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London Houzz: Daring Colour & Texture Transform a Victorian Home
The busy owners of this terrace sought help to design outside their decor comfort zone – the result is a cool classic
The couple who own this Victorian terrace in London, UK, had lived here for quite a few years with their two children before embarking on an attic conversion. Having had the plans for that drawn up, they asked interior designer Andrew Griffiths of A New Day – Interior Design Studio to help them with the look and feel of the whole home.
Griffiths designed a new kitchen and created lots of bespoke fitted storage to help the owners keep their newly renovated home tidy. Most prominently, he introduced a palette of gentle, earthy colours and soft textures to turn the terrace into the warm and welcoming family home the owners wanted.
Griffiths designed a new kitchen and created lots of bespoke fitted storage to help the owners keep their newly renovated home tidy. Most prominently, he introduced a palette of gentle, earthy colours and soft textures to turn the terrace into the warm and welcoming family home the owners wanted.
In the living room, a tactile velvet sofa in deep mustard provides a counterpoint to the dark grey of the painted joinery. Warm timber tones are brought in via the engineered oak herringbone flooring, mango-wood side table and open shelving.
The family needed a place to stash bulky items, such as sports equipment, so Griffiths created this generous, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. “It’s very hard-working storage; it’s not just full of living room stuff, but designed to contain general life bits and pieces,” he says.
The open shelving higher up allows space for displaying treasured objects. Below this is an electric piano belonging to the couple’s older child. “She plays and it was important,” says Griffiths, who designed the joinery around it.
The door and skirting boards are painted in the same colour as the cupboards.
The family needed a place to stash bulky items, such as sports equipment, so Griffiths created this generous, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. “It’s very hard-working storage; it’s not just full of living room stuff, but designed to contain general life bits and pieces,” he says.
The open shelving higher up allows space for displaying treasured objects. Below this is an electric piano belonging to the couple’s older child. “She plays and it was important,” says Griffiths, who designed the joinery around it.
The door and skirting boards are painted in the same colour as the cupboards.
On the other side of the living room, Griffiths designed dark timber floating storage units on either side of the chimney breast. “There’s so much storage in the unit opposite, we kept shelves out of these alcoves, so they’re uncluttered,” he says. “It keeps things feeling light and open and gives the artwork some space.”
The artwork and wall-mounted mask were picked up by the owners on a trip to Africa. “We wanted to build on these with the lovely textures of the raffia in the mirror and lampshade,” says Griffiths.
The mid-century vintage sofa was also something the owners already owned; Griffiths had it reupholstered in this inky blue velvet.
The artwork and wall-mounted mask were picked up by the owners on a trip to Africa. “We wanted to build on these with the lovely textures of the raffia in the mirror and lampshade,” says Griffiths.
The mid-century vintage sofa was also something the owners already owned; Griffiths had it reupholstered in this inky blue velvet.
The choice of colours helps to lend the terrace a calm feel. “There are pockets of colour against a backdrop of warm neutrals,” says Griffiths. “The owners love colour, but were wary of going too colourful.”
The sheer linen blinds are great for filtering the sun’s rays in this south-facing room. “Because the room is up high and looks down a road rather than being directly opposite someone, we felt they didn’t need heavy window dressings. These soften the light rather than blocking out the glazing,” says Griffiths.
The sheer linen blinds are great for filtering the sun’s rays in this south-facing room. “Because the room is up high and looks down a road rather than being directly opposite someone, we felt they didn’t need heavy window dressings. These soften the light rather than blocking out the glazing,” says Griffiths.
You get a clear sense of the layout by looking at this photograph. Down the stairs is street level and the front door. On the floor where this photo is taken, just where you can see a glimpse of a door handle on the left, is a bathroom. The main bedroom is on the left just before the living room.
There are three more bedrooms upstairs in the converted attic, along with another bathroom mainly used by the children, who sleep up there.
The balustrade and skirting boards are painted in the same deep grey as the joinery in the living room. “These provide a coherent thread of colour through the house,” says Griffiths.
The flooring is the same engineered oak throughout; here, it’s in plank formation.
There’s restrained use of spotlights throughout the home and, where they are used, Griffiths recessed them to keep the lighting subtle.
There are three more bedrooms upstairs in the converted attic, along with another bathroom mainly used by the children, who sleep up there.
The balustrade and skirting boards are painted in the same deep grey as the joinery in the living room. “These provide a coherent thread of colour through the house,” says Griffiths.
The flooring is the same engineered oak throughout; here, it’s in plank formation.
There’s restrained use of spotlights throughout the home and, where they are used, Griffiths recessed them to keep the lighting subtle.
The bespoke kitchen cabinets are painted in an elegant blue-grey. “The owners were originally adamant about having a gloss white or off-white kitchen,” says Griffiths. “But as we progressed and started pulling the rooms together, whether or not to go neutral here became the biggest debate of the whole project. This [blue] was a push for them and they were really happy with it.”
The contrasting benchtop is Silestone.
The contrasting benchtop is Silestone.
The couple were keen on a clean, unfussy finish. Fluted oak cabinetry adds a tactile touch. “I wanted to mix in a richer, more natural texture, so it wasn’t just flat,” says Griffiths. “It softens things and balances out the blocks of colour.”
The kitchen has upper and lower cabinetry, and taking the joinery right up to the ceiling gave the owners a spot to store items not in daily use in the higher sections.
The upper wall cabinetry also conceals an extractor fan over the gas stove.
Elsewhere, storage is mainly drawers, with two taller units by the oven (see previous image) and cupboards on the sink run.
The kitchen has upper and lower cabinetry, and taking the joinery right up to the ceiling gave the owners a spot to store items not in daily use in the higher sections.
The upper wall cabinetry also conceals an extractor fan over the gas stove.
Elsewhere, storage is mainly drawers, with two taller units by the oven (see previous image) and cupboards on the sink run.
At the other end of the kitchen, the windows were altered as part of the structural work. Where there were two single windows, there’s now one single and one double sash. “It’s really flooded the place with light,” says Griffiths.
The cabinetry turns into bench seating and storage at this end of the dining room. “It’s a nice spot to sit and look out of the window; it looks over the train tracks towards central London,” says Griffiths.
The banquette also adds extra seating for large dinners and makes this a very sociable space, which the family wanted. “The extending table seats eight comfortably, but you could probably squeeze in 10 to 12 with people bunched up on the bench,” he says.
The below-bench storage is accessed via doors; two sections are used as wine storage.
“The lights are lovely, handmade from clay,” says Griffiths. “Again, it’s about natural textures and you can see the thumb prints in them. They’re absolutely beautiful.”
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The banquette also adds extra seating for large dinners and makes this a very sociable space, which the family wanted. “The extending table seats eight comfortably, but you could probably squeeze in 10 to 12 with people bunched up on the bench,” he says.
The below-bench storage is accessed via doors; two sections are used as wine storage.
“The lights are lovely, handmade from clay,” says Griffiths. “Again, it’s about natural textures and you can see the thumb prints in them. They’re absolutely beautiful.”
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The main bedroom features more storage, both bespoke and under the bed, which lifts up. Griffiths also created a niche above the headboard to compensate for the lack of bedside table space. This is a useful spot for books, a cup of water and other objects.
Griffiths opted for an earthy-pink undertone for the walls and woodwork to create a neutral but warm and cosy backdrop. Colour in this bedroom is introduced through the rust and blue shades, the latter from some fabric the owners picked up in Africa and had made into custom cushion covers.
The raised pattern on the bedspread and the rough linen blind again add texture to soften the scheme.
The raised pattern on the bedspread and the rough linen blind again add texture to soften the scheme.
“The owners wanted the first-floor shower room to be quite neutral and to feel light and relaxed,” says Griffiths. “We used terrazzo on the floor and matt ivory wall tiles that have a nice variation in colour.
“They then just wanted to have something a bit playful,” he says, “as it’s essentially the grown-up bathroom that also doubles as the guest toilet. It’s nice for it to have a bit of interest and feel a bit special, so we went for this lovely mint-green cement basin with fluting.”
“They then just wanted to have something a bit playful,” he says, “as it’s essentially the grown-up bathroom that also doubles as the guest toilet. It’s nice for it to have a bit of interest and feel a bit special, so we went for this lovely mint-green cement basin with fluting.”
The unlacquered brass tap and shower fittings and the timber-framed mirror, made to fit the space, soften the harder tiling and shower tray. “The brass will age nicely and take on a patina over time,” says Griffiths, adding, “The mirror has demister pads, as it’s such a small space.”
Adjacent to the children’s bedrooms is a guest room/study, which is the smallest and darkest room on the top floor. “My advice to the owners was to lean into that and make it a rich, cosy space,” says Griffiths. “We embraced the fact it doesn’t get much natural light and this was the darkest colour we used in the whole home.”
A textured rug and the West African-inspired textiles warm things up and balance the cool tones of the walls.
The small space works hard, too: the sofa can transform into a bed and the side tables can act as bedside tables, as the owners have family to stay quite often.
Griffiths designed the built-in walnut desk (see the previous photo) and a storage area (out of shot).
The small space works hard, too: the sofa can transform into a bed and the side tables can act as bedside tables, as the owners have family to stay quite often.
Griffiths designed the built-in walnut desk (see the previous photo) and a storage area (out of shot).
The couple’s youngest child, a boy of 12, has one of the other newly created top-floor rooms.
“He was going into his teen years and needed the room to grow with him,” says Griffiths. “He really wanted green, which we included, but we kept it subtle, so it didn’t feel too childish or risk becoming something he’d hate once he hit 16 or 17.”
“He was going into his teen years and needed the room to grow with him,” says Griffiths. “He really wanted green, which we included, but we kept it subtle, so it didn’t feel too childish or risk becoming something he’d hate once he hit 16 or 17.”
A flash of pattern covers the floor in the children’s bathroom. There are also blue tiles on the side of the bath, which has a shower above it.
“It’s very small, so it had to be well-planned,” says Griffiths. “It’s quite simple, clean and fresh – but we wanted a bit of colour, too.”
“It’s very small, so it had to be well-planned,” says Griffiths. “It’s quite simple, clean and fresh – but we wanted a bit of colour, too.”
The couple’s teenage daughter wanted a pink room. Again, to ensure the design was future-proofed, Griffiths took the brief and softened it to create a grown-up backdrop that will work as the young occupant grows older.
The pink is tempered by sage-green accents, including the padded headboard.
And how do the owners feel about their ‘new’ home? “They love it,” says Griffiths. “For me, it was about trying to reflect them and create a personal home that also felt exciting, characterful and like a busy family home – but in a way that brought them joy. And they felt I’d pushed them out of their comfort zone – but in a way they really loved.”
Your turn
Has a designer encouraged you to explore decor outside your comfort zone to great effect? Tell us which daring details you love in life, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
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Get more great global design here with this Germany Houzz: Creating Summer & Winter Homes in a Converted Barn
Your turn
Has a designer encouraged you to explore decor outside your comfort zone to great effect? Tell us which daring details you love in life, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Get more great global design here with this Germany Houzz: Creating Summer & Winter Homes in a Converted Barn
Who lives here: A family of four with a teen and pre-teen at the time of the project
Location: London, UK
Property: A Victorian terrace house
Size: Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Andrew Griffiths of A New Day – Interior Design Studio
Project year: 2021
Griffiths recalls the first meeting he had with the owners. “They told me, ‘If we do it ourselves, everything will just be grey; that’s our comfortable default and we don’t want to do that,’” he says. “They were also both busy and overwhelmed and wanted someone to guide them to make more interesting decisions that they’d be excited about.”
Griffiths was keen to keep the palette soft with a neutral backdrop to create a welcoming family home. The colours and varied textures in the home were partly influenced by the owners’ African heritage.
“They wanted to subtly weave in some references – patterns, textures and colours – that reflected them and their history,” he says. “They didn’t want it to feel themed or like a pastiche, so it’s more of a gentle nod.”
It was a very collaborative process, Griffiths explains, and together he and the owners settled on warm, earthy tones, varied textiles and materials, and lots of plants.
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