Houzz Tour: A Scandi-chic Home with a Centrepiece Kitchen
A tired Victorian house had been turned into a calm, elegant and contemporary retreat
Not many homes manage to combine a bookish air with a pared-back Scandi sensibility, Italian chic and a dash of Brazilian pizzazz thrown in for good measure, but this stylish period property in southwest London mixes up a variety of influences without missing a beat.
However, when architect Michel Colaço bought the house with his partner, Martin Reid, back in 2014, it was a different story. The house hadn’t been renovated since the 1970s (the previous owners had lived in it since 1957). Some considerable changes were on the cards. “We wanted to bring a 130-year-old Victorian home into the 21st century,” explains Colaço. Along with Francesca Graham, his co-owner at design firm Colaço & Graham, Colaço set about reconfiguring the layout, the plan being “to enlarge the ground floor, as well as converting the loft upstairs, creating space for the master bedroom”. Central to the project was designing a sociable, open-plan kitchen downstairs, ideal for entertaining or relaxing in.
However, when architect Michel Colaço bought the house with his partner, Martin Reid, back in 2014, it was a different story. The house hadn’t been renovated since the 1970s (the previous owners had lived in it since 1957). Some considerable changes were on the cards. “We wanted to bring a 130-year-old Victorian home into the 21st century,” explains Colaço. Along with Francesca Graham, his co-owner at design firm Colaço & Graham, Colaço set about reconfiguring the layout, the plan being “to enlarge the ground floor, as well as converting the loft upstairs, creating space for the master bedroom”. Central to the project was designing a sociable, open-plan kitchen downstairs, ideal for entertaining or relaxing in.
The open-plan kitchen is very much the focus of the ground floor, and designed to be a great entertaining space.
“Our plan was always to make the kitchen the centre of the house, giving it both more space and more visibility,” says Colaço. “Martin loves to cook and have friends round. It made sense to have the kitchen open-plan. Keeping it linked to the dining and living areas gives it a Scandinavian air – both relaxed and functional.”
The open-plan design also means people can happily be ‘alone together’. “My favourite thing about our house is how we can gather people together in the same area while they’re doing different activities,” he says.
The room showcases how islands don’t have to dwarf a room or sit in the middle – this one is super-compact.
Check out more ideas for open-plan living
“Our plan was always to make the kitchen the centre of the house, giving it both more space and more visibility,” says Colaço. “Martin loves to cook and have friends round. It made sense to have the kitchen open-plan. Keeping it linked to the dining and living areas gives it a Scandinavian air – both relaxed and functional.”
The open-plan design also means people can happily be ‘alone together’. “My favourite thing about our house is how we can gather people together in the same area while they’re doing different activities,” he says.
The room showcases how islands don’t have to dwarf a room or sit in the middle – this one is super-compact.
Check out more ideas for open-plan living
The pared-back kitchen units don’t overpower the living-eating-lounging space, but almost seem to ‘disappear’ – allowing the dining table to be the focal point. The units were made bespoke, and spray-painted in a Fired Earth shade.
The worktop and splashback may look like marble, but they’re actually made of a 12mm-thick porcelain from Spain, with the appearance of Carrara marble.
“The large pieces avoid seams and make the design much easier,” says Colaço. “It’s a high-performance material gaining more prominence among architects and designers, as it’s more compact and stain-resistant than marble.”
The dining table is Colaço’s own design, built from plywood with metal legs.
The worktop and splashback may look like marble, but they’re actually made of a 12mm-thick porcelain from Spain, with the appearance of Carrara marble.
“The large pieces avoid seams and make the design much easier,” says Colaço. “It’s a high-performance material gaining more prominence among architects and designers, as it’s more compact and stain-resistant than marble.”
The dining table is Colaço’s own design, built from plywood with metal legs.
The house was extended at the rear, creating a light, relaxed living area. “This is where we gather friends for a drink before supper,” says Colaço .
Rather than one large expanse of glass, three smaller skylights were installed in the roof “for privacy”. However, there were a few big structural issues to tackle before works initially went ahead.
“The foundations of houses from this Victorian period are not very deep, so it was necessary to rebuild a concrete base throughout the ground floor,” explains Colaço. “We also had to re-angle one of the outside rear walls and introduce 13 metal beams to give more support to the internal walls.”
The black bifold doors look smart, and allow easy access to the garden.
Doors, SunSeeker.
Rather than one large expanse of glass, three smaller skylights were installed in the roof “for privacy”. However, there were a few big structural issues to tackle before works initially went ahead.
“The foundations of houses from this Victorian period are not very deep, so it was necessary to rebuild a concrete base throughout the ground floor,” explains Colaço. “We also had to re-angle one of the outside rear walls and introduce 13 metal beams to give more support to the internal walls.”
The black bifold doors look smart, and allow easy access to the garden.
Doors, SunSeeker.
When it came to interior style, the owners’ grown-up vision drew on a variety of influences from around the globe, both old and new. “I grew up in Brazil and I’m influenced by my early experiences there by the beach,” says Colaço, who studied at Central St Martin’s and Chelsea College of Arts. “But I always try to mix that with minimal modern Scandinavian style.”
Meanwhile, Francesca Graham has a wealth of experience, previously working with designers such as Fox Linton and US architects Skidmore Owings Merrill.
In addition to the mix of Scandinavian and Brazilian elements, there’s an elegant Italian influence in the house, with much of the chic furniture by Minotti.
Concrete artwork, Contour Ravine by Petr Weigl. Yang sofa; Elliott coffee table in Sahara Noir marble; Landfield rug, all Minotti. Lighting, Flos.
Meanwhile, Francesca Graham has a wealth of experience, previously working with designers such as Fox Linton and US architects Skidmore Owings Merrill.
In addition to the mix of Scandinavian and Brazilian elements, there’s an elegant Italian influence in the house, with much of the chic furniture by Minotti.
Concrete artwork, Contour Ravine by Petr Weigl. Yang sofa; Elliott coffee table in Sahara Noir marble; Landfield rug, all Minotti. Lighting, Flos.
Colaço and Reid are clearly passionate about art, with every room featuring striking pieces, carefully chosen and placed. The imposing work, There will never be silence, by the dining table, was commissioned for the house and is by Brazilian artist Patrick Rigon.
Timeless Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner add a designer touch to the dining area. The Scandi-chic pale ash flooring looks clean and modern.
Ash flooring, Havwoods.
Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner, available at Ferrious.
Timeless Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner add a designer touch to the dining area. The Scandi-chic pale ash flooring looks clean and modern.
Ash flooring, Havwoods.
Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner, available at Ferrious.
The spherical lights, by Flos, work brilliantly in this contemporary space, adding a soft counterpart to the straight lines.
While the overall style is modern, subtle paint colours add warmth, along with tactile rugs and gold accents.
Side table, Minotti. IC T2 table lamp by Michael Anastassiades, Flos.
While the overall style is modern, subtle paint colours add warmth, along with tactile rugs and gold accents.
Side table, Minotti. IC T2 table lamp by Michael Anastassiades, Flos.
Books are important to Colaço and Reid – perhaps not surprisingly, given that Reid is a librarian. This room demonstrates brilliantly how bookshelves create a relaxed, inviting atmosphere and add character, even in a modern space.
“With our vast collection of books, we decided the main room would have to look like a library, a space reserved for reading.”
The chic double chaise provides a solution to that age-old problem – who gets to lie down, and who has to move. This way both parties are the winner.
Seymour divan; Joy Jut Out table, Minotti. AIM suspension light, Flos.
Be inspired by these creative ways to display books
“With our vast collection of books, we decided the main room would have to look like a library, a space reserved for reading.”
The chic double chaise provides a solution to that age-old problem – who gets to lie down, and who has to move. This way both parties are the winner.
Seymour divan; Joy Jut Out table, Minotti. AIM suspension light, Flos.
Be inspired by these creative ways to display books
An Italianate painting, depicting Madonna and child, adds drama and a sense of history to the reading room. “We wanted a sophisticated and discreet look in here, with darker shades,” says Colaço .
Velvet Strada rug, Kasthall.
Walls painted in Amber Gris, Fired Earth.
Velvet Strada rug, Kasthall.
Walls painted in Amber Gris, Fired Earth.
The loft was converted into a master bedroom that wouldn’t look out of place in a five-star establishment. “I guess I’ve been influenced by my previous job designing hotels,” admits Colaço. “I was involved in major hotel projects in different parts of the world, which was fascinating, but now I’m keen to do smaller projects where I can find out more about the clients.
“In the master bedroom, we wanted vintage furnishings, like those from the 1970s, with gold fittings and dark cushions,” he adds.
Gold lamps, Tom Dixon. Cushions, JAB Anstoetz. Bed, Heal’s.
“In the master bedroom, we wanted vintage furnishings, like those from the 1970s, with gold fittings and dark cushions,” he adds.
Gold lamps, Tom Dixon. Cushions, JAB Anstoetz. Bed, Heal’s.
Soft carpet was chosen in here to add a feeling of warmth.
Pouffe by Patricia Urquiola, Gandia Blasco.
Pouffe by Patricia Urquiola, Gandia Blasco.
Colour coordination rules in the couple’s super-organised walk-in wardrobe, off the bedroom in the loft. “It’s a handy extra space for when we get ready to go out,” says Colaço .
There’s more intriguing art in the master bedroom. The gold side table has a 1970s Brazilian clay sculpture on top.
Still side table, Minotti.
Still side table, Minotti.
The guest bedroom has been kept simple, with a palette of warm caramel shades.
Bed, Heal’s. Jensen armchair in beige leather; bedside tables, all Minotti. Tiles brick rug, Kasthall. Walls painted in Oak Apple, Fired Earth.
Bed, Heal’s. Jensen armchair in beige leather; bedside tables, all Minotti. Tiles brick rug, Kasthall. Walls painted in Oak Apple, Fired Earth.
Using similar shapes and details throughout the house, such as this spherical lamp, which also features in the living room, helps to create a sense of continuity.
This is Colaço‘s desk corner, where he can catch up on work or the latest design trends. “I spend a lot of time here when I’m at home, either drawing or looking at my collection of books and magazines on architecture, art and design,” he says.
Close desk; Aston chair, both Minotti.
Artwork by Swedish artist Ida Isaksson.
Close desk; Aston chair, both Minotti.
Artwork by Swedish artist Ida Isaksson.
The bathroom is simple and white. It’s designed to be eminently functional, with exactly the right pressure, volume and heating, as well as economical in its water usage. No meagre, dribbly showers here.
Shower system, Hansgrohe.
Shower system, Hansgrohe.
Cesar mini side table, Minotti.
What do you like about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you like about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here Michel Colaço, an interior architect, and Martin Reid, deputy director of the LSE library
Location North Kingston (close to Richmond Park), London
Property A Victorian house built in 1885
Size 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Designer/architect Michel Colaço and Francesca Graham of Colaco & Graham
Photos by Rainer Knappe