Inside a vibrant terraced house in north London

By Livingetc 2021-01-13T17:22:00Z

THE PROPERTY

A four-storey terraced house in north London. On the ground-floor of this modern home is a family room, kitchen, dining area and WC. Upstairs is the living room/study. The girls’ bedrooms and a shower room are on the second floor, with the master bedroom suite on the third floor. The property is a rental and had been done up for a speedy let. Since the tenants weren't allowed to decorate, the used possessions to really put their stamp on the place.

THE LIVING ROOM

On the first floor, an existing storage console has become an intriguing display of objects new and old, including a Fornasetti plate and a set of fashion dolls by Lucie Kaas.

The taxidermied lamb was found in Paris, as the tenants weren't able to have a pet.

The mid-century chairs (above) are covered in original fabric, and make a striking pair. Thespiky-tressed Lanvin dolls dancing on the mantelpiece add a touch of whimsy.

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THE FAMILY ROOM

The poster of the landmark 1979 London Calling album by the Clash depicts bassist Paul Simonon wielding his guitar like an axe, the vivid green injecting vibrant colour in this upbeat family room. There’s also scale, in the form of the high-backed mid-century chair, plus layers of texture in the Beni Ouarain rugs and sheepskin throws that dress many of the surfaces both here and upstairs.

THE STUDY

The property is filled with art, collectables and acquisitionswith personal relevance. Atribal headdress hangs over a desk by post-war designer Pierre Guariche, and the paintings are by André Cervera and Pierre Soulages. This is art with provenance, but it is displayed with unstuffy nonchalance, propped against walls or perched on custom-made ledges. This makes it easier to move pieces around and play with different compositions.

THE KITCHEN

This streamlined scheme flows from the family room to the dining area at the back of the house.

THE DINING ROOM

The dining room is light and uncluttered, with a large white oval dining table from The Conran Shop. The mis-matched chairs create an informal and relaxed atmosphere.