Houzz Tour: A Boho Victorian Villa with a Cool Modern Twist
This brilliantly eclectic family home marries period grandeur with contemporary cool
Cheryl F
4 June 2017
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing for the UK's top interiors titles. I love shopping for quirky accessories, have a passion for rummaging through vintage stores and I'm ever-hopeful of finding that elusive perfect paint shade.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing... More
Finding the balance between old and new in a period property can be a challenge, but this grand Victorian house in Tunbridge Wells retains an escapist sense of the past, combined with quirky modernity, thanks to a top-to-toe refurb by designer Jennifer Hamilton. The owners wanted a practical, family-friendly home that still expressed their bohemian side. “They wanted to make it welcoming and be true to the period features, while also putting their stamp on it,” says Hamilton.
The owners decided to add a contemporary slate-clad extension at the back, and this houses a kitchen and dining space, a study, a utility area and a big storage space. Below, a damp cellar was converted into a cinema and playroom, perfect for rainy Sundays. Upstairs, five bedrooms and three bathrooms are accessed from a bright stairwell with added roof lights. “The owners lived in the house throughout the works – saving them some money on rent – but it did mean the works were phased area by area and took about two years from start to finish,” says Hamilton.
The owners decided to add a contemporary slate-clad extension at the back, and this houses a kitchen and dining space, a study, a utility area and a big storage space. Below, a damp cellar was converted into a cinema and playroom, perfect for rainy Sundays. Upstairs, five bedrooms and three bathrooms are accessed from a bright stairwell with added roof lights. “The owners lived in the house throughout the works – saving them some money on rent – but it did mean the works were phased area by area and took about two years from start to finish,” says Hamilton.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here An advertising strategist, her husband, director of an online travel agency, and their two children, 7 and 9
Location Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Property A three-storey Victorian villa that was divided into two homes in the 1950s. The family owns and lives in one of these
Size Five bedrooms, three bathrooms with basement cinema room
Design Jennifer Hamilton at The Vawdrey House
Photos by Siobhan Doran
The kitchen originally sat in a chilly lean-to extension at the rear. Now it’s a sociable open-plan space, thanks to a new rear extension, complete with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and skylight.
Dark walls teamed with pale cabinets and flooring create a dramatic look. Open shelving stops the space feeling crowded, and “adds a more contemporary feel than wall units,” says Hamilton. The black-blue paint also means a simple display of white crockery becomes a standout feature.
Meanwhile, the huge island is packed with storage. Half-moon handles help sustain a traditional thread.
Walls painted in Black Blue, Farrow & Ball.
Who lives here An advertising strategist, her husband, director of an online travel agency, and their two children, 7 and 9
Location Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Property A three-storey Victorian villa that was divided into two homes in the 1950s. The family owns and lives in one of these
Size Five bedrooms, three bathrooms with basement cinema room
Design Jennifer Hamilton at The Vawdrey House
Photos by Siobhan Doran
The kitchen originally sat in a chilly lean-to extension at the rear. Now it’s a sociable open-plan space, thanks to a new rear extension, complete with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and skylight.
Dark walls teamed with pale cabinets and flooring create a dramatic look. Open shelving stops the space feeling crowded, and “adds a more contemporary feel than wall units,” says Hamilton. The black-blue paint also means a simple display of white crockery becomes a standout feature.
Meanwhile, the huge island is packed with storage. Half-moon handles help sustain a traditional thread.
Walls painted in Black Blue, Farrow & Ball.
The island worktop is Carrara marble, which is timeless and good-looking and practical.
A high ledge on the opposite wall provides a home for eye-catching surrealist-style plates.
A high ledge on the opposite wall provides a home for eye-catching surrealist-style plates.
The dining area of the kitchen is full of personality thanks to quirky artwork and spray-painted yellow Ercol chairs (bought at a house clearance). This area also has a higher ceiling than the kitchen space, helping to delineate the two zones.
Mismatched pendants are more interesting than the typical matching duo or trio. “We suggested having lots of pendants to add interest,” says Hamilton. “Then we just searched and searched with the client to get the right combo,” says Hamilton.
The white Habitat chairs were brought from the owners’ previous house. Getting a dining table that matches the dimensions of your space can be tricky, so this pleasingly simple wood and metal table was built bespoke by Tandem Studio.
Pendants, Graham and Green and Rockett St George.
Mismatched pendants are more interesting than the typical matching duo or trio. “We suggested having lots of pendants to add interest,” says Hamilton. “Then we just searched and searched with the client to get the right combo,” says Hamilton.
The white Habitat chairs were brought from the owners’ previous house. Getting a dining table that matches the dimensions of your space can be tricky, so this pleasingly simple wood and metal table was built bespoke by Tandem Studio.
Pendants, Graham and Green and Rockett St George.
A bright blue door adds a touch of colour. Sliding doors open straight onto the garden, making this a great space in summer.
The main worktop is oak, while a splashback of angled metro tiles adds a Scandi-chic geometric touch.
The kitchen might look brand new – but, in fact, to save money, many of the units were recycled from the kitchen that was in the lean-to, which was, in Hamilton’s words, “adapted, remodelled and added to”.
Door painted in Bowery Blue, Abigail Aherne. Concrete-look porcelain floor tiles, Grestec Tiles.
The main worktop is oak, while a splashback of angled metro tiles adds a Scandi-chic geometric touch.
The kitchen might look brand new – but, in fact, to save money, many of the units were recycled from the kitchen that was in the lean-to, which was, in Hamilton’s words, “adapted, remodelled and added to”.
Door painted in Bowery Blue, Abigail Aherne. Concrete-look porcelain floor tiles, Grestec Tiles.
At the other side of the kitchen’s blue sliding door is a study. “It’s a place for reading, working, homework or looking onto the garden,” says Hamilton.
This was originally the main hall, a dead space now reclaimed as a rather grand ‘winter sitting room’, complete with library panelling and fire.
Painting the skirting boards the same colour as the walls is a smart interiors trick. “It makes for ‘taller’ walls as they aren’t being broken by white skirting,” says Hamilton.
The original floorboards were sanded back and stained.
Walls painted in Royal Navy, Valspar. Yellow chairs, Swoon Editions. Chandelier, House Junkie. Table, Rockett St George. Wall sconces, Abigail Ahern.
Painting the skirting boards the same colour as the walls is a smart interiors trick. “It makes for ‘taller’ walls as they aren’t being broken by white skirting,” says Hamilton.
The original floorboards were sanded back and stained.
Walls painted in Royal Navy, Valspar. Yellow chairs, Swoon Editions. Chandelier, House Junkie. Table, Rockett St George. Wall sconces, Abigail Ahern.
Martini anyone? The built-in bar adds a James Bond edge, along with a cosy reading nook with cushioned daybed. In fact, this wall of joinery panelling is super clever as, in addition to providing storage, it conceals the stairs.
“The owners really make the most of the house and entertain a lot – this room is great for drinks parties,” says Hamilton.
“The owners really make the most of the house and entertain a lot – this room is great for drinks parties,” says Hamilton.
The marble fireplace is original. “It was cleaned back, the brick was exposed and a log burner was fitted,” says Hamilton.
Yellow chairs contrast with the indigo shades in this room and add a boutique feel.
Is indigo blue the new grey?
Yellow chairs contrast with the indigo shades in this room and add a boutique feel.
Is indigo blue the new grey?
Off the blue living room is the gorgeous green downstairs bathroom, which has a fabulously boho feel. “It’s like a dramatic jewel box as you enter from the darker room outside,” says Hamilton.
The basin was in the house when the owners moved in and fits the period vibe.
Jinsique wallpaper by Kelsey Proud, Rockett St George. Floor tiles, Grestec Tiles. Period toilet, Burlington.
The basin was in the house when the owners moved in and fits the period vibe.
Jinsique wallpaper by Kelsey Proud, Rockett St George. Floor tiles, Grestec Tiles. Period toilet, Burlington.
This airy ground-floor space is where the family relax and watch TV. The original sash window floods it with light. A large marble fireplace has been restored.
“The grey colour on the walls was chosen to tone down the marble fireplace, which is huge,” says Hamilton. “It also actually helps scale down what is a big room,” says Hamilton.
Ottoman and sofa, Sofa.com. Lamp shade, Graham and Green. Rugs, French Connection.
“The grey colour on the walls was chosen to tone down the marble fireplace, which is huge,” says Hamilton. “It also actually helps scale down what is a big room,” says Hamilton.
Ottoman and sofa, Sofa.com. Lamp shade, Graham and Green. Rugs, French Connection.
Vintage touches, like this side cabinet used for glassware, add to the home’s eclectic feel, along with unusual lighting, such as this wall lamp.
A close-up of the restored marble fireplace.
The main bedroom features dark walls to help create a sumptuous look. It’s a big room, so can handle the indigo colour. However, leaving the bit between the coving and picture rail white prevents the room from looking too dark.
Walls painted in Tempest, Fired Earth.
Walls painted in Tempest, Fired Earth.
Original floorboards add warmth and a sense of the building’s Victorian past.
Instead of wired-in bedside lights, this room has ‘spider lights’ which hang from a simple ceiling fitting.
What architectural features make a Victorian home?
Instead of wired-in bedside lights, this room has ‘spider lights’ which hang from a simple ceiling fitting.
What architectural features make a Victorian home?
This is the main bedroom’s en suite (one big bathroom was broken up to create two en suites). Patterned tiles by Fired Earth add a classic touch.
The large mirrored cabinet is practical and bounces light around the room. Yellow towels are a great style hack in a minimalist bathroom like this.
The large mirrored cabinet is practical and bounces light around the room. Yellow towels are a great style hack in a minimalist bathroom like this.
As this bathroom is located on the top floor of the house, extra roof lights were added to ramp up the natural light. Tongue and groove was installed along two walls, which again manages to walk that tricky classic-meets-contemporary line thanks to cool grey paint.
“The grey makes the space cosier and it looks good with the traditional bath, which is painted black underneath,” says Hamilton.
And once more yellow proves a great way to wake up grey and add a little modern colour.
Yellow wall lights, Holloways of Ludlow. Sink, Catalano.
“The grey makes the space cosier and it looks good with the traditional bath, which is painted black underneath,” says Hamilton.
And once more yellow proves a great way to wake up grey and add a little modern colour.
Yellow wall lights, Holloways of Ludlow. Sink, Catalano.
The view from the garden into the kitchen shows off the slate-covered modern extension. Having a connection between inside and out was important to the owners,
so the flooring outside mirrors what’s inside. “They’re the same tiles – just in a rougher texture and smaller size,” says Hamilton.
so the flooring outside mirrors what’s inside. “They’re the same tiles – just in a rougher texture and smaller size,” says Hamilton.
The stairs leading to the top floor. “We removed a lot of the main structural wall and opened them up,” says Hamilton. “We also opened the roof up to the pitch, adding a roof light to flood the stairs with daylight.”
This bedroom belongs to the couple’s seven-year-old son and features an educational, but stylish, map mural. “It’s a good way to add colour, and it works with the blackboard on another wall,” says Hamilton.
Map mural, Murals Wallpaper.
Map mural, Murals Wallpaper.
Proving kids’ rooms can be chic is the owners’ daughter’s room.
The wallpaper on the chimney breast was bought at Cole & Son and adds a cool vintage touch. The yellow-painted fire surround works brilliantly with the swan print.
The wallpaper on the chimney breast was bought at Cole & Son and adds a cool vintage touch. The yellow-painted fire surround works brilliantly with the swan print.
The guest room has a more romantic feel. Tongue and groove was added for a country edge.
A simple pegboard in the guest room turns hats into a feature.
The elegant entrance hall, where lush green plants and soft crystal chandeliers create a grand welcome.
The exterior. In the 1950s, the villa was divided into two separate homes. The family own one of them.
The door is painted in Dulux’s Russian Velvet 4 “to add drama and make the house contemporary from the moment you come up the drive,” says Hamilton.
The colourful tiled flooring in the foyer of the entrance hall makes a style statement and is easy to clean.
Encaustic tiles, Mosaic Del Sur.
What do you think of this eclectic period house? Let us know in the Comments below.
Encaustic tiles, Mosaic Del Sur.
What do you think of this eclectic period house? Let us know in the Comments below.
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If you have lots of money any look is achievable especially with the help of architectures and designers so I'm less impressed then someone with less who has made you say wow.
Love those dark colours!