This Victorian terrace in southwest London is sophisticated yet family-friendly
It is possible to have a serene, sophisticated home with four children aged eight and under; it’s all in the planning... and the cupboards!
For style leaders and design lovers.
Thank you for signing up to LivingEtc. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
The properTy
A Victorian terrace in southwest London. On the ground floor of this modern home is a living room and kitchen-diner. Spread over the first, second and attic floors are four bedrooms (two en suite), a guest bedroom-cum-office, a bathroom, shower room and study.
living room
The design of this home was all about creating flow. The once traditional London terrace has undergone a radical transformation to become a light-drenched calm space. It had an awkward layout with a small galley kitchen and a double reception room where the children became “trapped”.
The owners cleverly created a great feeling of space by knocking through partition walls to make a series of open living areas connected via discreet glass panels and parquet floors that flow effortlessly together. These then allow the eye to travel uninterrupted from the front of the house to the back and outinto the garden.
In addition, plenty of light wells and customised storage, concealed or disguised, leave each space looking sleek and streamlined. The unit under the TV is made with three very large drawers to house all the children’s toys and games and the cupboard [at the other end of the room] contains all their shoes, coats and sports kit.
kitchen and dining area
It proved to be an extensive rebuild: not just rewiring, replastering and repainting the old terrace, but installing the latest mod cons, including underfloor heating and a wireless AV system, removing the hallway wall to open up the ground-floor space, adding a loft bedroom complete with en suite, creating the kitchen side return and putting a utility room into the basement.
Keeping the original Victorian touches, such as the ceiling roses and cornicing, was important too, ‘so as not to be too slick’, but the key was to create a calm, plain space and then add layers of texture to make each room feel different. The sliding doors open up the house to the garden, blurring the distinction between inside and out.
master bedroom
The owner's minimalist style keeps the master bedroom sleek and serene.
See Also: Master Bedroom Ideas - 31 stunning bedroom schemes
master en suite
In this modern bathroom, a false wall was built to hide the plumbing and there’s a cupboard behind the mirror. The new wall also allowed for an alcove to be created above the bath.
study
This space also doubles as a spare room, so the divan turns into a double bed.
childrens' bedroom
This was an awkward space, so it was difficult to fit in normal-sized bunk beds. The owners had them made slightly smaller with cupboards either side, allowing more room for train tracks and tea parties.
Photography / Paul Massey
Kids room ideas: 45 fresh ideas for a modern yet whimsical kids bedroom
The Livingetc Newsletter
For style leaders and design lovers.
Shining a spotlight on the now and the next in home design and decor, Livingetc is the UK's best selling high end and contemporary home design magazine. As a brand, Livingetc showcases the world's very best homes, breaks and makes the trends, and has access to leading international designers for insight and ideas. It was first published in 1998, and is currently edited by Pip Rich.
-
-
'Don't pair it with grey' - and three other design secrets color expert Dabito swears by when decorating with green
Color expert Dabito shares the surprising ‘neutral’ he relies on to create the most joyful interiors
By Raluca Racasan Published
-
“It’s the jewelry of a room” - This home reno uses the perfect accessory that makes every room look expensive
This home design made the best of one simple accessory to make every single room feel special and luxurious
By Raluca Racasan Published