Houzz Tour: A Chic Scheme Stylishly Updates a Family Home
Careful choices of colour, texture and pattern were key to ensuring this Victorian home feels light yet cosy
The family who live in this Victorian terraced house called in interior designer Fiona Duke at the end of a full home renovation. They wanted to incorporate a family area where their kids could play inside and out, as well as a grown-up space for quiet, relaxing evenings.
The owners like to cook and entertain, so Fiona left enough room for them to extend their table when guests come over. Three vintage army lights hang above to illuminate the surface.
The sloping glass ceiling and glazed back doors add plenty of natural light to the room, as well as creating a connection with the outdoors.
The microcement flooring blends with the cement patio outside.
Dining chairs, Wayfair.
The sloping glass ceiling and glazed back doors add plenty of natural light to the room, as well as creating a connection with the outdoors.
The microcement flooring blends with the cement patio outside.
Dining chairs, Wayfair.
As there was quite a lot to fit in the space, Fiona chose uncluttered pale grey kitchen units that blend into the background.
The extension wall is covered with white zellige tiles, which add beautiful texture to the space without overpowering it.
Zellige tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Kitchen cabinets, Naked Kitchens; painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball.
The extension wall is covered with white zellige tiles, which add beautiful texture to the space without overpowering it.
Zellige tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Kitchen cabinets, Naked Kitchens; painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball.
Glass wall lights in the living area wash over the tiled surface and add a soft ambience in the evening.
Wall lights, Peter Reid (now only selling outdoor lighting).
Wall lights, Peter Reid (now only selling outdoor lighting).
The washing zone is opposite the sideboard, while the cooking zone [not pictured] faces the back door.
A quartz worktop has been continued up the wall to form a splashback, and a brass tap adds a touch of warmth to the pale cabinetry.
A quartz worktop has been continued up the wall to form a splashback, and a brass tap adds a touch of warmth to the pale cabinetry.
The middle reception room has been turned into a study area for when the couple work from home. A glass door brings plenty of light into the room from the kitchen.
Off-white walls are teamed with complementary tones on the woodwork. “We wanted to keep things light and airy, and the owners were keen on a soft, muted scheme,” Fiona says.
Although the fireplace inset was in good condition, Fiona updated the surround and added striking patterned tiles to the hearth.
Hearth tiles, Walls and Floors. Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck, Kartell. Desk, Made. Walls painted in Herbal Escape; woodwork painted in Willow Creek; coving and ceiling painted in Decorator’s White, all Benjamin Moore. Rug, French Connection.
Off-white walls are teamed with complementary tones on the woodwork. “We wanted to keep things light and airy, and the owners were keen on a soft, muted scheme,” Fiona says.
Although the fireplace inset was in good condition, Fiona updated the surround and added striking patterned tiles to the hearth.
Hearth tiles, Walls and Floors. Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck, Kartell. Desk, Made. Walls painted in Herbal Escape; woodwork painted in Willow Creek; coving and ceiling painted in Decorator’s White, all Benjamin Moore. Rug, French Connection.
While the kitchen was designed to be a family hub, the owners wanted the front reception room to be more of an adult space. Fiona continued the neutral tones from the middle room and mirrored the fireplace with the same surround and hearth tiles.
Floor lamp, West Elm.
Floor lamp, West Elm.
A couple of simple updates completely transformed this space. Fiona had two Ikea armchairs reupholstered with bold fabric, and pepped up an old sofa with a combination of coral and green cushions.
Engineered timber flooring is covered by a cosy rug, but the owners decided to go without a central coffee table to leave the space clear.
Sofa, Loaf. Armchairs, Ikea; upholstered in Farquhar Feathers fabric, Iona Crawford. Cushions, a selection from Habitat, Fern Living and Design Vintage. Rug, La Redoute.
Engineered timber flooring is covered by a cosy rug, but the owners decided to go without a central coffee table to leave the space clear.
Sofa, Loaf. Armchairs, Ikea; upholstered in Farquhar Feathers fabric, Iona Crawford. Cushions, a selection from Habitat, Fern Living and Design Vintage. Rug, La Redoute.
In the hallway, patterned floor tiles are a practical choice for a young family and will stand up to buggies and muddy boots. The pattern was chosen to complement the hearth tiles in the reception rooms.
Contour Shadow Hexagon floor tiles, Walls and Floors.
Contour Shadow Hexagon floor tiles, Walls and Floors.
The hallway is quite narrow, so Fiona found a slim cast-iron radiator to fit the space. The walls in here and up the stairs are painted in highly durable, scuff-proof paint.
Walls painted in Ultra Spec Scuff-X, Benjamin Moore. Stair carpet, Kersaint Cobb.
Walls painted in Ultra Spec Scuff-X, Benjamin Moore. Stair carpet, Kersaint Cobb.
Fiona was also asked to design the couple’s master suite in the loft. She kept the colour scheme light here, as the awkward layout could have felt too cluttered with dark tones.
The high ceiling at the centre of the room allowed for a low-hung pendant light, and Fiona found a couple of antique Italian wall lights for either side of the bed.
Artwork, Formwork.
The high ceiling at the centre of the room allowed for a low-hung pendant light, and Fiona found a couple of antique Italian wall lights for either side of the bed.
Artwork, Formwork.
The ceiling in the en suite is also sloping, with the tallest part accommodating a luxurious walk-in shower.
“We used microcement on the walls and sealed it to make it waterproof,” Fiona says. “The whole room was tanked to allow for a seamless floor.”
The brass taps and shower fittings will acquire an attractive patina over time.
Lily pad floor tiles, Ca’Pietra. Vanity unit, Bathstore. Cabinet handles, Dowsing & Reynolds. Basin, Lusso Stone. Taps and shower fittings, Bespoke Taps. Wall lights, Fritz Fryer.
“We used microcement on the walls and sealed it to make it waterproof,” Fiona says. “The whole room was tanked to allow for a seamless floor.”
The brass taps and shower fittings will acquire an attractive patina over time.
Lily pad floor tiles, Ca’Pietra. Vanity unit, Bathstore. Cabinet handles, Dowsing & Reynolds. Basin, Lusso Stone. Taps and shower fittings, Bespoke Taps. Wall lights, Fritz Fryer.
A wooden vanity unit provides plenty of storage and Fiona installed a large basin on top. “We chose wall-mounted brass taps to keep space free on the basin and to prevent the vanity surface from getting waterlogged,” she says.
Tell us…
What do you like about this beautiful, stylish home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this beautiful, stylish home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A professional couple with two children
Location East London
Property A Victorian terraced house
Size Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Fiona Duke of FIONA DUKE INTERIORS
Photos by Anna Stathaki
A side-return extension added extra space to the rear of this Victorian terrace and meant the family could create an open-plan kitchen and living area next to the garden. However, some thoughtful planning was needed to make the most of the floor space and fit in two sofas and a dining table.
“I decided to incorporate three separate zones of kitchen cabinets,” Fiona says. In the side return is a sideboard zone with space for dining and drinks items. Elsewhere, there’s a cooking area and a washing-up zone.