Houzz Tour: Colour and Pattern Liven Up a London Semi
A mix of vibrant patterns and tactile textures has transformed this turn-of-the-century semi in west London into a highly individual home
Anna Tobin
30 January 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
As she spends her working days creating beautiful homes for other people, interior designer Annie Grierson of Aegis Interior Design couldn’t wait to let her creative juices flow when it came to refurbishing her own home. ‘It was wonderful to be able to do exactly what I wanted and experiment in ways I can’t do in other people’s homes,’ she says. The experimentation paid off and Grierson and her family are now living in a home that not only looks great, but is tailored to all their individual needs.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Designer Annie Grierson with her husband and their two children
Location West London
Property An early 20th century semi-detached house
Size 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Annie Grierson of Aegis Interior Design
The front reception room has been treated as a more formal entertaining space, although the mix of bright colours ensures it still feels fun. ‘I love pinks and reds together; I think they work really well,’ says Annie Grierson. I had the red sofa already and the pink one I inherited from my grandmother.’
To offset these hot colours, Grierson opted for a cool blue Vivienne Westwood Squiggle wallpaper.
Red sofa, Sofa.com. Pink sofa, re-covered by Pilgrim Payne.
Who lives here Designer Annie Grierson with her husband and their two children
Location West London
Property An early 20th century semi-detached house
Size 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Annie Grierson of Aegis Interior Design
The front reception room has been treated as a more formal entertaining space, although the mix of bright colours ensures it still feels fun. ‘I love pinks and reds together; I think they work really well,’ says Annie Grierson. I had the red sofa already and the pink one I inherited from my grandmother.’
To offset these hot colours, Grierson opted for a cool blue Vivienne Westwood Squiggle wallpaper.
Red sofa, Sofa.com. Pink sofa, re-covered by Pilgrim Payne.
As this room looks out onto the street, Grierson left the existing shutters to ensure privacy. ‘I always opt for floor-length curtains in period homes,’ she says. ‘They add a touch of drama and warmth.’
She picked up the unusual puma sculpture while visiting the northeast of England.
Patterned cushion, Zara Home.
She picked up the unusual puma sculpture while visiting the northeast of England.
Patterned cushion, Zara Home.
The back of the house was extended to create an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space with a view out onto the garden. Grierson wanted this area of the house to be quite modern, but not ultra-contemporary, so she opted for a midcentury feel.
‘I had a local carpenter make the iroko dining table for me; it seats 12. The sideboard is from a local auction house. I find auction houses really useful for finding well-made, individual pieces.’
Find original Tulip chairs at The Conran Shop.
‘I had a local carpenter make the iroko dining table for me; it seats 12. The sideboard is from a local auction house. I find auction houses really useful for finding well-made, individual pieces.’
Find original Tulip chairs at The Conran Shop.
‘I love playing around with colour, so I’d never go for a white kitchen,’ explains Grierson. ‘I felt this green would work really well with the architecture of the house and I designed the kitchen and had it made bespoke. I like using open shelving to break up cupboards and I always design units that go all the way to the ceiling. I don’t like that gap at the top just gathering dust,’ she says.
‘I like introducing pattern, too, which is why I’ve gone for the encaustic tiles here.’ Grierson designed these ceramic, Moroccan-influenced tiles and had them made bespoke.
Tiles, Dar Interiors. Glenn bar stools, Ikea.
‘I like introducing pattern, too, which is why I’ve gone for the encaustic tiles here.’ Grierson designed these ceramic, Moroccan-influenced tiles and had them made bespoke.
Tiles, Dar Interiors. Glenn bar stools, Ikea.
The paintings on the wall by the dining table are family heirlooms and these helped to inspire the colour scheme in the whole room.
Pendant light, BHS.
Pendant light, BHS.
The same brick wallpaper used behind glass as a splashback in the kitchen is hung in the living space to help link the two areas. The shelves are made from crates that Grierson picked up in an antiques shop and backed with patterned wrapping paper.
Sofa, Dwell. Rug, Rug Designer.
Sofa, Dwell. Rug, Rug Designer.
The terrazzo flooring in the hallway – made from chunks of marble embedded in concrete – is particularly special. Even though it’s highly patterned, it works with the bold Squiggles wallpaper, which complements the shapes and warm tones.
The space is subtly linked to the front living room through the wallpaper, here in a red colourway rather than the living room’s blue.
Go sign, St Michael’s Antique Market in Bridport.
Discover 11 different ways with wallpaper
The space is subtly linked to the front living room through the wallpaper, here in a red colourway rather than the living room’s blue.
Go sign, St Michael’s Antique Market in Bridport.
Discover 11 different ways with wallpaper
The master bedroom gets lots of natural sunlight throughout the day, so Grierson felt it could take a soft grey paint on the walls. She’s teamed it with pink and a vibrant crocheted bed throw.
Walls painted in Grey Steel 2, Dulux. Light fittings, Astro Lighting; shades bought at a local store.
Walls painted in Grey Steel 2, Dulux. Light fittings, Astro Lighting; shades bought at a local store.
What is now the guest room would traditionally have been the master bedroom, as it has an en suite bathroom, but Grierson prefers that her guests have the en suite to give them more privacy. ‘I wanted to make this room feel really warm and welcoming and very comfortable. I didn’t want it to have the anonymity of a boutique hotel room,’ she explains.
The designer customised crates with paint and wood stain and arranged them on the wall above the bespoke headboard to create a bookcase.
Crates, Bloomingville. Walls painted in Grey Steel 2, Dulux. The sofa was found in an antiques shop.
The designer customised crates with paint and wood stain and arranged them on the wall above the bespoke headboard to create a bookcase.
Crates, Bloomingville. Walls painted in Grey Steel 2, Dulux. The sofa was found in an antiques shop.
‘A little bit of yellow can be found in most rooms in this house,’ says Grierson, ‘as I like each room to link to the next.’
Tiles, Dar Interiors. Sanitaryware, Bathstore and Saneux.
Add some sunshine to your life with yellow
Tiles, Dar Interiors. Sanitaryware, Bathstore and Saneux.
Add some sunshine to your life with yellow
‘Children love dens,’ says Grierson. ‘I always like to give them scope to create one. That curtained area leads to another part of the loft that’s become a playroom.’
Check out more hip hideaways your kids will love
Check out more hip hideaways your kids will love
Grierson modified her son’s loft bed to create a climbing wall and it has an open end to make changing the sheets easier.
Map of the world wall mural; sleeper bed, both Argos.
TELL US…
What do you think of this eclectic family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Map of the world wall mural; sleeper bed, both Argos.
TELL US…
What do you think of this eclectic family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Love the antique sofa upholstered in pink! I have a Duncan Pfyfe style in hunter green - too dark - and have been pondering a fun pink - I want lighter fabric next to the dark carved wood to see it better. Seeing this I think it will work! Now gotta find the right shade...
Such an array of colour! What's the shade of green in that kitchen?