This London family home turns up the contrast, adding a light, bright Malibu beach house style to a dark and moody British base.
Get the look: The mid-century sideboard is from The Old Cinema.
THE PROPERTY
A five-bedroom Edwardian house in northwest London. There are four floors: the ground floor has an entrance hall, cinema room, gym and mezzanine library, leading down to the lower-ground rear extension, comprising a kitchen-diner and living area, plus WC. The master suite, a guest bedroom and the family bathroom are on the first floor with the boys’ bedroom, playroom and a bathroom on the top floor.
HALLWAY
The house’s dark Edwardian roots shine through in the hallway (pictured above). In the hallway the period mood really holds sway, with lighted windows, wood panelling and turned banisters. The house’s original Edwardian tiles are partnered with darkest walls.
Get the look: The large artwork is an artist’s proof by Stuart Semple.
The hallway offers a point of transition; it’s where you see the Edwardian framework melt away as you head towards the lightened up area at the back of the house. Everything is very white and airy as you go into new part of the house, but this feels more warm and cossetting.
KITCHEN
In true Yellow Brick Road style, the intricate tiling leads to a very different world. Walking into the kitchen is an instant mood-lifter, with windows looking out over London, and the lofty atrium above the kitchen adding great height to the space.
Get the look: The kitchen is bespoke through Andy Martin with a worktop by Diespeker & Co. The pendant light is also by Andy Martin. The Déjà-vu stools are by Naoto Fukasawa for Magis at Viaduct.
The sun-soaked beaches of Malibu might seem a long way from London’s NW6, but memories of its open, light-filled architecture have injected some Californian brilliance into this Edwardian home. The flowing spaces of the airy extension at the back of this London home feel as breezy as an early run along Escondido beach.
The creative vision behind this marriage of English formality and Stateside cool was architect Andy Martin. The owners wanted a Malibu beach house vibe. Andy’s solution was to extend out while also digging down into what had been ‘a dingy cellar, with barely enough space to stand up in’ to create a generous space fit for family life.
DINING AREA
Sharp, colour-dipped outlines are undercut by the natural hues of the oak flooring. The customised light over the table was tricky to mount in the right position, but worth the fiddle.
Get the look: The Steel table is by Piergiorgio & Michele Cazzaniga for MDF Italia, with Houdini chairs by Stefan Diez for e15, all from Viaduct. The artworks are by Stuart Semple. The limited edition plates are a collaboration between Royal Doulton and street artist Pure Evil.
STAIRCASE
The extension’s strong vertical lines contrast with the organic curves of the stairs, fitted with oak treads and plastered by hand on site.
A spiral staircase, as white and curved as a bleached seashell, flows down from a galleried library to an open-plan living room that’s 100 per cent contemporary.
Get the look: The spiral staircase was commissioned by Andy Martin. The herringbone flooring is in oak.
LIVING ROOM
For a coherent feel, pieces of furniture such as the sofa and some of the lighting were also by Andy. Because he’s also a furniture designer, he thinks in terms of how smaller pieces will fit inside the larger space. So all the proportions just work.
Get the look: The sofa was made bespoke by Andy Martin. The coffee table is by Jeremy Pitts. The series of artworks is by Peter Blake. These are 222 wall lights by Lampe Gras at Heal’s.
The final ingredient that makes this house zing is the collection of contemporary art and photography. A set of Peter Blake artworks, Chris Floyd photographs and Stuart Semple’s vivacious prints pop up throughout the house.
Get the look: The Godzilla vs King Kongscreen print is by Russell Young. The Pure Evil bunnies are a collaboration between Pure Evil and Royal Doulton. This is the Cable Neutral rug by The Rug Company. The chair is from Viaduct.
But alongside the statement art and playful architecture, what’s most evident here is the relaxed family vibe.
CINEMA ROOM
There’s concealed drinks cabinet behind the wall unit, for once kids have gone up to bed.
Get the look: This is the Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia. The Twiggy floor light is by Marc Sadler for Foscarini at Viaduct.
BOYS’ ROOM
Doubling up two kids in one room freed up a separate playroom.
Get the look: The bunk bed is by Stompa.
MASTER BEDROOM
In the master bedroom, high skirtings are worked into a darkly glam space, its surfaces glowing in deep teal, brass and matt-black timber.
Get the look: The headboard and bed are by B&B Italia. The wardrobe area and carpet are bespoke by Andy Martin Architecture. The Habibi side table is by Philipp Mainzer for e15. The line drawing is a Matisse lithograph.
The carpet echoes the herringbone pattern downstairs, subtly linking the different floors and styles.
Get the look: The carpet is bespoke by Andy Martin Architecture. The Marlon armchair is from The Conran Shop. The artwork, called Killing Me Softly (with her sound), is by Stuart Semple and the Kate Moss, London 2006 photograph is by Mario Testino.
The master bedroom has a smart dressing area too.
Get the look: The storage and carpet are bespoke by Andy Martin Architecture.
BATHROOM
The dressing area leads into the master ensuite, which is separated just by a marble floor.
Get the look: This is the Barengo bath by BathEmpire with brassware by CEA Design. The dressing table/desk is from Viaduct. This is Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60 for Artek stool.
Andy Martin Architecture: andymartinarchitecture.com
Photography / Paul Massey
