When Beth Dadswell and her family moved into a Victorian semi in West Dulwich, southeast London, in 2011, they were excited about living in an historic building again. They had just left behind a self-renovated 1960s house and, despite its airiness, Beth says, ‘It made us yearn for period features.’ Beth and her partner bought the house from a couple who had called it home for more than 30 years, but who hadn’t really focused on bringing the building into the 21st century. ‘Everything was kind of moss green,’ she recalls when describing the interior, ‘and there was tons of wood stained really dark. But we could see beyond all that. We thought, this could be a really nice family home.’ With the help of a part-time builder, the couple got to work, knocking down walls and re-tiling floors until an airy, bright space emerged one year later. As an interior designer with a love of vintage, and founder of the company Imperfect Interiors, Beth had the expertise required to turn the space into a stylish, family-friendly home. Her main focus was to bring as much light as possible into the house, which she estimates was built around 1900. ‘Pulling light through the house was a real challenge,’ she says. ‘The corridors were incredibly dark. We took out entire walls so we could get the light coming in from all angles.’ The reward for all their thought and effort, though, is clear to see. The once-poky property is now a bright, welcoming house with large, airy rooms in crisp whites and greys – the perfect modern family home. Houzz at a Glance Who lives here Beth Dadswell, her partner, and their 8-year-old son Location West Dulwich, southeast London Year built Around 1900 Size 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

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