Houzz Tour: A 1950s House Gets a Midcentury Modern Lift
This stylish extended family home is full of clever bespoke touches, including a smart dining island
“The 1950s era of the house felt like an apt starting point,” says Laura Stewart of Born Designers on how she tackled this light-filled Brighton home with an amazing double-vaulted ceiling.
While midcentury modern style has crept into many a Victorian terrace or new-build, here architecture and interior style match perfectly. “When we started looking at the mood, look and feel of the rooms, we used materials, colours and tones that sat within that midcentury palette,” Laura says. Think soft oranges, warm browns and cool blues alongside iconic furniture shapes – and not forgetting a healthy dose of Formica.
However, as well as the interior, Laura was closely involved in reconfiguring the space, from the size of rooms and windows to some truly brilliant bespoke touches.
While midcentury modern style has crept into many a Victorian terrace or new-build, here architecture and interior style match perfectly. “When we started looking at the mood, look and feel of the rooms, we used materials, colours and tones that sat within that midcentury palette,” Laura says. Think soft oranges, warm browns and cool blues alongside iconic furniture shapes – and not forgetting a healthy dose of Formica.
However, as well as the interior, Laura was closely involved in reconfiguring the space, from the size of rooms and windows to some truly brilliant bespoke touches.
Originally, an architect had drawn up plans, but Laura continued where they left off. “I looked at the plans and thought, we can do something interesting with the layout of the rooms,” she says.
“We did what you might call ‘interior architecture’. There was a lot of wrestling and wrangling with the space before we got into the design nitty-gritty,” she continues. “We ended up taking out every internal wall and putting in steel frames, so we could decide how big we wanted each room to be.”
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“We did what you might call ‘interior architecture’. There was a lot of wrestling and wrangling with the space before we got into the design nitty-gritty,” she continues. “We ended up taking out every internal wall and putting in steel frames, so we could decide how big we wanted each room to be.”
Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The new, open-plan living space has transformed the owners’ lives, Laura says. “Communication between them as a family has really improved with the open space between the kitchen, dining and living areas. Everyone knows where everyone else is, so there’s no shouting for each other,” she says.
The reclaimed vintage muhuhu parquet flooring came, Laura thinks, from a school. “We had to scrape tar off the back and polish it up,” she says.
Darwin Barracuda fabric on dining bench, Sunbury Design.
The reclaimed vintage muhuhu parquet flooring came, Laura thinks, from a school. “We had to scrape tar off the back and polish it up,” she says.
Darwin Barracuda fabric on dining bench, Sunbury Design.
“We spent a lot of time designing all the built-in furniture, including the kitchen island,” Laura says. A dining bench runs along the back of it.
“That helped save a bit of space on the floor plan, because initially the owners wanted to have stools at the island as well as a dining table and a lounge area, and there wasn’t quite enough space for all those things,” she says. “So we ended up creating the upholstered bench, and you can still fit a couple of stools on the end of the island.”
Elsewhere, they slotted in a utility room. They even designed a laundry chute, so the owners can throw down dirty clothes from upstairs.
Nori copper pendant lights, Nordlux.
“That helped save a bit of space on the floor plan, because initially the owners wanted to have stools at the island as well as a dining table and a lounge area, and there wasn’t quite enough space for all those things,” she says. “So we ended up creating the upholstered bench, and you can still fit a couple of stools on the end of the island.”
Elsewhere, they slotted in a utility room. They even designed a laundry chute, so the owners can throw down dirty clothes from upstairs.
Nori copper pendant lights, Nordlux.
The eye-catching round window is a clever detail that gives the living area bags of character. It’s perhaps Laura’s favourite feature.
“It was on the architect’s drawings, but I thought it would be a lovely opportunity to have a seat,” she says. So when it came to doing the joinery, Laura suggested they make it wider at the bottom to allow people to perch there.
“The simple wood, which is cherry veneer, really works, so we used it to frame all the windows,” she adds.
Freestanding shelving unit, Born Makers.
“It was on the architect’s drawings, but I thought it would be a lovely opportunity to have a seat,” she says. So when it came to doing the joinery, Laura suggested they make it wider at the bottom to allow people to perch there.
“The simple wood, which is cherry veneer, really works, so we used it to frame all the windows,” she adds.
Freestanding shelving unit, Born Makers.
The family had lived in the house for about a year, but moved out while building works were underway.
“The double-vaulted, curved ceiling in the kitchen area was something [the owners] had agreed with the architect, but we had to draw it up in detail and make it work,” Laura says. “It was a real headache for the builders and getting anyone to plaster it, but it looks amazing now it’s done.”
“The double-vaulted, curved ceiling in the kitchen area was something [the owners] had agreed with the architect, but we had to draw it up in detail and make it work,” Laura says. “It was a real headache for the builders and getting anyone to plaster it, but it looks amazing now it’s done.”
The veneer on the island and cupboards is also cherry. “All of the woods in the house have that kind of warm reddishness to them,” Laura says.
The blue inlay on the cabinet fronts is linoleum, which adds to the 1950s look. The white worktop is Corian, while the timber worktop is solid cherry.
Linoleum in Aquavert and Smokey Blue, Forbo. Puzzle floor tiles, Barber Osgerby for Mutina at Domus Tiles.
The blue inlay on the cabinet fronts is linoleum, which adds to the 1950s look. The white worktop is Corian, while the timber worktop is solid cherry.
Linoleum in Aquavert and Smokey Blue, Forbo. Puzzle floor tiles, Barber Osgerby for Mutina at Domus Tiles.
The boxy wooden windows are a theme throughout the house, adding warmth and a stylish retro touch. As well as cherry, some of the windows are edged in plywood.
The copper splashback is bespoke. “With experimental patination by the client,” Laura adds.
The copper splashback is bespoke. “With experimental patination by the client,” Laura adds.
The owners already had a lot of midcentury furniture, which helped set the scene for the home’s interior style. This classic vintage sideboard is paired with a sunburst wall clock.
The snug is at the front in the original part of the house, and it’s a cosy space where the family gather to chill and watch films. “It’s a tiny, carpeted room with a huge TV in it that gets the evening sun,” Laura says.
One big plus for the owners was that Laura and the team were able to carve out an extra bedroom for the family, turning a three-bed home into a four, so each of the boys could have their own room.
“That really added value for them,” Laura says. “It’s not an enormous property, but what it is now is the cleverest arrangement of space we could get.”
However, there were a few challenges in the house, including glazing and window positions.
“As the house is so close to the neighbour’s, we had to be a bit careful with window placement,” Laura says. “That’s why a lot of the windows had to be high, so they wouldn’t be overlooking next door.
“For example, two of the kids’ rooms are on the ground floor, so we put the windows up high, but then raised the beds up, so they had these cool little views out,” she says.
The string seen here activates a wooden shutter that covers the window.
“That really added value for them,” Laura says. “It’s not an enormous property, but what it is now is the cleverest arrangement of space we could get.”
However, there were a few challenges in the house, including glazing and window positions.
“As the house is so close to the neighbour’s, we had to be a bit careful with window placement,” Laura says. “That’s why a lot of the windows had to be high, so they wouldn’t be overlooking next door.
“For example, two of the kids’ rooms are on the ground floor, so we put the windows up high, but then raised the beds up, so they had these cool little views out,” she says.
The string seen here activates a wooden shutter that covers the window.
The ground floor shower room has another clever window trick.
“There’s a tall window above eye level, so people can’t see you in the shower, but there’s also a clever slot window at the bottom,” Laura says. “So if a postman lay down in the driveway, he could see your feet, but that would be about it. It’s about different ways of getting light in while retaining privacy.”
The wallpaper adds some fun and tones with the green wall.
Monkey Business wallpaper, Clarke & Clarke.
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
“There’s a tall window above eye level, so people can’t see you in the shower, but there’s also a clever slot window at the bottom,” Laura says. “So if a postman lay down in the driveway, he could see your feet, but that would be about it. It’s about different ways of getting light in while retaining privacy.”
The wallpaper adds some fun and tones with the green wall.
Monkey Business wallpaper, Clarke & Clarke.
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
The 1950s vibe continues in the hallway. “They wanted orange and it looks really smart,” Laura says.
All the internal doors are custom-made. “They are bespoke cherry veneered doors with handles we designed for them” Laura says. “There pretty much wasn’t anything we didn’t have a look at.”
Stair carpet, Crucial Trading.
All the internal doors are custom-made. “They are bespoke cherry veneered doors with handles we designed for them” Laura says. “There pretty much wasn’t anything we didn’t have a look at.”
Stair carpet, Crucial Trading.
“The owners were really up for doing everything we suggested,” Laura says. “That included plenty of built-in furniture, so while it’s not an enormous house, we managed to get in so much storage and the result is it feels much bigger than it is.”
Hallway cupboards finished in Formica laminate in Clementine, Born Makers.
Hallway cupboards finished in Formica laminate in Clementine, Born Makers.
The handrail on the stairs is another bespoke design detail overseen by Laura. “It lights up at nighttime. It’s really smart,” she says.
A cool blue colour scheme gives the master bedroom, at the back of the house, the atmosphere of a calming retreat.
“The owners were keen on a hotel-like feel in their bedroom,” Laura says. “There’s a blackout blind plus a sheer curtain, so when the window is open, there’s a lovely atmospheric billowing.”
Floating cantilevered side tables, again designed by Born Makers, carry on the hotel feel, as does an extended upholstered headboard that goes right across the room.
“There was so much built-in furniture in the house, which took a long time to get finished,” Laura says. “But it was worth it because it looks lovely.”
Hampstead Lake headboard fabric, Sunbury Design. Cohen pendant light in Moss, Heal’s. Cushion, Marks & Spencer.
“The owners were keen on a hotel-like feel in their bedroom,” Laura says. “There’s a blackout blind plus a sheer curtain, so when the window is open, there’s a lovely atmospheric billowing.”
Floating cantilevered side tables, again designed by Born Makers, carry on the hotel feel, as does an extended upholstered headboard that goes right across the room.
“There was so much built-in furniture in the house, which took a long time to get finished,” Laura says. “But it was worth it because it looks lovely.”
Hampstead Lake headboard fabric, Sunbury Design. Cohen pendant light in Moss, Heal’s. Cushion, Marks & Spencer.
A compact walk-in wardrobe and dressing room sit off the master bedroom.
Interesting lights throughout add to the stylish feel of this home.
Black and brass double-arm wall light, Spark & Bell.
Interesting lights throughout add to the stylish feel of this home.
Black and brass double-arm wall light, Spark & Bell.
The en suite bathroom off the couple’s bedroom extends the wood-look theme. The bespoke vanity unit and window surrounds are cherry wood and the basins are Corian. The metallic tiles and large mirrors add sheen and a touch of glamour.
Furnace Copper tiles, Fired Earth.
See more of Born Designers’ projects here.
Tell us…
What do you like about Laura’s design for this family home? Let us know in the Comments.
Furnace Copper tiles, Fired Earth.
See more of Born Designers’ projects here.
Tell us…
What do you like about Laura’s design for this family home? Let us know in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple and their three sons
Location Westdene, Brighton
Property A semi-detached 1950s chalet bungalow with four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Laura Stewart of Born Designers
Project cost £75,000-£100,000
Project year 2022
Photos by Jake Seal
When Laura was brought on board, the house was already a building site. “The original bungalow was very dark, gloomy and small, with one room in the roof,” Laura says. “The owners decided to do the boldest extension possible under Permitted Development, really pushing the boundaries.”
Works included a huge extension, which transformed the downstairs. The house now has a lofty, curved, double-vaulted ceiling that creates a light, airy feel.
“Because the position of the house is right at the top of a hill, with incredible views towards Brighton and the sea, they wanted to get in as much light as possible,” Laura says.
Natural paint throughout, Lakeland Paints. Coffee table, vintage Ercol.