar flowers, £95, JamJar Flowers

S

trolling down the leafy suburban street, you wouldn’t think you were in the middle of a busy London borough. It was this peaceful charm, an echo of her childhood in the New Forest, which drew Aoife Kenny to this pretty corner of Brixton. ‘The first thing I fell in love with was the road,’ says Aoife. ‘It’s the sort of quiet cul-de-sac you would find in a country village.’

The house, which dates from 1851, also had instant appeal with its original Victorian sash windows and heaps of renovation potential. In fact Aoife was so taken with it she put in an offer there and then, only to lose out to another buyer. So the viewings continued, but days later the estate agent called to say the previous offer had fallen through, so she jumped at this second chance.

The former worker’s cottage, which Aoife now shares with her partner Adam, had previously been rented then had stood empty for some time so was ready for a muchneeded makeover. To get the ball rolling, Aoife had builders gut the first two floors, except for the kitchen, which had been extended in the 1950s. ‘I would cycle to the house every day before and after work to keep an eye on the project,’ she says. ‘One evening I came back and my bedroom wall was missing, which was a bit of a shock.

Another day someone had decided to paint all the skirting boards deep navy, which we had to fix.’

Besides extending into the loft to create an extra bedroom, the plan was to open up the kitchen and sitting room to create one big space downstairs. However, as this involved removing an RSJ, Aoife had to call in a

HALLWAY

Aoife’s love of antiques is obvious throughout her home. Here a characterful dark wood console is paired with a basket for extra storage.

The Ceremonial Elephant lamp, £175, Oka. Fortnum & Mason basket, from £55, Etsy

KITCHEN

In one corner, the worktop was extended to create a spot for morning coffee.

Edgeware spotlights in antiqued brass, £94.70 each, Jim Lawrence. Monkey bottle holder, £42, Graham and Green, is similar. Honey rattan square wicker log basket, from £40, The Basket Company, is a match

D E C O R ATI N G TI P

‘Every time I visit somewhere new I buy something as a keepsake to add to my gallery wall in the hall so it’s continually evolving’ 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 57

GUEST ROOM

A Chinoiserie-style wallpaper is bold but also timeless.

Laura Ashley Summer Palace wallpaper, £40 a roll, Next

BATHROOM

Taking the panelling almost up to the ceiling increases the sense of height..

Astoria black roll-top slipper bath, £479.95, Victorian Plumbing, is similar

MAIN BEDROOM

Decorative lampshades on the chandelier complete the whimsical look.

La Chasse wallpaper, £47 a roll, F&P Interiors

‘I love pattern on pattern… on pattern. Using a decorative wallpaper and matching fabric is a wonderful way to make a statement’ DESIGN TIP

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structural engineer. Thankfully, she was given the go-ahead and the builders were able to make a start.

‘Now, the open-plan layout means I can be in the kitchen and still chat to friends in the sitting room,’ she says.

The gallery wall, which runs the length of the staircase, is a popular talking point. Filled with drawings, paintings and postcards, it’s like a scrapbook compiled from pieces given to Aoife by her friends and those that have caught her eye while travelling.

Aoife’s love of design started young. Her first interiors project saw her matching patterned wallpaper with identical curtains and bolsters in her childhood bedroom, a look she has replicated in the main bedroom of this house. Most of her furnishings are the product of one of her favourite pastimes – shopping for antiques. ‘There’s hardly any need to buy new when there are so many amazing antiques shops,’ says Aoife who has just launched her own pyjama brand (Instagram @lune.pjs).

The kitchen is the only part of the house that has remained almost unchanged. Comprising several freestanding counters, it’s a versatile space with the potential to be updated with a lick of paint and some new handles. For now, though, Aoife has brightened it up by replacing the white tiles with a patchwork of blue designs.

In future, Aoife has plans to enlarge the kitchen by extending into the side return. Once it’s complete she’ll no doubt decorate in her own inimitable style, carefully balancing colour and pattern before adding her beloved and characterful antique finds.

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A SUNNY OUTLOOK

Clever use of glazing in their new extension and basement means Martina and Dan Banks striking home is a light-filled oasis FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY TIMOTHY SOAR

RAISED SITTING ROOM AREA Having previously felt cut off from the rest of the house, this room now has wonderful views of the garden.

B&B Italia Husk swivel chair, £3,090, Innes.

A similar bar costs from £5,000, Roundhouse

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W HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Semi-detached Victorian house L O C AT I O N South London R O O M S Sitting room/bar, drawing room, kitchen-diner, basement playroom, music room, five bedrooms, three bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a three-bedroom period flat nearby,’ says Martina.

ith plans to start a family but keen to stay in the same part of south London, Martina and Dan Banks sold their flat and found a spacious house with that all important garden. ‘A lot of the properties in this area are quite narrow and not particularly light, but this one is double-fronted and gets the evening sun at the rear,’ says Martina. ‘We loved the quiet residential road where homes rarely change hands, and it was a bonus that the previous owners had already converted

the loft into two bedrooms.’ On the flip side, the badly designed ground-floor layout needed a complete re-think.

A year after moving in, their son, now eight, was born, and then a daughter, now seven, completed the family. Consequently, major building work was put on the back burner and the pair focused on replacing the single-glazed windows with double-glazed sashes. Garden designer Barbara Samitier was also hired to re-plan the rear garden.

Several years later, the couple acquired part of their neighbour’s garden on one side,

FAVOURITE FEATUR E ‘In the depths of the pandemic we

KITCHEN ‘We put LED lights around the quartzite worktop – it looks really stunning when lit up,’ says Martina.

Similar kitchen from £30,000, Roundhouse.

Sealed burner range top 6 burner and griddle, £8,220, Wolf

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giving them more space to play with.

‘Unfortunately, the local planners limited the scale of any proposed building to the height of the old garden wall,’ says Martina.

‘A basement playroom with steps down and glazed roof at the side, along with a single-storey kitchen-diner extension seemed the best option.’

The couple came across RDA Architects and Interior Designers online and MD Richard Dudzicki and his team suggested a plethora of ideas to transform the house. ‘We chose them as they’re quite

edgy and the other eco-friendly builds they had done in the area were very impressive,’ recalls Martina.

It took six months to complete the basement playroom, which has eight steps down from the front drawing room and includes a bathroom. ‘It’s such a flexible space, as it could become a games room, a gym, a home office or even a granny flat in future,’ says Martina.

During the second phase in 2020, the family moved into rented accommodation for eight months while a four-metre deep

kitchen-diner extension was constructed across the rear by PJS Building and Maintenance Services. ‘We wanted an entertaining kitchen where people can have a drink and snacks while we’re cooking,’ says Martina. ‘The architects could have kept everything at the same level, but they’ve created a clever broken-plan design.

I love the cool triangular roof lights and the big skylight is a real winner.’

Hiring interior designer Zoe Murphy of Stealth Design at an early stage of the second build proved invaluable. ‘She was

decided to incorporate a bar area as we wanted something fun to look forward to’

DINING AREA Having this space open to the sitting room works well for entertaining.

Walls in Beaufort Gardens, £53 for 2.5ltr, Mylands.

Balancing Variations pendant, £870, Atelier Areti

RAISED SITTING ROOM Furniture was chosen to echo the simple lines of the lighting.

Crescent narrow corner sofa, from £3,132, Camerich. IC light by Flos, £365, John Lewis & Partners

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brilliant at incorporating storage and helping to configure the kitchen and bathrooms,’ explains Martina. Zoe also acted as a mediator to fuse Martina’s more decorative and colourful style, which is in contrast to Dan’s more neutral and industrial aesthetic.

The elegant palette of blue, grey, brass, walnut and the odd hint of red has given the pair an excellent base on which to add personal touches in the future. ‘Zoe taught Dan and I how to put together a coherent

colour scheme,’ says Martina. ‘Going forward, if we pick art and furniture that ties into that look, we can’t go far wrong.’

Having turned a disjointed house into a home that works perfectly for both family life and entertaining, getting itchy feet seems an unlikely scenario. ‘We now have more cohesion as a family unit as well as space to retreat to when needed,’ says Martina. ‘We’ll never move again in London as we’ve future-proofed the house for our changing needs.’

D R AW I N G R O O M The rug lifts the scheme.

Chroma grey rug, from £1,160, Floor_Story.

Celine velvet accent chair in pink, £185, Habitat

lesson learnt ‘Getting advice on colours means we will feel confident about choosing a palette in the future’

P L AY R O O M Painting a mountainscape on one wall was easy but has had a dramatic decorative effect.

Growing activity table, £140; white toddler chair, £39.20, both Great Little Trading Co

MAIN BEDROOM EN SUITE A wall was removed to make space for storage.

Picasso bath, £1,395, Lusso Stone, is comparable

GUEST B AT H R O O M The blind imparts a relaxed holiday feel.

Blind in Babylon Blush/Willow, £95m, House of Hackney

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A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

Jenna Walsh has succeeded in combining beauty with practicality in her calm, well-organised family home FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY KATIE LEE

KITCHEN

By re-painting the units, replacing the handles and adding new flooring, Jenna has what feels like a brand-new kitchen.

Wishbone bar stools, £219.50 each, Mobelaris.

Try the Elegant Oak herringbone flooring, £24.99sq m, Direct Wood Flooring

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home truths THE PROPERTY Edwardian detached house L O C AT I O N Cheshire R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner/family room, playroom, utility, three bedrooms, bathroom, dressing room P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a semi-detached house nearby,’ says Jenna.

FAMILY ROOM

A sofa has replaced the dining table in here so the children can play while Jenna makes dinner.

New alcove cabinetry provides storage for toys.

Try the Vimle corner sofa in Hallarp beige, from £270, Ikea. Marble disc on stand, £85, House of Fraser, is similar. Try the Rodan LED picture light, £115, Lampsy

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SITTING ROOM

Black painted floorboards provide an elegant backdrop for a neutral scheme that’s elevated with a hit of blue. ‘There’s something about a dark floor that feels moody and grounding,’ says Jenna.

Padstowe velvet accent chair, £649, DFS, is similar.

Cubes one-shelf coffee table, £35, Habitat, has this look

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A

fter Jenna and Craig Walsh spent two years painstakingly renovating their three-bedroom semi in Macclesfield, a bigger Edwardian house captured their hearts. ‘We loved the grandeur of the high ceilings,’ says Jenna. ‘At first I was unsure as it is on a main road, but when we walked into the back garden, it felt like the middle of nowhere.’

The priority after moving in was to landscape the front garden, which had dangerous steep steps.

The couple then turned the dining room into a playroom for Alba, four, Sebi, two, and baby Lucca.

The original fireplace and floorboards were the starting points in the sitting room. ‘It’s south-facing with a big bay window, so I knew we could get away with a dark painted floor,’ says Jenna. ‘I love light walls, so the panelling stops them looking too plain.’

To make way for a completely new look, old furniture was sold online or re-used at Craig’s dental practice. ‘I love mixing styles, so each room is traditional with a modern twist,’ says Jenna.

The couple undertook some work themselves, such as laying flooring and fitting the dressing room, which features a nifty sofabed hidden in a bench seat. Craig even knocked out the chimney breast in the bathroom to improve layout options. ‘A messy job but it’s made such a difference,’ says Jenna.

Surprisingly it was the small rear extension, which created a bigger utility room, shower and toilet, that has proved the biggest game-changer.

‘It’s only about two by three metres and cost

UTILITY ROOM

This is a new addition, gained by adding a two by three metre extension. ‘It allows us to keep the rest of the house tidy,’ says Jenna.

Amazone grey modular tumbled tile, £57.99sq m, Topps Tiles. Laundry room symbols (self printable), £4.80, Penny & Horse on Etsy. Fladis basket, £13, Ikea

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 69

MAIN BEDROOM

Elements of black create continuity with the ground floor.

Try the Time Living Hamburg king-size bed in Oatmeal, £229, UK Bed Store. Life of an Artist print, from £23.95, Desenio

£10,000, but it’s changed our lives,’ says Jenna.

‘Every builder tried to put us off, but I just knew it would work. Dirty clothes can soak in the sink, and we can wash our dog Cub in the shower. Best of all, it allows us to keep the rest of the house tidy.’

With the utility room meeting so many storage needs, Jenna felt a simple re-paint of the existing quality kitchen units would suffice. ‘Having originally painted all the cupboards white, I struggled to find flooring to complement them and didn’t like the black worktops,’ says Jenna.

‘To disguise the worktops and keep the floor light, I painted the base cabinets dark and chose a light oak herringbone flooring. After that, it just worked.’

Having previously worked as a midwife, Jenna is now launching an affordable and approachable interior design business with her sister-in-law, Faye (@walshandcointerior on Instagram). ‘We want to help clients create a beautiful, calm and functional home which allows them to spend time on the things that are most important to them,’ she says.

‘I’m one of four children and grew up in a busy house, but it always felt really calm.’

Having become a family of five, another move may be on the cards for the Walshes in a year or two. ‘I’d love a south-facing garden and another project,’ says Jenna. ‘Having said that, people are always so keen to move fast onto the next thing, so I’d like to enjoy the house for a while longer.’

ALBA’S BEDROOM

Bookcases turned sideways have created a den for Alba. ‘They’re filled with storage boxes,’ says Jenna.

Kallax shelving units, from £25, Ikea

BATHROOM

‘The curved vanity unit was our biggest splurge,’ says Jenna. ‘I wanted it to look like a room with a bath, rather than a bathroom.’

Burlington curved vanity unit, £1,737.49, QS Supplies

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HEIGHT OF LUX U RY Maaike and Joost Van Dijk’s townhouse offers the sense of a luxe boutique hotel with its striking finishes and elegant palette FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY SPACE CONTENT STUDIO/LIVING INSIDE

DINING NOOK ‘Both the kitchen and the sitting room are very calm so I felt this area could have a bit more pizzazz,’ says interior designer Linda Lagrand.

Walls in D-Dream, from £345.82 for a panel (90cm wide), Iksel. Acco dining table

by Miniforms, £2,210, RB12

no.

HOME TRUTHS T H E P R O P E R T Y Semidetached townhouse built in 1908 L O C AT I O N Utrecht, Netherlands R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, study, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in a townhouse in the Hague,’ says Maaike.

11

SITTING ROOM Sumptuous curved designs were added, including the lighting, to counteract the space’s more formal lines.

Grace armchairs, from €739 each, Keijser & Co; in Opio fabric in Or, £120m, Manuel Canovas at Colefax and Fowler. Belt low table in bronzed brass frame and lacquered top, from £3,592, Meridian.

Bespoke rug, B.i.c Luxury Carpets

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 7 3

DINING ROOM The pared-back table and console are the perfect foils to the more decorative pieces.

Aleta dining chairs, from €772 each, Viccarbe; backs in Peacock 03, £445m, Lizzo.

Louise chandelier, £6,732, Brand van Egmond. Nomades Sari VP wallpaper, £261.80 a roll, Élitis at Jane Clayton

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KITCHEN Dark blue cupboards and an extraction hood coated in powdered bronze lend a sophisticated feel.

The cabinetry is by Lodder Keukens, but Naked Kitchens can create a similar design.

A1965 Tynell pendant light

by Gubi, £616, Nunido

‘The colour palettes are all picked from nature, which helps to give the interiors a sense of peace and quiet’

D E C O R ATI N G TI P

DRESSING AREA Soft seating enhances the sense of opulence.

Olivia stool, from €436, Keijser & Co; in Silkbird Jacquard 002, £267.50m, Dedar. Highland desk by Eichholtz, £2,400, Houseology

MAIN BATHROOM The vanity unit complements the chocolate and gold hues of the marble Nero Portoro basins.

Vivienne mirrors by Eichholtz, £610 each, LuxDeco.

Marble basins from the Le Pietre collection, €563 each, Ceramica Globo

C

olour and pattern play such a vital role in the interiors of Maaike and Joost Van Dijk’s home in Utrecht, the Netherlands, that it is somewhat surprising to learn that the couple’s previous home was entirely neutral. ‘We didn’t use any colour whatsoever, but we knew we wanted to change that when we bought this house,’ recounts Maaike. ‘A lot of properties of this age in Utrecht tend to be narrow and deep, but this house sits on a corner plot and it is flooded with light. We felt that these big, bright spaces could look clinical if we simply painted them white.’

The couple were introduced to interior designer Linda Lagrand of Lagrand Interiors by a friend who owns a lighting business. ‘In the Netherlands, it isn’t that common to use an interior designer, but we had seen what a good designer could do in my brother’s home, which is just a few doors down on the same street as ours,’ notes Maaike. ‘Our brief to Linda was quite open: we told her that we tended to err on the safe side and that we wanted to be challenged.’

As well as changing the schemes throughout the house, the couple remodelled the layouts, knocking the kitchen through to the dining area which in turn flows seamlessly into the sitting room. At the same time, they were mindful to reinstate features that would have existed when the house was built in the early 20th century, such as the pocket doors flanked by elegant cabinetry that separate the sitting room from the dining space. ‘We hired a specialist to precisely replicate the joinery found in our neighbours’ homes,’ Maaike adds.

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Panelling was reinstated in the hallway, but to give it a modern twist, it has been embellished with a flocked velvet wallcovering in jewel-like shades of turquoise and gold. It sets the tone for the house, where rich colours and textures lend warmth and depth to the spaces. ‘What links the palettes is that all these hues are taken from nature, so there is a sense of flow from one space to the next,’ Linda explains.

In the dining room, where bronze and green tones create a cosseting feel, guests are seated in chairs backed with a luxurious embroidered peacock feather fabric. ‘Using a beautiful design on the back of a chair is a wonderful way to showcase a fabric that is too fragile to sit on,’ advises Linda.

Thanks to carefully considered lighting and tactile finishes, the schemes have the feel of a boutique hotel, and this is perhaps best exemplified in the main suite – an indulgent space complete with a walk-through dressing area.

Moody shades of burgundy have been lifted with touches of brass and antiqued gold. ‘I always thought that a calming bedroom needed to be pale but I walk in here and feel instantly relaxed; this space gives me a real sense of “me time”,’ Maaike observes.

And she certainly needs that: since the couple moved into the house in November 2020, Maaike has changed job, got married and given birth to baby Marie, who is now eight months old. ‘It’s been a crazy year but we have all these lovely, serene spaces to relax in,’ says Maaike, adding, ‘I think that Linda understood what sort of home we needed before we even knew what that was ourselves.’

MAIN BEDROOM Tactile touches abound, from the plush rug to the panelling in patterned seagrass.

Nilson canopy bed, from €7,247, Nilson. Harri bench, from €1,021, More Moebel; in Laberinto 5501, £190.80m, Gastón y Daniela at Abbott & Boyd

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E X PA N S I O N P L A N By extending up and out, Anna Lea-Wilson and Sam Silverman created a versatile family home that’s big on space and style FEATURE ALI LOVETT | PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS SNOOK

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no.

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A 1930s terraced house L O C AT I O N East London R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner, storeroom, cloakroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Victorian house on a busy main road in central Walthamstow,’ says Anna.

SITTING ROOM An eclectic mix of artwork, textures and colour is cleverly combined to create a warm, rich and lived-in feel.

Opposite page: Stead three-seater sofa, £1,154, Wayfair, has this look.

For a similar lounge chair, try the Farrah woven rattan chair, £250, Oliver Bonas. This page: Hoxton four-seater sofa, £1,199, French Connection at DFS. Wall in Saxe Blue 1829 chalky emulsion, £40 for 2.5ltr, Craig & Rose at Homebase

12

A

fter viewing their 1930s house, Anna Lea-Wilson and her husband Sam Silverman knew they had struck gold in their search for the perfect family home.

Despite its London postcode, the property sits in a cul-de-sac behind a green and overlooks Epping Forest.

The decor, however, had been untouched since the 1950s so needed a total revamp, but thanks to the property’s well-proportioned rooms and peaceful outlook, the couple could visualise it as their forever home.

During a six-month renovation, Anna, an interior designer who runs Fern House London, transformed the space by adding two extensions: the first a stunning vaulted open-plan kitchen-diner; the second a twobedroom loft conversion with a bird’s-eye view of the forest. ‘The kitchen-diner has completely changed how

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we live as a family,’ says Anna, who admits that having their three children, Austin, eight, Leo, five, and Sadie, three, at home during lockdown was pretty intense.

‘But this space allowed us to be together while all doing separate activities. I can cook or work at the kitchen island, while the open-plan layout is perfect for play,’ she explains. Hidden cupboards were added behind the breakfast bar and Anna bought child-friendly lockers to make it easier to tidy toys away.

Although Anna always knew she wanted a vaulted roof for the kitchen, the couple decided to employ east London architects Seán and Stephen to do the planning as they were adding a huge 4.5 metre extension and wanted to ensure it would be approved under permitted development. ‘We changed the design slightly by adding a triangular window to maximise natural light, which

‘The apex roof brings sky views in and connects us to nature’

KITCHEN-DINER ‘We chose this kitchen as it came in a modern design in the exact shade of green I wanted,’ says Anna. The adjacent dining area enjoys plenty of light and a great view of the garden.

Opposite page: Handleless units in Roman Leaf, price on request, Wren Kitchens. This page: Glazing

by Hazlemere. See Kinross dining chairs, £279 each, John Lewis & Partners. Liang & Emil Kemper occasional chair, £887, Shropshire Design, is similar. Try the Tsuki 2-Light globe pendant, £202.29

S E AT I N G A R E A For a cohesive look, Anna picked key colours that feature in both the soft furnishings and wall art.

Interior design by Fern House London. Pohpli TV metal locker cabinet in Pink Make Up, £169.95, Sklum. Pastel Rainbow Leopard print, £35, Wonder & Rah. Jiraya Berber-style rug, from £95, La Redoute, is near-identical

BEDROOM A simple shelf across the entire wall provides more space for accessories.

Penn double bed, £499, Made.

Skioa oak lamp table, £105, Lifestyle Furniture, is comparable. Nordic Macaron wooden pendant light, £31.99, Frisson Life

I love as it gives the room an almost ecclesiastical feel,’ says Anna. To make the best use of space, she then experimented with moving furniture and finishing touches around to create that all-important feeling of hygge. ‘I’m thrilled with our dining chairs,’ she says.

‘They were an eBay find from a restaurant that was closing down and were an absolute steal. Their colour and shape work perfectly with the rest of the scheme.’

True to Anna’s beloved Scandi style, the kitchendiner is decorated in warm, earthy tones, while her own expressive watercolours add confident flourishes of colour throughout. In contrast, the sitting room has a bold blue feature wall to help give the space a more intimate feel. With textured wall hangings, velvet and linen sofas and woven rattan chairs, it provides a cosy contrast to the contemporary open-plan kitchen-diner.

DESIGN TIP

Upstairs, another blue wall features in the master bedroom for continuity and also to help ground the space. ‘I chose a bed and shelving in pale wood as a nod to the forest, which you can see from the bedroom window,’ Anna remarks. Displayed on the oversized shelf above the bed are family photographs and Anna’s own prints, which contain playful forms and shapes in a dusky colour palette to complement the scheme.

For all the couple’s hard work with the property’s impressive transformation, there’s no denying that the large garden also plays a big part in family life. ‘It was a huge draw when we viewed the house,’ recalls Anna, ‘and adding the bi-fold doors to the extension has given us a seamless connection to nature. We can’t wait for summer when we can have dinner parties and barbecues out on the deck with friends once again.’

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BOLD

& BEAUTIFUL

HOME TRUTHS D E S I G N T E A M Audrey Carden and Eleanora Cunietti from Carden Cunietti H O U S E An Edwardian red-brick terrace in London W O R K After extensive building work, Carden Cunietti were hired to create a smart and practical home with a glamorous sitting room for entertaining friends

Designer Audrey Carden explains how she and Eleanora Cunietti brought drama and elegance to a newly renovated terrace FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY GUY ARCHARD

no.

13

SITTING ROOM

The sweeping curve and daring pink shade of the sofa bring softness to this dramatic scheme, while chic white furnishings and window shutters also help lighten the mood.

Seymour sofa, price on request, Minotti London.

Chantal armchairs, price on request, Munna. Walls in Old Navy matt emulsion, £85 for 3.79ltr, Benjamin Moore. George Nelson Saucer Bubble pendant light, from £441, Utility. Find a selection of antique Chinese chests at Indigo. Seaside round macramé wall hanging - circle tapestry, £951.84, Teddy and Wool at Etsy. Try The Rug Company for a comparable contemporary rug, price on request

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE I N VO LV E D I N T H I S P R O J E C T ?

Elizabeth and Mark’s builder, Nathan from QPAD (Queens Park Architectural Design), had previously renovated my house and when Elizabeth told him she needed help with the interior, he suggested I could help. Initially, we were bought in to help with the colour scheme but that quickly morphed into an extensive interior design brief.

W H AT W E R E T H E O W N E R S ’ PRIORITIES FOR THIS HOUSE?

Elizabeth wanted an open kitchen and TV room to be her daytime part of the house and also somewhere glamorous for cocktails in the evening with friends. She was looking for inspiration for the large main bedroom, too.

W H AT WA S Y O U R I N S P I R AT I O N FOR THE SCHEME?

The owners are keen art collectors and we took inspiration from some of their pieces, including the floating textile in the sitting room, and added further luxurious textures and accessories, plus an elegant four-poster bed.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THE COLOUR SCHEME?

Elizabeth had seen a dark blue sitting room on Instagram, which she loved, and although she was a little unsure about using such a bold

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 8 7

KITCHEN-DINER

Black accents are a running theme in this elegant new extension and throughout the rest of the interior.

Kitchen extension, QPAD. Kitchen, Queens Park Kitchens. Palma ceiling light (over the island), price on request, Vibia. Epsilon dining table, price on request, Arketipo

SNUG

A set of steps leads from the dining area into this cosy spot.

Andersen Paolina chaise longue, price on request, Minotti. For oak floorboards like these, try The Solid Wood Flooring Company.

Swoon lounge chair by Fredericia, from £2,613, Skandium

colour, we went for Old Navy by Benjamin Moore. I also suggested a dusky pink for the guest bedroom and using beautiful fabric for the headboard and across the wall.

H O W I N VO LV E D W E R E T H E OWNERS IN THE PROJECT?

Both Elizabeth and Mark have busy jobs and they had recently had their first baby, but they knew what sort of look they wanted to achieve – a cool-but-cosy family home.

W H AT ’ S T H E K E Y T O C R E AT I N G A S U C C E S S F U L SCHEME FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

When we meet people, the first thing we do is find out how they live. There’s no point having a formal dining room if they always eat in the kitchen, or building a small closet if they own lots of clothes and shoes. We always find out how they spend their time at home and what colours they’re drawn to – either warm or cold – and take it from there.

W H AT WA S T H E M O S T CHALLENGING ASPECT OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT?

In the main bedroom, there was a lot of space to fill. We had the idea for a four-poster bed to bring structure to the room but Elizabeth didn’t want anything too fancy, so in the end we chose the Alcova bed by B+B Italia but without any curtains. … A N D T H E M O S T S AT I S F Y I N G ?

Splashing out on the Minotti sofa because I know it will last for many years, and that’s money well spent. We also love the headboard in the guest bedroom – especially the way it runs across the whole of the wall. And I love the hanging bedside drawers as they sit beautifully against the fabric.

MAIN BEDROOM

A sturdy four-poster bed and striking feature wallpaper (right) bring structure and depth of colour to the couple’s airy bedroom.

Alcova bed, from £12,371, Chaplins. Funiculi wall lamp, £221, Marset. Percy dressing table, price on request, Julian Chichester. Colefax and Fowler Marchwood wallpaper in Black, £70 a roll, Jane Clayton. Melody chair, price on request, Munna

BATHROOM

The hand-painted wallpaper and black marble vanity set a luxurious tone.

Fishes wallpaper, price on request, de Gournay.

Custom-made vanity unit with Nero Marquina marble surfaces, Carden Cunietti

GUEST BEDROOM

Extending the headboard across the entire wall creates a softer focus, while the floating bedside table adds another unique touch.

Custom-made headboard in Maze Lavender fabric

by Clay McLaurin Studio, price on request, Carden Cunietti. Wall in Plaster IV pure flat emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 8 9

FOR ART’S SAKE There were three things Luq Adejumo wanted from his new home – open space, light and somewhere to hang his beloved paintings FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL/DEBBIE JEFFERY | PHOTOGRAPHY JULIET MURPHY

KITCHEN-DINER The structural steelwork was painted yellow. Combined with the blue and red, it looks like a Mondrian painting.

Psalm 51 artwork by Tim Patrick. Similar table and bench set, £165, Bierkeller Tables. Pipeline pendant lights by Ole Jørgensen, £165 for a pair, Chase & Sorensen. Try the Tolix style metal kitchen stool in Gunmetal, £69, Cult Furniture

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no.

14

home truths THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace L O C AT I O N East London R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, cloakroom, three bedrooms, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I moved here from a terraced house in east London,’ says Luq.

SITTING ROOM AND DINING ROOM Different pendants help demarcate these two areas.

Pendant lights, from a selection, Fandango Interiors.

Similar mid-century dining sets in teak, from £850, Heyvintage. Oak flooring, price on request, Havwoods.

Bespoke shutters, SM Interiors

SITTING ROOM Pale walls create the perfect backdrop for Luq’s bold artwork and colourful finds.

For Warhol exhibition posters, from £8, try Etsy. Robin Day Forum coffee table, price on request, Vinterior. Woodland wood burner, from £1,340, Mendip Stoves

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‘If you’re hesitant about where to place a picture, cut out some brown paper to the same size and Blu-Tack it to the wall before deciding’ DESIGN TIP

L

uq Adejumo loves a home with light and colour, though you’d never have known it if you’d seen the damp and dingy terraced house in London that he chose to buy four years ago. Fortunately, the creative side of Luq saw a lot of potential in the pebbledashed property, despite its ugly windows and shabby lean-to conservatory. After renovating his previous home in Hackney, he noticed that by moving five miles to the east he could get far more for his money. ‘I get so much pleasure from art and wanted a home where I could still hang my large pictures, so wall space was a top priority,’ he says.

Wisely, before buying the property, Luq called in a builder to check over the bones of the house.

He also asked Christian Clemares of CCASA Architects to advise him on whether his own ambitious plans for a total renovation and new kitchen extension were feasible. ‘He even came to visit my home at the time, to get a feel for my style,’ explains Luq. ‘I can sometimes be a little cautious but Christian suggested some exciting new ideas.’ Their joint designs included reconfiguring the traditional Victorian arrangement of separate closed-off living spaces downstairs, and also getting rid of the dilapidated conservatory as well as the garage at the rear, which took up a disproportionate amount of garden space.

With the sale having gone through, Luq wasted no time in setting the renovating wheels in motion, and scaffolding was

erected within days of the completion. First on the list was removing the pebbledash, which took weeks of drilling, but the finished result made up for the noisy and dirty process. ‘I was amazed at the lovely colour of the old walls, and we matched in reclaimed bricks for the extension so it appears seamless,’ says Luq. Inside, the priority was creating a feel of light and space and to that end, the dividing wall between the sitting and dining rooms was removed and an internal window installed to improve the flow of light. But perhaps the most transformative change was the new kitchen extension, which Luq oversaw as project manager. ‘The kitchen’s where I spend most of my time,’ he says. ‘It’s quite a big glazed space, so one of my best investments was the underfloor heating – it’s a great way of making a room warm quickly in cold weather.’

The introduction of colour, which is now evident throughout the house, began with Luq’s purchase of two large kitchen pendant lights in vivid red. ‘Then Christian suggested accenting the structural steelwork, and we duly painted it yellow,’ he says. ‘Teamed with the blue cabinets, the bright kitchen colours started to resemble an abstract Mondrian painting, which makes me smile.’ This is an apt comparison given that Luq’s passions include art. ‘Art is so uplifting,’ he says. ‘Seeing such a dark, damp house transformed into a calm, bright home has been a wonderful experience.’

MAIN BEDROOM This rug’s painterly pattern makes a strong impact.

Louis De Poortere’s Mad Men Fahrenheit 32 New York Fall rug, £160, Woven, would suit this space. For an alternative bed, try the Blythe, £1,299, Heal’s B AT H R O O M Hanging the tiles in a herringbone pattern is a striking choice.

Matrix gloss tiles, from £29.89sq m, Topps Tiles. Sink, taps and shower, from a selection, West One Bathrooms

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no.

15

Coming together Designed by Lionel Real de Azúa of Red Deer, this stylish semi merges different global influences – from Mexico to Mykonos FEATURE JULIET BENNING PHOTOGRAPHY INNA KOSTUKOVSKY

LIVING AREA

HOME TRUTHS D E S I G N E R Lionel Real de Azúa, director, reddeer.co.uk H O U S E Three-storey Edwardian semi-detached house W O R K Complete renovation of the whole property

9 6 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2

The sofa acts as a chic divider between the cooking and relaxing spaces. All of the natural materials contribute to the chilled-0ut feel.

Ravenna corner chaise, £4,045, House of Isabella. Bamboo ceiling light, £75, Dodds & Shute. Fireplace in Tea with Florence intelligent eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

HALLWAY

The geometric tiles are modern but also work well with the period features.

Walls up to dado line in Ambleside absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

SITTING ROOM

Painting the floorboards and walls the same colour feels luxurious.

Sesann sofa, £2,579; Julep armchair, £1,191, both Tacchini

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE I N VO LV E D I N T H I S P R O J E C T ?

I’ve known the client Eric and his partner for years. We’ve worked on a number of his hotels, notably Birch Community, a hotel with a festival influence, taking its cues from the Burning Man project. It’s very joyful and fairly stripped back, but brings value through art and experience and that’s the concept Eric wanted to apply to his home. We looked at how we could use paint 98 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2

KITCHEN

The units were in great condition but brass accessories were added for a bit of shine.

Brass rail, £68, Proper Copper Design at Notonthehighstreet

colours, artwork and lighting to imbue the house with that Birch spirit.

H O W I N VO LV E D W E R E T H E H O M E O W N E R S ? Eric and his

partner were very attentive to the project.

The dialogue was a lot of fun but much of the design process was done remotely as we were in a full lockdown and the client was in Dubai.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE H O M E O W N E R S ’ S T Y L E ? They

were inspired by their travels, notably to Tulum, Mykonos and Copenhagen. The brief was to try to merge those three palettes and reconcile it as a whole. We orchestrated that through the use of vegetable fibre webbing, bentwood and cane furniture.

W H AT W E R E T H E B I G G E S T PRIORITIES FOR THE H O M E O W N E R S ? With two young

children, it had to be a child-friendly space.

Furniture choices were made based on how

MAIN BEDROOM

GARDEN ROOM

The green shelves and plants provide a sense of continuity with the garden.

Shelving in Harley Green intelligent eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. CH24 Wishbone chairs, £196 each, Dodds & Shute

Two tone walls are an artistic touch.

Artwork sourced at New Blood Art

BEDROOM

A rattan headboard introduces another layer of texture.

Marlborough rattan headboard, £513, Dodds & Shute

playful and robust they might be. For both studio and client, we wanted our carbon emissions to be zero so we always kept our supply chains local.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE C O L O U R P A L E T T E ? I bought a

bunch of sample pots which I used on site.

The clients put a lot of trust in my decisions and in the quality of the photos that were sent. Whenever we went for a darker palette we wanted to make sure there was an accent

colour to offset that. The palettes were inspired by the Edwardian leaded light above the front door and feature coral red and green tones.

T H E M O S T S AT I S F Y I N G ASPECT OF THE PROJECT?

Creating a gym in the attic space which wasn’t previously used. We clad it in plywood, put down rubber flooring and added a couple of mirrors and Velux windows. We activated what was previously

BATHROOM

Zellige tiles deliver a Moroccan hammam feel.

Zellige tiles, £112.50sq m, Handmade Tiles Margate

dead space using very little means and added hugely to the footprint of the house.

B E S T A D V I C E F O R C R E AT I N G A SUCCESSFUL SCHEME? I

try to find Instagram accounts that yield historical imagery but, more importantly, I try to be as nomadic as possible with remote working so I can find first-hand inspiration through travel. Personal experiences are so much more valuable than scrolling on the internet.

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IN THE RIGHT TONE The sublime earthy hues that grace every surface of Gertjan Langeland’s apartment are feel-good and fabulous

FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL/VANESSA RICHMOND/NATASJA ADMIRAAL PHOTOGRAPHY THIJS DE LEEUW AND WILLEMIJN DE LEEUW/LIVING INSIDE

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home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Two-bed apartment in a 1906 building L O C AT I O N Amsterdam, the Netherlands R O O M S Sitting/ dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I had a smaller apartment nearby,’ says Gertjan.

DINING AREA Bespoke cushions add eye-catching detail and a note of contrast to the pink walls.

Cushions in Romo’s Kuba Cay Dalmatian, £115m, Zinc. Wishbone dining chairs, £129 each, By Kallevig. Large mobile rattan pendant, £520, Marketset at Trouva. Symbol wallpaper by Arte (seen left), £124.41 a roll, Jane Clayton. Serax Organic stool in Green (seen left), £150, Made in Design

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he prospect of an apartment near Amsterdam’s main city park, the Vondelpark, was a big draw when Gertjan Langeland was looking to move home. Although his previous property was in the same neighbourhood, and closer to the city centre and the picturesque canals, Gertjan says: ‘I wanted something slightly bigger and which felt different.

I was in need of a change, if only to avoid being bored!’

The apartment building certainly offered plenty of space and its rooms were generously sized. ‘I also liked the fact they were really well proportioned, and the ceilings are about 3.5m high,’ says Gertjan, who had viewed several properties before buying this one.

‘This place felt immediately right – I particularly loved how the windows let in so much light. It’s also on a street with lots of activity, and the Vondelpark is so close that it feels a bit like my back garden!’

When Gertjan bought the property, in 2019, it was simply painted white throughout – a look that he knew he’d update with something more colourful as soon as he could. He also wanted to replace the kitchen with a contemporary one but realised he’d need some help. ‘I didn’t have the time to plan a renovation,’ he says. ‘I have a busy schedule with work – not to mention my social life – and although I have a good eye and like interior design, I wanted to get it right in one go. Plus, to be honest, I’m a bit afraid of colours!’

Gertjan loved the work of interior designer Nicole Dohmen (atelierndinterior.com) who, coincidentally, contacted him when she heard that he had moved. ‘To SITTING AREA A roomy corner sofa is a sociable seating solution.

Long Island sofa, from £605, Sofa.com.

HK Living mirror block table, £175.48, Living and Co. Eileen Gray Tube light, from £653, Aram Store. Artwork by Masha Trebukova

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KITCHEN ‘The kitchen is very well done and feels balanced,’ says Gertjan. ‘I love its simplicity and drama.’

For similar kitchen, try the Hockley, price on request, Howdens. Units in Hague Blue modern eggshell, £77 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. For similar lights, try the House Doctor Pin pendants, £67 each, Nordic Nest

KITCHEN ‘The window seat is an ideal spot for drinking tea and reading a book, or just staring outside,’ says Gertjan.

Astier de Villatte Dragon vase, £340, Liberty. Rondo tray table, £245, Amara, would suit this space. Try window blinds in Wildlife fabric by Zimmer & Rohde, from £179m, Jane Clayton

give me a real feel of her style, she invited me to her own family home, which is a magical place with lots of colour, cosy corners and beautiful artefacts from her travels.’ For Gertjan, who wanted a home that matched his personality – cheerful, not too serious, yet masculine – it convinced him that Nicole had the ability to reflect his tastes.

‘I wanted my home to look warm and cosy, and not like a showroom, so I gave Nicole carte blanche,’ says Gertjan. ‘That could have resulted in a place that didn’t feel “me”, but Nicole was adamant I could keep all my books and quirky pieces – the things that make it mine.’ A vital part of the process was lengthy discussions between the pair before Nicole showed him her mood boards. ‘She listened well and understood what I wanted, perhaps even better than I knew myself,’ says Gertjan.

Among the features that bring a feel of homeliness to this apartment are the window seats overlooking the streets. ‘They’re comfortable spots for drinking tea – or wine – and reading a book,’ says Gertjan, who also says the rich, lush paintwork has had an energising effect. ‘I must admit, the colour scheme makes me feel good every day. It’s very earthy. The apartment was colourless when I bought it but when I now visit friends’ places, which also tend to be completely white, I think the look is boring.’ Gertjan says that friends who visit him love the apartment – the colours, the cosy corners and all the little details like the fringes on the curtains. ‘It makes me happy to think that everyone feels at home here.’

MAIN BEDROOM Gertjan wanted a vibrant colour scheme and the wallpaper adds art deco opulence.

Deco Martini wallpaper in Teal, £140 a roll, Divine Savages. Saber large velvet cushions in Gold, £195 each, House of Hackney.

Artwork by Masha Trebukova. Try the Burford small side table, from £251, Soho Home

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VINTAGE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian semi-detached L O C AT I O N South London R O O M S Sitting room, snug, kitchen-diner, cloakroom, four bedrooms, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a Spanish-style villa in Melbourne, Australia,’ says Jane.

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blend

Jane McCarthy and her husband Ian Harman combined their love of mid-century design with inspiration taken from time spent living in Australia FEATURE JANE CRITTENDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR

KITCHEN Instead of extending, the couple added floor-to-ceiling glazing and a skylight to get the light-filled room they wanted.

Clerkenwell Super Matt kitchen, from £8,000, Howdens. Reeded glass pendant lights, £142 each, Spark & Bell. Terrazzo Nouveau Ivory floor tiles, £57.60sq m, Mandarin Stone.

Try the Ola Graphic Weave bar stool, £295, Graham and Green

SITTING ROOM The colour palette is reminiscent of Neapolitan ice cream.

Walls in Roman Plaster absolute emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

MAIN BEDROOM ‘My grandma crocheted the bedspread for my 21st birthday,’ says Jane. ‘It’s a wonderful piece of history.’

Knoll Saarinen white Tulip table, £804, Cimmermann.

Frosted Bubble chandelier (below), £149.99 with 12 baubles, Dowsing & Reynolds.

Origami desk is similar, £399.50, Maisons du Monde

S TA N L E Y ’ S B E D R O O M A painted black floor grounds the neutral scheme.

The Ella chair in Moss Green velvet, £239, Cult Furniture, would work

FAVOURITE ITEM ‘I really love the mid-century look of the reeded glass pendants in the kitchen’

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A

B AT H R O O M A slimline shower tray creates a wet-room look.

Aspect Grey Hexagon tiles are similar, £33.95sq m, Walls and Floors. Picasso free-standing bath, £1,395; Picasso basins (below), £198 each, Lusso Stone. Round gold metal mirrors, £218 each, Maisons du Monde

fter enjoying living in Melbourne, Australia, for four years, Jane McCarthy and her husband, Ian Harman, moved back to their London home with children, Stanley, now 15, and Wilf, 14.

‘We’d been living in a villa covered in pretty bougainvillea and came home to a house with mould on the kitchen walls and a jungle of a garden,’ says Jane. ‘We’d got use to space and light so we decided to extend into the side return. We contacted architect Darren Oldfield, who was recommended by friends.’

The couple originally bought the house for its space, sizeable garden and period features, but had never been happy with the kitchen, which had been extended some 40-odd years before. ‘We should have benefited from the morning sun, but a tiny back door made it always feel gloomy,’ Jane explains. ‘The layout was back-to-front with a table as you came into the room and cupboards at the far end but no view to the garden.’

Jane and Ian were surprised when Darren discouraged them from extending. ‘I had a vision of a kitchen with a sofa and log burner, but he rightly pointed out we already had comfortable seating and log burners in the other two downstairs rooms,’ she says. ‘We’re amazed how much bigger the kitchen looks just by rebuilding on the same footprint and changing the layout.’

Bold glazing ideas added to the sense of space with floor-to-ceiling doors across the back and a glazed window box on the side. ‘We fell in love with Darren’s design, especially the window seat,’ says Jane.

Darren project-managed the renovation for the couple, who both work full-time. Unfortunately, not long into the building process, a problem arose with a drain that resulted in an expensive solution to re-route the pipes, which meant scaling back the kitchen budget.

‘Darren suggested we look at Howdens’ kitchens, which I was a bit unsure about at first, but I was pleasantly surprised by the range.’

After the building work finished, Jane rolled out her vision for the kitchen, influenced by interior design in Melbourne’s many city centre coffee shops. ‘One of my favourite places had pink and brass fittings and an amazing terrazzo floor,’ she says. ‘I chose brushed gold taps, blonde wood furniture, handleless cupboards and sleek black appliances.’

Jane used a similar colour scheme throughout the house to complement their collection of mid-century furniture. Stylish lighting and intriguing artwork add finishing touches to the rooms. ‘Sometimes I find myself sitting in the kitchen early on a Saturday morning when everyone else is still in bed,’ says Jane, ‘and I think how lovely our home is.

It’s a good feeling to be here.’

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PURE JOY You can’t help but feel happy upon entering Julia Seppännen’s colourful home – there’s a uniqueness to it that’s completely heart-warming FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES BALSTON

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached late Victorian house L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Sitting room, family room, library, kitchen, breakfast room, conservatory, office, playroom, utility room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (two en suite), two bathrooms PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in an 18th-century house in Cape Town,’ says Julia.

CONSERVATORY

Julia loves how the rich purple shade contrasts with the natural tones of the timber and it is a hue that matches the boldness of some of the accessories.

Bespoke Madison carver chairs, from £1,268 plus 2.75m fabric, The Odd Chair Company. Chairs in Parmos in Smokey Blue, Constanza in Antique Pink and Constanza in Bosphorus Blue, all £154m; Mini Weave in Moss and Sky Blue, both £140m, all Susan Deliss. Chandelier, Mischa Fritsch. Samona three-seater sofa in Vintage Ochre recycled velvet, £999, Made, has this look

BREAKFAST ROOM

The relaxed seating area includes an unusual coffee table made from wooden cigar boxes and wine crates.

Roubel sofa, £4,570, Pinch. Walls in Lavender lime paint, €30 for 1ltr, Bauwerk

KITCHEN

New oak cabinetry incorporates practicalities such as an island unit and an iron rack for the batterie de cusine.

For similar cabinetry, try Naked Kitchens.

Try the Toledo swivel bar stool, £79, Cult

SITTING ROOM

Artwork pops against the yellow walls.

Penguin and Ostrich paintings, Miguel Macaya. Walls in Peter’s Ochre matt emulsion, £36.81 for 1ltr, Francesca’s Paints

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lanning a house renovation from afar can be fraught with difficulties but when Julia Seppännen was organising her family’s move from South Africa to the UK in 2020, she had the advantage of already knowing their future home well. ‘The house had belonged to my parents, who had downscaled to a smaller property three years previously,’ she recounts, adding, ‘They had moved here when I was 11, and my son was 11 when we returned, so it somehow felt like it was meant to be.’

Fortunately, Julia had met with interior designer Ana Engelhorn on a visit to the UK just before the world went into

lockdown. ‘The original plan had been that I would travel back to England so that we could work on the house together but of course, the pandemic changed all of that and I had to hand over the reins to Ana,’ she says. She continues, ‘From the outset I sensed that we were very much on the same page: I loved the fact that she was prepared to push the envelope with colour as I’d always wanted to use it in my previous homes but I had never quite known how to.’

Julia, who is half Spanish and half German, has a creative eye and over the years she and her Finnish husband have amassed a collection of striking pieces, from

art and vintage furniture to one-off designs made by artisans they have met on their travels. ‘Ana had the tough job of working out where all these pieces would fit,’ laughs Julia, who emailed the designer an itinerary of everything they owned, which includes a chandelier featuring lights resembling shoe lasts and a pair of huge carved clouds that came from an old theatre set.

Ana also had the job of fixing a late Victorian house that hadn’t been properly renovated for many years. ‘When I brought in the contractor, we realised that a lot of the plumbing and electricals needed updating,’ explains Ana, who opted to save the parquet 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 202 2 | 113

MAIN BEDROOM

The lime paint gives a lovely textural feel to the space.

Penelope bed upholstered in Loro Piana Alchemy velvet in Cipresso, from £26,490, Savoir Beds. Walls in Lillypilly lime paint, €30 for 1ltr, Bauwerk

MAIN BATHROOM

Positioned on an angle, the bath gets great views of the garden.

Spey bath, from £3,570, Drummonds

BEDROOM

Bluebell-hued walls and a lime green lamp have a modern look.

Cactus table lamp, from £474, Hector Finch. Walls in Bluebell lime paint, €30 for 1ltr, Bauwerk

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floor by having it painstakingly cleaned and repaired. ‘We kept whatever we could reuse: for example, when we turned the library on the first floor into a nursery for the couple’s daughter, who is now two, we retained the built-in bookshelves on one wall and had a fitted desk made to match,’ she says.

At over 500 square metres, the house is large, and Ana has used colour to help unite some of the spaces. For example, the same lavender hue was used in the kitchen and the adjoining breakfast room as well as the nearby conservatory which houses a larger dining space and seating area. ‘When I was asking Julia about her preferences, the

colour purple came up a lot and I felt it was a nice contrast to the natural tones of the brick and the timber,’ notes Ana, who used a deeper shade of purple for the couple’s main suite on the level above.

Bold shades of blue and an upbeat yellow are just some of the other colours that inform the schemes, the latter serving as a punchy foil to artwork in the sitting room. ‘The colours seem to bring everything together and they have helped us to see our collections in a new light,’ Julia observes. ‘Before this, our pieces were displayed against white walls and they looked very different. I think that the colours have made everything feel more homely.’

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SITTING ROOM

The couple like the peacefulness of neutrals but know how to introduce just the right amount of colour and pattern to make a scheme stand out.

Custom sofa, price on request, Furniture Envy.

Slate Multi rug, $1,737.50, Loloi Rugs. Artwork (over sofa)

by Kenneth Sloan at ArtHaus Gallery

Character PIECE Nina and Brian Johnson’s Craftsman house is packed with period features and quite a few wow moments FEATURE KARINE MONIÉ | PHOTOGRAPHY R. BRAD KNIPSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY

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hen they found this three-level, fivebedroom 1910 Craftsman house, Nina and Brian Johnson knew it was the right time for a change. ‘We previously lived in San Francisco and while we loved the city, we were ready for a neighbourhood where the kids could ride their bikes and play in a backyard,’ say the couple, who have three-year-old twin girls, Lily and Ruth. Moving to Berkeley - located only 20 kilometres northeast of San Francisco - felt like the perfect decision. But that doesn’t mean it was easy.

‘The Bay Area property market is historically very competitive, but we were able to get this house for under the asking price, as it needed considerable work,’ says Nina. As entrepreneurs with their own businesses and little free time, the couple decided to call on professionals, including constructor Jason Carter of California Aesthetics, architect Maria Anderson and interior designer Whitney Riter Gelinas, founder of Wit Interiors. ‘I have a daughter the same age as their twins, so I felt a kinship with Nina,’ says Whitney. ‘I know how young children can disrupt your house in a blink of an eye and wanted to create a space that even at its messiest, would still feel happy and cheerful.’

The tall ceilings and original features give the house an historical feel - and this is complemented by the structural work, which included the renovation of the kitchen, which now opens onto the dining area to give a more expansive feel.

‘We worked hard to honour the vintage details, such as the

HALLWAY

A wide opening to the dining room increases the feeling of space.

Go Lightly small chandelier by Barbara Barry, $699, Circa Lighting. Try the Bill coat rack

by Maze, £59.25, Finnish Design Shop

CLOAKROOM

The statement wallpaper is enhanced by the painted woodwork.

Galileo Glass wallpaper in Shale, from $114, Eskayel.

Utilitaire Socket double sconce, $215.05, RH Modern

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KITCHEN

Three wooden shelves bring warmth to the white walls and co-ordinate with the floor.

Vintage rug, $15,000, Tony Kitz Rugs

DINING ROOM

The rug, which is made from wool and recycled saris, picks up on the colour of the dining chairs.

Marie in Banks Lagoon chairs, $918 each, Room & Board. Cross table $5,055, Design Within Reach.

Tiger Lily rug, $4,830, The Rug Establishment. Royalton chandelier, $6,785, Arteriors

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A 1910 Craftsman home L O C AT I O N California R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, cloakroom, office, den, playroom, five bedrooms, three bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in an Edwardian property in Bernal Heights, San Francisco,’ says Nina.

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MAIN BATHROOM

Tiling the shower ceiling gives an amazing look.

London Apothecary tiles (on floor), $109.44 for 24, Clé Tile

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LESSONS LEARNT ‘You can have a white sofa with kids – just pick a performance fabric you can wash’

MAIN BEDROOM A four poster adds the wow factor here.

Soledad bed, $4,079.63, CFC Interiors. Side table, $279.20, West Elm. Camden lamp, $304.50, Renwil

large windows, wainscoting and a dramatic staircase lit by distinctive leaded glass windows,’ explains Whitney. At the same time the house had to work for this modern family the designer shared a Pinterest board with her clients throughout the process to exchange ideas.

Whitney stuck to a neutral base and then layered pops of colour and pattern, creating an atmosphere that was welcoming with nothing too precious while still being a stylish space. ‘This house gives the illusion of being fancy but at its heart it’s very functional,’ says Whitney, who convinced the homeowners to introduce some bold touches along the way. ‘I wasn’t planning on adding much to the playroom, but when Whitney showed me the wallpaper for the ceiling and bookcase paint colour I knew it was worth doing,’ says Nina.

‘As you can imagine, I’ve spent a lot of time in that room over the last year so I’m really glad we decided to invest in it.’

In all the spaces, the result is balanced, reflecting the designer’s vision, which always had the family’s personality and needs in mind to shape this project. ‘While the home is approachable, it’s fun to have a few ‘wow’ moments for friends to discover when they come to visit,’ says Whitney.

GIRLS’ BEDROOM

The upholstered bed will suit the girls when they are older, too.

Upholstered Avery bed in Rose, $2,298, Room & Board.

Chamomile digital print (above chest of drawers), $161, Juniper. Reverie Rug, $643, West Elm

PLAYROOM

Putting wallpaper on the ceiling is a lovely and whimsical touch.

Caitlin sofa, $2,380, Interior Define. Daydream wallpaper, $195 a roll, Hygge & West

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MODE RN LOVE This charming Georgian terraced house has gone cool and contemporary – and it’s all down to owners Helen and Michael Andrews’ chic design choices FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH

SITTING ROOM Graphic posters set the modern tone and the sleek shelving and lighting continue it.

Grey was chosen over white walls for a richer, less minimalistic aesthetic.

Mega Junction chandelier in antique brass, £424, Heal’s. Porto three-seater sofa, £1,599, Swoon. Terrace coffee table, £449, West Elm

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home truths THE PROPERTY Georgian terraced house L O C AT I O N London R O O M S Sitting room/study, kitchen-diner/living area, two bedrooms, bathroom, shower room P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in my one-bedroom flat in London,’ says Helen.

DINING AREA Banquette seating makes the most of the space here.

Bespoke Ang-01 table and BLOC banquette seating, both in American white oak, prices on request Marrow Furniture LIVING AREA Just a few statement pieces have created a chic space.

Similar Moquette cushions, £60 each, London Transport Museum Shop.

Brink & Chapman Flamenco rug, from £790, The Rug Seller KITCHEN Sleek units blend into the background – ideal in an open-plan room.

Try the Skill cabinetry, price on request, Modulnova. Mile End Gate vintage replica bus sign, £18, eBay

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or Helen and Michael Andrews, staying in the heart of the East End of London was a must when they traded in Helen’s small flat in the area. ‘I’d lived and worked in the East End for 10 years,’ says Helen. ‘I loved the area and walking to work, and didn’t want that to change even though we needed a bigger home.’

The couple focused their search around the local area, eventually finding a three-storey terrace house with a lovely garden and two bedrooms. ‘We couldn’t believe how peaceful the street felt, despite being just off a busy main road. Although we’d lived close by for years, we hadn’t realised what a charming and historically interesting place this is.’

The couple had been keen to find a period property that had already been modernised.

‘Coming from a purpose built 1950s flat, the period details were amazing,’ says Helen. The basement had recently been renovated with a rear extension that was home to a large open-plan kitchen and living area. However, the layout of the kitchen needed some work.

‘Luckily, Michael has a knack of visualising spaces and knew the foundations were there to create something really special.’

The day Helen and Michael moved in, work began knocking through the partition wall between the sitting and back rooms on the ground floor to combine them into one large space. Uneven flooring was taken up and replaced, shelving fitted into the alcoves, and a desk and shelving system in one corner to double up as a study area. In the upstairs rooms, the couple kept a more traditional tone,

playing to the period qualities of the house, removing carpets and redecorating.

In the basement, the kitchen has been replaced with contemporary grey cabinetry, with a large central island to make better use of the open space. ‘The basement extension has a very modern feel, and we wanted the kitchen and dining areas to reflect that,’ says Helen.

In the dining area, a bespoke oak table with banquette seating has been made to fit the space, with pendant lighting overhead to define the area and the other end of the room has been furnished with comfortable sofas, cushions and soft lighting. ‘Michael designed the areas to be sociable and cosy spaces for friends and family to enjoy, and now it’s perfect for entertaining.’ The pair recently took on garden designer, Georgia Lindsay, to help them

landscape and plant the outdoor space. ‘Her advice was invaluable, and she really helped bring the garden to life. We have a covered seating area at the end of the garden, and it now feels like an extension of the downstairs.’

The couple’s distinctive style can be seen throughout the house with an interesting mix of contemporary and classic design, alongside a striking collection of art and accessories. ‘We both love mid-century furniture and design and have filled the space with pieces which we really feel reflect our personalities.’

Four years on and the couple couldn’t be happier. ‘The area has a rich history, and we know our neighbours for the first time since we moved to London. We finally feel part of a community, which is a special thing when you live in a city – and is really important to us.’

MAIN BEDROOM Black highlights echo the colour of the Georgian fireplace, which was reinstated by the couple.

Los Ojos Pendleton jacquard blanket, £385, Amara. VP Globe 1969 pendant light, £1,386, Twentytwentyone.

Mallory bedside table in walnut and brass, £159, Made B AT H R O O M The plant adds a gorgeous lushness.

Astoria grey roll-top slipper bath with claw feet, £479.95, Victorian Plumbing, is similar.

BEDROOM A mirror over the bed bounces light around.

Circle of Life Legendary blanket, £370, Pendleton, is a good alternative

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ROOMS IN FOCUS

We look at a specific project in five amazing houses to give advice and inspiration in detail

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GRAND AMBITION

Martin Moore designer David Sant interwove luxury finishes and classical details to create a kitchen worthy of its impressive setting FEATURE BIANCA KANE | PHOTOGRAPHY DARREN CHUNG

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et in private farmland, this Georgian hall is home to influencer Fleur Bell (@fleurdeforce), her husband, Mike, and their young daughter, River.

The project involved a complete redesign of the generously-sized kitchen to make the most of the space, while honouring the character of the property.

THE BRIEF

The couple turned to Martin Moore designer David Sant for help. Fleur wanted to replace the modest cabinetry with a grander kitchen that took advantage of the generous size of the room and included a comfortable space for dining. For Mike, an enthusiastic cook, professional-grade appliances were essential.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

‘The large Wolf range cooker needed to be the prime focus of the room, so we created a generous chimney breast-style surround with a mantel in the same dark shade as the cabinetry to help it stand out,’ says David.

The chimney was flanked by two tall cupboards for groceries and small appliances with bifold doors that sit neatly out of the way while accessing the contents. We designed the sink area with a ‘break front’ detail, which essentially steps the sink unit out by 7cm. This has two effects: it breaks up the tedium of a long run of units and also gives a more generous working area around the sink.

M AT E R I A L S U S E D

Gioia marble was used for the main kitchen worktops, while Icarus granite features on the island and the dining table. The dark vein in both materials complements the cabinetry perfectly. To increase the sense of cohesion, nickel taps and drawer handles echo the look of the stainless-steel appliances.

FINISHING TOUCHES

The size of the room meant that darker paint colours could be used on the cabinetry to dramatic effect. A deep blue - Railings by Farrow & Ball - was chosen and it pairs beautifully with the light-coloured marble worktops.

LESSONS LEARNT

Initially, Fleur wanted a dining table attached to the island but it was realised that it would have made the unit far too long - and created a possible obstruction rather than a feature. Instead, there is a separate dining table, improving the flow in the room and also allowing the family to dine together in more comfort.

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S OWNERS Fleur and Mike Bell H O U S E Georgian hall house W O R K Complete redesign of the kitchen and dining area

A L L I N T H E D E TA I L The mantel over the range adds beautiful decoration and the panelled doors either side are pantries for groceries and small appliances.

The New Classic kitchen range in Farrow & Ball’s Railings, from £35,000, Martin Moore

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FINISHING TOUCHES

Everything from the wood panelling lining cupboards to the statement lantern lighting and modern bar stools give this classic kitchen a one-of-a-kind look.

ICBDF60669 range cooker, £25,440; warming drawer with stainless-steel front, £3,360, both Wolf.

ICBIC-30RID fridge, £10,740; ICBIC30-FI freezer, £10,500; ICBIW-18 wine cooler, £8,160, all Sub-Zero.

6584-0 Iron/Tones double sink, £506; 5832-5U-0 Bakersfield single sink, £1,103, both Kohler. Alsace tap and spray, £635; Celeste hot tap, £1,177, both in nickel, Perrin & Rowe, all supplied by Martin Moore. Gioia marble worktops (main), £480sq m, and Icarus granite (island and table), £720sq m, both Yes Granite. Large Zurich lantern lights, £1,512 each, Vaughan

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TA K E A S E AT By including an island and a dining table, there is a clear distinction between the practical and social zones of the kitchen, with the dining table acting as a more formal space for gathering.

Molina dining chairs in Navy Blue, £995 for two, Soho Home. Large Oscar lantern, £2,310, Charles Edwards

PICTURE PERFECT Doing double duty as a family kitchen and photo-shoot location, Malcolm and Fiona Menzies’ cook space had to look great and work hard FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY MALCOLM MENZIES

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alcolm and Fiona Menzies looked at over 70 houses before finding something that suited their family yet could also be hired out for their location shoot business (6ixteenhouse.com).

‘Our criteria was strict; no-one living opposite, a large drive, big rooms, nice windows, plus wide corridors and doorways for crew and equipment,’ says Malcolm, an interiors and hospitality photographer. Eventually, they found this spacious home – and spent four months renovating the whole interior, including this stylish kitchen-diner.

THE BRIEF

Blakes London (blakeslondon.com) was brought in to redesign the kitchen and to make it family-friendly. ‘It was key that the kitchen space be unique, design-led and incredibly versatile,’ says Hugh Leader-Williams, lead designer of Blakes London. ‘We wanted something that was both new and different in terms of style, yet something that wouldn’t be too trend focused and would endure.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

The kitchen takes its influences from both industrial and traditional styles. ‘We designed a pared-back contemporary Shaker-style tall pantry unit to offer a softer, more classic look,’ says Hugh. ‘The glazed wall units were designed in a complementary style and by using glass rather than solid timber we were able to break up the wall run.’ An unusual feature is the island on castors, which can be moved around the room. ‘This is useful for parties and photo shoots as the kitchen space can be opened up to create a large open-plan room,’ says Hugh. ‘There’s also a herb trough within the island, which can double up as a champagne cooler at night.’

M AT E R I A L S U S E D

‘Elegant and timeless Carrara marble offers a touch of luxury and sophistication juxtaposed to the more industrial look of the hard-working, raw timber boards used on the flat-fronted base cabinetry,’ says Hugh. ‘Layering beautiful materials and textures cohesively enables the design to hold the eye and captures the imagination for longer.’

FINISHING TOUCHES

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R S Malcolm and Fiona Menzies, who have daughters Mya, eight and Clara, five H O U S E A six-bedroom detached Victorian house in south London W O R K A kitchen-diner refit forming part of a year-long extension and renovation

Herringbone tiles line the back of the wall cabinets, offering depth and visual interest. ‘Originally, these were designed as white metro tiles with a grey grout, which brought a more industrial vibe,’ says Hugh. ‘However, the joy of this design is that small changes to things such as tiles, colours of cabinets and changes to hardware can give a totally different look and feel.’ Malcolm also loves the lacquered brass library rails and ladder, which are both practical and stylish.

LESSONS LEARNT

The only tweak Malcolm made was to the industrial copper pipe tap. ‘This was a budget option made by our plumber,’ says Malcolm. ‘At first, it had round turning valves, which were terrible, so we later replaced them for ones that give a much better water flow.’

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BEAUTIFUL MIX

The combination of materials is stunning – from raw wood to Carrara marble and brass. The soft sage colour was chosen to echo the garden view from the conservatory that is open plan to the kitchen and acts as a dining space. A bespoke panelled unit (right) was created to keep the fridge and freezer out of sight.

A similar kitchen starts at around £45,000, Blakes London. Cabinetry and wall panels painted in Green Smoke estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.

Aga range cooker, from £3,799, Aga Living. Kuni wood-effect ceramic flooring by Imola Ceramica, £32.99sqm, Tile Expert. Similar sink, from £500, Shaws of Darwen. Galley pull handles in natural brass, from £22.56, Schoolhouse. Seine weathered copper tap, £462, Proper Copper Design, is an alternative.

The Apex 1 single matt black pendant light, £94.80, Där Lighting, is similar. The Alvina solid pine 6-8 seater dining table, La Redoute, would work here. Try the wire side chair, £139, Pash Classics

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HIGH STYLE

Tall cupboards are accessed via a ladder. A brass rail protects woodwork when the ladder is in use.

Tiling the inside of the glazed cupboards added another decorative layer.

Similar Carrara marble worktops, from £10,000, Blakes London. Try Marmi Calacatta herringbone tiles, £146.64sqm, Tiles Direct

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COMFORT ZONE Good taste and teamwork were the main factors in creating this cosy yet elegant sitting room FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY ZAC AND ZAC

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S DESIGNER Jessica Buckley Interiors HOUSE Georgian terrace in Edinburgh W O R K Dividing one half of a large first-floor kitchen-diner to create a vibrant sitting room

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fter buying a three-storey Georgian terrace in Edinburgh, the owners realised that before moving in, a refit and redesign throughout was called for. Seeing the work of designer Jessica Buckley on Instagram (@jessicabuckleyinteriors), they commissioned her to help reconfigure and design the house, of which the sitting room played a central role.

THE BRIEF

‘The first floor mainly consisted of an open-plan kitchendiner and seating area,’ says Jessica. ‘Originally, the front section would have been a sitting room but at some point, the dividing wall had been removed. Working with the owners and an architect, we reinstated the wall, which left me to concentrate on the design of this newly formed room.’ Having two young children, the owners wanted a room that was elegant and smart but ‘not too precious’.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

To help Jessica get a feel for what the owners had in mind, the couple invited her to visit the home they had yet to move out of. ‘My clients clearly loved colour and pattern but, as is often the case, they felt that they needed the reassurance of someone like me to take them out of their comfort zone,’ explains Jessica.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Creating a sociable space here was high on the list of priorities and, for Jessica, introducing a club fender to accentuate the fireplace made the inward positioning of the furniture a natural choice. ‘The addition of cushions not only adds to the cosy feel, but is an opportunity to bring in different layers of colour and pattern,’ says Jessica.

‘Besides, both the owners and I just love cushions!’

LESSONS LEARNT

A slight learning curve for the owners was the choice of colour for the bookcase on the rear wall; their natural inclination was to go for white or cream but they were persuaded to go for the same weighty blue as used on the walls. ‘I think they were quite surprised at how well it looks,’ says Jessica.

FULL OF RICHNESS

The bookcase was painted the same colour as the walls for an enveloping feel.

Cabinetry custom designed by Jessica Buckley Interiors. James sofas and Muir armchairs, all price on request, Charlotte James Furniture. Club fender custom made for Jessica Buckley Interiors. Matching Gustavian bureau drawers, £1,565 each, Chelsea Textiles. Stratton chandelier, £2,160, Vaughan.

Octagon brass side table, £425, Oka. Wool Berber rug, from £1,033, Luke Irwin. Cushions from a selection at Oka, Penny Morrison, Fermoie and Jessica Buckley Interiors. Walls in Oval Room Blue estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr; cabinetry in Oval Room Blue estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball

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PRETTY FLOURISHES Considered details like the flashes of brass and storage bureau deliver further luxurious decoration.

Curtains in Mantua fabric, £29.50m, Tinsmiths.

Bridgehampton coffee table, £3,096; Crossley table lamp, £424, both Vaughan

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ROOM TO RELAX Clever re-jigging of the layout allowed Jane Fitzpatrick to accommodate both a free-standing bath and a large walk-in shower in her bathroom FEATURE LUCY SEARLE/LISA FAZZANI | PHOTOGRAPHY COLIN POOLE

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R S Jane and James Fitzpatrick and their two sons H O U S E A detached, converted farmhouse built in the 1800s in Lincolnshire W O R K Redesign of the main bathroom to include a bath and walk-in shower

S P A C E M AT T E R S

Removing a wall between the bathroom and the hall and repositioning the door increased the floor plan, while split-face granite tiles upped the style stakes.

Slate tiles, £72sq m; Mokara Grey tiles, £52.60sq m; similar Regal Rock Grey tiles, from £40sq m; similar Capao Mato brick mosaic tiles, £90sq m, all Topps Tiles. Try the Brooklyn bath, £699.95; and Crosswater walk-in shower enclosure, £419.95, both Victorian Plumbing. Beat 500 Bluetooth-illuminated mirror, £440, Roper Rhodes

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hen Jane Fitzpatrick and her husband James first saw their farmhouse, they were struck by how character-filled it was, with original features and so much potential.

The couple and their two sons agreed to live in it for a year without doing anything other than painting, so that they could get a feel for how they would use it as a family. In that time they realised that the dated and poorly designed family bathroom would be one of the first things to change.

THE BRIEF

Jane was keen for the new bathroom to feature both a bath and a large walk-in shower. When it came to the decor, she wanted to create a modern sanctuary that also respected the character of the property.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Given the relatively modest size of the room, fitting in a bath and walk-in shower seemed like a tall order. ‘Luckily, our builder suggested removing the wall between the bathroom and hallway, and repositioning the door to create more room,’ says Jane. ‘This made space for a shower and an alcove for the bath to nestle in.’ Underfloor heating was installed rather than radiators to save further wall space. The couple also added a vanity with storage for towels and toiletries. ‘We’ve used materials to suit the farmhouse’s age mixed with up-to-date pieces so the end result feels characterful but very on trend,’ says Jane.

FINISHING TOUCHES

‘To design a contemporary sanctuary space that worked in our farmhouse I wanted to create a nod to rustic country charm but done in a modern way,’ says Jane. ‘To develop my ideas, I read interior design magazines and scoured Pinterest.’ However, one of Jane’s biggest inspirations came from her local Italian restaurant, which has split-face granite tiles on one of the walls.

‘When it came to the colour palette, I was drawn to a combination of grey and mustard - the muted tones with a fab pop of colour work so well. And once I’d found the tiles, I couldn’t resist shopping around for accessories, long before the work had even started,’ says Jane. To add a touch of greenery, she also included a couple of faux succulents, which look great and require no maintenance.

‘The result is beyond all my expectations,’ says Jane.

‘Every time I go into the bathroom, I feel a fantastic sense of achievement. The room is no longer a dated 1980s throwback, but a beautiful yet practical space.’

LESSONS LEARNT

‘My advice would be to allow extra in your budget, especially if you have an old house,’ says Jane. ‘We encountered antiquated plumbing and pipework issues along the way, and the old boiler and hot-water tank both needed to be replaced, which we hadn’t foreseen.’

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SIMPLY ELEGANT

Wanting to bring a softer look to this bedroom in her modernist home, Ansa Mattin sought the help of the experts FEATURE ALISON GIBB | PHOTOGRAPHY DOUGLAS GIBB

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nsa and Peter Mattin are accustomed to feeling at home in simple modernist spaces in their native Finland. They were keen to give their own look to the unique Edinburgh new-build home they bought from innovative property developer Colin Wong. ‘The house was designed and built according to the principles of feng shui,’ Ansa explains ‘and we were delighted to work with Dixie Mirowski and Ralf Farthing, owners of local design studio Catalog Interiors (cataloginteriors.com) to help us fulfil our intentions.’

THE BRIEF

Ansa asked the team at Catalog Interiors to add layers of interest to their main bedroom suite, while respecting the existing clean, contemporary architecture. She wanted her bedroom to be cosy and offer her a feeling of escape.

‘Comfort and simplicity were the key words,’ she explains.

‘I am drawn to pale, calming colours and interesting textiles rather than more dramatic choices every time.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

The bed is carefully positioned to make the most of the fantastic view of the treetops that the upstairs rooms all enjoy. The en suite has been placed behind the bed and as you enter the room you walk through the discreetly fitted dressing area with bespoke storage made from walnut.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Low-slung pendant lights on either side of the bed add a moment of quiet drama to this deliberately sparingly styled room, which was designed as a peaceful, calming sanctuary. A washed-out, denim-toned rug, an anthracite grey throw on the bed and pale blue woven cushions are all the colour Ansa and Peter needed to add quiet interest to the neutral backdrop of soft taupe and white painted walls and cream wool carpeting.

LESSONS LEARNT

Ansa and Peter wanted the view of the trees to be the focus for the design of this room. ‘We realised you do not always need distracting bright colours and vivid patterns,’ says Ansa. ‘Look to nature and your surroundings for inspiration.’ Minimalism is a demanding discipline and requires a little bit of commitment; you have to be prepared to sacrifice traditional focal points such as artwork and accent colours sometimes, as they are not always required to finish a room.

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S OWNERS Ansa and Peter Mattin H O U S E Detached contemporary villa, built in 2010 W O R K The bedroom suite was given a new look as part of a whole house refurbishment

PERFECT ADDITIONS

The rug at the end of the bed and low-slung pendants immediately introduced warmth and personality.

Headboard upholstered in Wemyss Sacramento Indigo fabric, £42.25m; cushions in Wemyss Napa Indigo, £46.25m, both TM Interiors. Bella bedside tables, £195 each, Hay. Plain rug in Denim, £953, from Toulemonde Bochart, available from Catalog Interiors. White Savy radiator, £279, Hudson Reed

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CLEVER ZONES A desk creates a dressing area and a chair (right) a reading space.

Line 1 lamp, £680, Norr11; Fast chair in walnut, £1,924, both Catalog Interiors.

Chair in Wemyss Santa Rosa Sapphire, £42.25m, TM Interiors. DLM (Don’t Leave Me) table (right), £139, Hay

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IDEAS TO SHARE Hybrid hotel The Audo in Copenhagen is a masterclass in Scandi chic. theaudo.com

ROOM ENVY

evised by Bjarne Hansen, founder and former CEO of Danish interiors studio MENU, The Audo is not only the brand’s headquarters, it’s a multidisciplinary space, based in a former Copenhagen fisheries trading post.

The converted building includes a boutique hotel, café-restaurant, concept store, library and co-working zone, all devised to show off the brand’s most impressive decorating credentials and encourage collaboration and community.

Hansen worked with Danish firm Norm Architects, who has honoured the historic character of the waterfront building by preserving its original facade and enhancing the space with huge black-framed industrial-style windows and a sleek yet earthy design.

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The bedrooms are simple, minimal, loft-style spaces that occupy the top floor and provide a peaceful sanctuary, with their beautiful Dinesen oak flooring, muted colour palettes and organic linens by Aiayu, but the real wow-factor is in the public rooms. Littered with design classics, tactile textures and choice MENU wares, they are a lesson in how to do Scandi style with artful flair.

With a curated selection of covetable brands occupying this living showroom, everything that you see here is for sale, making it easy to emulate any room that you like with the furniture, lighting and accessories in it. Be quick though, we’re told the furniture and fittings will change regularly to offer guests unique experiences and to showcase new products from MENU and other brands.

FEATURE JACKY PARKER PHOTOGRAPH THE AUDO

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