UK Houzz Tour: A New London Home Decorated With Cosy Character
Carefully chosen colours and finishes were key to adding personality to this property in harmony with the existing decor
The challenge for interior designer Bhavin Taylor when it came to styling this modern townhouse was working out how to inject the personality of the owners into the space while retaining many of the main elements that were already in place, such as paint colours, flooring and curtains. But with some thoughtful planning, he managed to beautifully blend new design features with the existing decoration.
A sleek, marble-topped coffee table contrasts with the timber mid-century armchairs, both from West Elm, while a mix of fabrics adds texture. “I introduced more natural elements with houseplants,” says Taylor.
The window treatments throughout the property were already in place. “The wave-topped design works well with the style of the space,” Taylor says of the curtains.
Is your interior ripe for a makeover? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
The window treatments throughout the property were already in place. “The wave-topped design works well with the style of the space,” Taylor says of the curtains.
Is your interior ripe for a makeover? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
The couple love music, so Taylor wanted to give them a separate area for this in the room. “It’s nice to have a focus away from the television, too,” he says.
The slick, contemporary kitchen was already in place. Taylor added a lighter contrast to the dark surfaces with pale timber dining furniture and wicker accessories.
The large hallway is a bright entrance to the home, but to make it feel even more welcoming, Taylor created a seating nook below the stairs. “The green and gold tones make the expansive space feel cosy – and the armchair is perfect as a reading spot or somewhere to put on your shoes before you go out,” he says.
The couple’s bedroom is on the first floor and had already been painted a pale lavender shade. Taylor added neutral colours and wooden mid-century furniture to soften the feel of the room.
“The muted colours don’t clash with the wall colour and create a restful space for sleeping,” he says.
The brass finish on the lamp bases and ottoman add a luxurious look to the room and contrast with the wooden bedside tables. The artwork above the bed is actually a light fitting from a previous property. “As we weren’t using it as a light, we removed all the cables and turned it into a piece of textured wall art instead,” says Taylor.
“The muted colours don’t clash with the wall colour and create a restful space for sleeping,” he says.
The brass finish on the lamp bases and ottoman add a luxurious look to the room and contrast with the wooden bedside tables. The artwork above the bed is actually a light fitting from a previous property. “As we weren’t using it as a light, we removed all the cables and turned it into a piece of textured wall art instead,” says Taylor.
Taylor made the most of the existing curtains by adding items that complement their colour and design. The dark green cushions, for example, help tie the palette together and create a harmonious scheme. The two-toned lamp base matches the panelled design of the curtain fabric, which also helps balance the room.
The owners brought the vintage shoe cabinet from their previous property, and Taylor used it as a starting point for the room’s design.
Between the cabinet and an adjacent armchair is a simple floor lamp. “The two pieces of furniture are quite bulky, so I wanted to add something less intrusive in the middle,” says Taylor. “This simple tubular lamp is lovely.”
Between the cabinet and an adjacent armchair is a simple floor lamp. “The two pieces of furniture are quite bulky, so I wanted to add something less intrusive in the middle,” says Taylor. “This simple tubular lamp is lovely.”
The chic, contemporary master bathroom was given a cosy feel with some wicker additions.
“It’s a large space with a walk-in shower at the other end, so we made the most of it by including a chair,” says Taylor. “It’s a real luxury to be able to sit in the bathroom and it gives it a spa feel.”
“It’s a large space with a walk-in shower at the other end, so we made the most of it by including a chair,” says Taylor. “It’s a real luxury to be able to sit in the bathroom and it gives it a spa feel.”
The top-floor guest bedroom has a sloping wall and minimal light, so Taylor kept the scheme soft and airy.
“I used a lot of texture and mixed different wood tones to add visual interest,” he says.
“I used a lot of texture and mixed different wood tones to add visual interest,” he says.
A table lamp sits on one bedside bench, while on the other side there’s a hanging wall light. “It works in the small space and I really like the simplicity of it,” says Taylor. “The cork that’s wrapped around the bulb has tones of both the light and dark woods.”
The patterns above the bed were already there, but Taylor tied them into the scheme with grey elements in the cushions. “It’s all about working with what you have and adding interesting details that become part of the room,” he says.
Your turn
What do you like about this subtly redesigned townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story and save your favourite images. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? You’ll love this Australian Houzz Tour: A Gentle Upgrade for a ’60s Architectural Masterpiece
The patterns above the bed were already there, but Taylor tied them into the scheme with grey elements in the cushions. “It’s all about working with what you have and adding interesting details that become part of the room,” he says.
Your turn
What do you like about this subtly redesigned townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story and save your favourite images. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? You’ll love this Australian Houzz Tour: A Gentle Upgrade for a ’60s Architectural Masterpiece
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: West London, UK
Property: A new-build townhouse
Size: Three bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer: Bhavin Taylor of Bhavin Taylor Design
The soft-grey walls and flooring in the living room of this modern townhouse provided an ideal neutral backdrop for adding character. “Pale grey is an easy colour to work with,” says Taylor.
“I’d worked with one of the homeowners before and knew she loved mid-century design, while her partner prefers clean lines and stone and marble surfaces, so it was important to balance the two styles.
“I kept to neutral grey for the sofa, but added warmth with wood surfaces and cosy orange and yellow textiles,” he says. “Pattern and colour in the artwork and rug also help the room feel brighter and like somewhere to relax.”