Houzz Tour: A Small Edwardian Home Gets a Creative Update
An artistic eye and the clever layering of tones have turned this once unappealing Edwardian house into a stylish, light-filled haven
Wall-to-wall pink with mahogany woodwork is not the most restful of interiors schemes, but that’s the look Veronica Rodriguez and her husband, Darren Jones, were faced with when they moved into their Edwardian terrace in west London. ‘The theme was pink,’ laughs Veronica. ‘Pink walls and pink tiles all over the kitchen.’
It was 2012, and the couple had been living in a flat close by. ‘We were ready for more space and a garden, but weren’t sure what we could afford in this area’ she says. ‘Then we saw this place. It needed everything doing to it, from the front door to the bathroom.’ Fortunately, Veronica could see a clean, crisp space filled with pale, fresh colours, and she and Darren were ready to roll up their sleeves and create their dream home.
It was 2012, and the couple had been living in a flat close by. ‘We were ready for more space and a garden, but weren’t sure what we could afford in this area’ she says. ‘Then we saw this place. It needed everything doing to it, from the front door to the bathroom.’ Fortunately, Veronica could see a clean, crisp space filled with pale, fresh colours, and she and Darren were ready to roll up their sleeves and create their dream home.
The living room exemplifies Veronica’s light-touch mix of old and new. ‘I like combining French-style decorative pieces and clean lines,’ she says of the carved chair alongside the clean-lined sofa and Perspex coffee table. She’s had the carved chair for many years, but re-covered it when they moved in.
Veronica also likes to upcycle wooden furniture – the TV table being a case in point. ‘I buy pine furniture from eBay and repaint it,’ she says. ‘I love painting furniture. If you get it wrong, you can just redo it. And it’s an inexpensive way to change the look of things.’
While Veronica likes a crisp, clean backdrop, she’s also drawn to bright colour, and has added splashes in most rooms, including the large paintings in here and the dining area. ‘Being a photographer, I love paintings. I saw these two in an auction brochure and fell for the colours. I thought to myself, “I’ll make them work somewhere!”’
Alcove table, Pagodas & Butterflies. Freddie pendant shade, Made.com. Sofa, Ikea. Cowhide, City Cows.
Veronica also likes to upcycle wooden furniture – the TV table being a case in point. ‘I buy pine furniture from eBay and repaint it,’ she says. ‘I love painting furniture. If you get it wrong, you can just redo it. And it’s an inexpensive way to change the look of things.’
While Veronica likes a crisp, clean backdrop, she’s also drawn to bright colour, and has added splashes in most rooms, including the large paintings in here and the dining area. ‘Being a photographer, I love paintings. I saw these two in an auction brochure and fell for the colours. I thought to myself, “I’ll make them work somewhere!”’
Alcove table, Pagodas & Butterflies. Freddie pendant shade, Made.com. Sofa, Ikea. Cowhide, City Cows.
The couple had the walls between the living room, dining room and kitchen taken out to open up the space. ‘The house is quite small,’ says Veronica, ‘so we wanted to open it up as much as possible. It’s made a massive difference – and now I can watch TV while I’m washing up if I like!’
Starkey cluster light, Made.com; hung on hooks from Heal’s.
Starkey cluster light, Made.com; hung on hooks from Heal’s.
This image shows why the couple’s home is cool and calm yet has depth: it’s a masterclass in layering shades. Look at the greys on the alcove wall, bureau, table legs and cupboard: they’re all different, but all tone beautifully. ‘I mixed the shades for the bureau and table myself,’ says Veronica. The bureau, originally mahogany, is Darren’s and it took time to convince him it would look better painted. ‘He likes it now, though,’ laughs Veronica.
The couple like entertaining, but do so infrequently, as Darren works shifts, so when they can, they like to spend time at home together. For Veronica, the house is a haven. ‘I love my home and love being in it; I come back from work and go, ahh.’
Bureau, table legs and cabinet all painted in a mix of Annie Sloan chalk paints.
The couple like entertaining, but do so infrequently, as Darren works shifts, so when they can, they like to spend time at home together. For Veronica, the house is a haven. ‘I love my home and love being in it; I come back from work and go, ahh.’
Bureau, table legs and cabinet all painted in a mix of Annie Sloan chalk paints.
‘The cabinet is the bottom half of a Welsh dresser I bought on eBay and painted,’ explains Veronica. The little tree is a bay. ‘Being Spanish, I’m used to always having plants indoors – my mum has lots. I stuck to orchids until recently, but I thought I’d try something different. I’m still learning – they don’t always survive!’
Broadway Star table lamp, Made.com.
Check out how to max out on indoor plants
Broadway Star table lamp, Made.com.
Check out how to max out on indoor plants
The engineered oak flooring in the living room was relatively new when Veronica and Darren moved in, so they simply bought more of the same to extend it right through to the kitchen.
The kitchen units are the original ones. ‘They were beech, so we thought we’d just try painting them to see how they’d look,’ says Veronica. ‘We took all the doors off and applied a special super-grip primer, then the paint.’
The granite worktop was also already in place. ‘It didn’t look great surrounded by pink tiles on the walls and floor,’ Veronica laughs, ‘but we really like it now.’
Wall units painted in Skimming Stone; base units painted in Hardwick White, both Farrow & Ball. Super Grip Primer, Dulux. Oven and microwave, Neff.
The kitchen units are the original ones. ‘They were beech, so we thought we’d just try painting them to see how they’d look,’ says Veronica. ‘We took all the doors off and applied a special super-grip primer, then the paint.’
The granite worktop was also already in place. ‘It didn’t look great surrounded by pink tiles on the walls and floor,’ Veronica laughs, ‘but we really like it now.’
Wall units painted in Skimming Stone; base units painted in Hardwick White, both Farrow & Ball. Super Grip Primer, Dulux. Oven and microwave, Neff.
The couple’s hallway is enviably uncluttered. ‘We have a built-in cupboard and narrow unit behind the stairs, and a basket for the shoe overflow,’ explains Veronica. They painted the whole of the hall white to open it up. ‘The original front door was all glass, so we blocked some of the light when we fitted the new one and needed to brighten the space.’
The stairs were originally covered in carpet and had simple horizontal planks for a banister. ‘We reinstated the spindles, ripped up the carpet and painted the dark wood in a light floor paint,’ says Veronica.
Stairs painted in French Gray, Farrow & Ball. Pendant light, Heal’s.
The stairs were originally covered in carpet and had simple horizontal planks for a banister. ‘We reinstated the spindles, ripped up the carpet and painted the dark wood in a light floor paint,’ says Veronica.
Stairs painted in French Gray, Farrow & Ball. Pendant light, Heal’s.
Veronica has gone for dark grey in the master bedroom. ‘This room has three windows, so I could afford to be bold,’ she says. Her upcycling skills are very much on show in here: the chest of drawers has new, mismatched knobs; the wooden mirror, originally cream, is now silver on a dark grey base, and the formerly cream chandelier has been sprayed copper.
Feature wall painted in Plummett, Farrow & Ball.
Feature wall painted in Plummett, Farrow & Ball.
The couple treated themselves to an elegant Victorian-style bed. ‘We got married just after we moved in,’ says Veronica, ‘and lots of people bought us vouchers so we could buy things for the house.’
The birdcage light is one of Veronica’s creations. ‘I like birdcages, and put fairy lights around this one to make a bedside lamp,’ she says.
Bed, John Lewis. Bed linen, Monsoon Home.
The birdcage light is one of Veronica’s creations. ‘I like birdcages, and put fairy lights around this one to make a bedside lamp,’ she says.
Bed, John Lewis. Bed linen, Monsoon Home.
The turquoise dressing table adds a touch of bright colour to the room, and links with the turquoise artwork, bought at auction. ‘The table was originally cream, but I dabbed gold in the carvings, sprayed the handles and painted the rest,’ she says.
She made the blinds herself. ‘I did a course in curtain-making and I can just about make blinds – although these were my second attempt!’
She made the blinds herself. ‘I did a course in curtain-making and I can just about make blinds – although these were my second attempt!’
The guest bedroom does double duty as a home office, with a work desk, which Veronica painted, in an alcove and a sofa bed freeing up space. The chimney wall is a rich grey-blue. ‘I was inspired by Abigail Ahern to try something really dark in here,’ explains Veronica. ‘In a spare room, it isn’t a disaster if it doesn’t work.’
This room and the master bedroom, as well as the landing in-between, are carpeted in sisal. ‘I don’t like fluffy carpet, I think it attracts dust,’ says Veronica. ‘Sisal is low pile without looking cheap, and as the rooms are quite small, we could afford to get a nice one.’
Sisal flooring, Carpetright. Desk, eBay. Chair, Ikea. Wall painted in Royal Navy, Valspar. Mirror, TK Maxx.
This room and the master bedroom, as well as the landing in-between, are carpeted in sisal. ‘I don’t like fluffy carpet, I think it attracts dust,’ says Veronica. ‘Sisal is low pile without looking cheap, and as the rooms are quite small, we could afford to get a nice one.’
Sisal flooring, Carpetright. Desk, eBay. Chair, Ikea. Wall painted in Royal Navy, Valspar. Mirror, TK Maxx.
The couple reinstated the fireplaces in both bedrooms. ‘They were bricked up, so we opened them and fitted fireplaces from a reclamation yard in Devon,’ says Veronica.
The wardrobe is a children’s one and was originally pine, until Veronica refreshed it with Annie Sloan chalk paint. ‘I keep a lot of fabric in there,’ she says. It’s papered inside with Laura Ashley Birds of Paradise wallpaper (no longer available).
Mirror, TK Maxx.
The wardrobe is a children’s one and was originally pine, until Veronica refreshed it with Annie Sloan chalk paint. ‘I keep a lot of fabric in there,’ she says. It’s papered inside with Laura Ashley Birds of Paradise wallpaper (no longer available).
Mirror, TK Maxx.
‘The bathroom had rotten pine cladding and was the next thing we did after the dampcourse. You couldn’t even have a shower in it,’ Veronica recalls. All the plumbing had to be reconfigured, and it took Darren a month as he had to do it while working.
The couple were keen to tile right up to the ceiling. ‘It’s easier to clean,’ says Veronica. ‘We also went for large tiles to make the room look bigger, and the floor tiles are shiny to reflect light from the window and make the space look deeper.’
Tiles, B&Q. Bath and toilet, Victoria Plumb. Vanity unit, Bathstore.
The couple were keen to tile right up to the ceiling. ‘It’s easier to clean,’ says Veronica. ‘We also went for large tiles to make the room look bigger, and the floor tiles are shiny to reflect light from the window and make the space look deeper.’
Tiles, B&Q. Bath and toilet, Victoria Plumb. Vanity unit, Bathstore.
The house originally had a step down to a grotty patio, so the couple installed a deck to create a lounging area on the same level as the interior. ‘Decking also continues the wooden flooring from inside the house,’ Veronica says. Unsurprisingly she adds, ‘I will be painting the table and chairs at some point!’
Table; chairs; parasol, all B&Q.
Discover ways to eat, drink and be merry in a small garden
Table; chairs; parasol, all B&Q.
Discover ways to eat, drink and be merry in a small garden
‘Apart from the palm tree, the garden was completely bare,’ Veronica recalls. So the couple have put in plenty of leafy plants and shrubs, including the climbing jasmine along the fence. ‘I like plants, but I’m still experimenting,’ she laughs.
The painted building at the end is a sizable cabin the couple bought online. ‘It was a flatpack and took four days to put together,’ Veronica says. But it looks nice, with French windows and a new coat of paint. ‘It’s great extra storage for things like tools and Darren’s surfboard.’
Apart from small jobs – ‘we’re trying to sort out the grass’ – the house is finished. Are they missing all the upcycling and creativity? ‘We did enjoy the process,’ says Veronica, ‘but we have it how we want it now and we love it.’
TELL US…
What do you think of this lovingly renovated home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The painted building at the end is a sizable cabin the couple bought online. ‘It was a flatpack and took four days to put together,’ Veronica says. But it looks nice, with French windows and a new coat of paint. ‘It’s great extra storage for things like tools and Darren’s surfboard.’
Apart from small jobs – ‘we’re trying to sort out the grass’ – the house is finished. Are they missing all the upcycling and creativity? ‘We did enjoy the process,’ says Veronica, ‘but we have it how we want it now and we love it.’
TELL US…
What do you think of this lovingly renovated home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here Photographer Veronica Rodriguez of Veronica Rodriguez Interior Photography and her husband, Darren Jones
Era Edwardian, 1900-1910
Location Raynes Park, southwest London
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
As soon as Veronica and Darren moved into the house, in January 2012, they decamped upstairs and had the whole of the ground floor dampcoursed. ‘Luckily, we’d sold most of our furniture with our flat, so we didn’t have much to store,’ says Veronica. ‘We had some preliminary work done by a builder – the walls demolished downstairs, new electrics, a boiler installed and all the walls skimmed – but we wanted to do as much as possible ourselves.’
They originally painted all the walls in white or pale grey. ‘Then I got a bit braver and added darker grey,’ Veronica says. The shelves in the moody grey alcove are scaffolding planks stained a walnut shade.
Chimney wall painted in Plummett, Farrow & Ball. Country 4 wood-burning stove, Charnwood.