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Houzz Tour: A Victorian House Gets a Convention-busting Redesign
Original details against streamlined architecture and lots of unexpected touches give this home one-of-a-kind style
How do you inject a relaxed, earthy, cabin-chic-meets-midcentury vibe into a Victorian semi that hasn’t been touched in more than 10 years? That was the conundrum facing Omar Bhatti of Space Shack after the owners of this house in north London reached out to him via Houzz. They were looking for someone to design and project manage the renovation of their entire five-bed property, and were buzzing with ideas.
“They had tons of inspiration – lots of cabin, outdoor and beach living,” Omar says. “They loved Japandi, ethnic and midcentury design, too. The question was, how do you get that look and feel in a 19th century home?” Read on to see how he did it.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
“They had tons of inspiration – lots of cabin, outdoor and beach living,” Omar says. “They loved Japandi, ethnic and midcentury design, too. The question was, how do you get that look and feel in a 19th century home?” Read on to see how he did it.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
Omar preserved the flooring, doors and marble fireplaces and painted the ceiling and top section of the walls in a soft, sandy colour. “This colour blocking with a limewash paint brings more texture to the space,” he says.
The coffee table is a midcentury piece by Ole Bjørn Krüger, while the paper lantern adds some of the Japandi style the owners love.
Walls painted in Pointing, Farrow & Ball. Ceiling painted in Mughal Earth, Francesca’s Paints.
Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The coffee table is a midcentury piece by Ole Bjørn Krüger, while the paper lantern adds some of the Japandi style the owners love.
Walls painted in Pointing, Farrow & Ball. Ceiling painted in Mughal Earth, Francesca’s Paints.
Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The original floor and doors were beautifully restored and provided colour inspiration for the whole house. “The floor in particular had a lot of different tones in it,” Omar says. “They were the starting point. Everything else led from there.”
Having lived in Australia, the owners also found the house very cold. “There was zero insulation underneath the floorboards,” Omar says, “so we removed them, insulated, restored the boards and relaid them.” The impressive double doors between the two reception rooms were also stripped and varnished, as were other doors in the property.
Having lived in Australia, the owners also found the house very cold. “There was zero insulation underneath the floorboards,” Omar says, “so we removed them, insulated, restored the boards and relaid them.” The impressive double doors between the two reception rooms were also stripped and varnished, as were other doors in the property.
“We added a ton of bespoke joinery in the living room, both for display and storage,” Omar says. “It has a huge impact.”
He designed the joinery to be a mix of open and closed storage. “We didn’t want symmetry or a mirrored effect here,” he says. “In fact, we deliberately chose not to have a matchy-matchy look running through the house. We took elements and tones from one room and carried them into the next, but we didn’t want them to be the same.”
The wood used for the joinery in the living room, for instance, is not the same as the wood used to clad the kitchen (scroll down to see this) – it’s a darker tone. “I wanted each space to feel exciting,” Omar says.
All bespoke joinery throughout, Priest Furniture.
He designed the joinery to be a mix of open and closed storage. “We didn’t want symmetry or a mirrored effect here,” he says. “In fact, we deliberately chose not to have a matchy-matchy look running through the house. We took elements and tones from one room and carried them into the next, but we didn’t want them to be the same.”
The wood used for the joinery in the living room, for instance, is not the same as the wood used to clad the kitchen (scroll down to see this) – it’s a darker tone. “I wanted each space to feel exciting,” Omar says.
All bespoke joinery throughout, Priest Furniture.
The rear reception room is a dedicated music space. “The owners didn’t want it to be a dining room. It has its own identity,” Omar says. The couple sometimes host music evenings, and guests can access the room from the external doors, while the double doors to the living room can be closed. “They really wanted that privacy,” he says.
Table, Nkuku. Cushions, Global Explorer.
Table, Nkuku. Cushions, Global Explorer.
The cabinets were not made bespoke. “They were a brilliant choice,” Omar says. “They fit and work perfectly. Mixing bespoke with high street buys helps the budget and I love that play with materials. There’s a lot of dark wood elsewhere, but in here, the rattan lifts and brightens the space.”
The LED lights are purely decorative, and an example of the playful, unexpected details that pepper the house.
Cabinets, Tikamoon. Neon lights, Hay.
The LED lights are purely decorative, and an example of the playful, unexpected details that pepper the house.
Cabinets, Tikamoon. Neon lights, Hay.
The owners wanted neutral and warm colours for their home. Omar initially suggested some paint schemes for the hall, but, in the end, picked something more raw and simple. “We went for polished plaster, which has texture and movement in it,” he says. The green carpet complements its soft pink tones.
The original mahogany handrail was restored, but Omar designed new steel spindles for the staircase. It’s one of the design elements he loves most. “I like that contrast of the materials used with the rest of the house,” he says. “The black metal works nicely – it’s a great contrast with the raw plaster.”
Prestige carpet in Avocado, Westex.
The original mahogany handrail was restored, but Omar designed new steel spindles for the staircase. It’s one of the design elements he loves most. “I like that contrast of the materials used with the rest of the house,” he says. “The black metal works nicely – it’s a great contrast with the raw plaster.”
Prestige carpet in Avocado, Westex.
The entrance now looks clean and also unique, declaring the house’s fresh, non-traditional style. “Hallways and staircases are often overlooked, but they are such important transitional spaces,” Omar says.
Bench, Global Explorer. Coat hook shelf, Anthropologie. Pendant light, West Elm.
Bench, Global Explorer. Coat hook shelf, Anthropologie. Pendant light, West Elm.
The kitchen was already in situ and the owners were happy to keep it, but they still wanted to refresh the space so it tied in with the rest of the house.
“We began thinking about what we could do in this room to really push it, design-wise, and give it some life,” Omar says. “Clients come to us with a budget and say what can we do with it? They have a wish list and priorities, but then, as designers, there are certain things we would really like to do to add impact. In this case, we made sure we could find money within the budget for the kitchen cladding.”
Again, the owners’ love of cabins and relaxed Australian style were in the mix. “We thought, where can we give them panelling?” Omar says. “We couldn’t put it in the hallway – that would have been too much – and we had bespoke joinery in the living room, so we decided the kitchen was perfect.”
Bar stools, Sklum.
Again, the owners’ love of cabins and relaxed Australian style were in the mix. “We thought, where can we give them panelling?” Omar says. “We couldn’t put it in the hallway – that would have been too much – and we had bespoke joinery in the living room, so we decided the kitchen was perfect.”
Bar stools, Sklum.
One of the owners had also requested a reading nook. “Instead of just putting a chair in the corner, we thought about how to make this whole space more exciting,” Omar says. He designed a bench that works as a place to read or gaze out of the window. It also contains storage, maximising its uses. Omar sourced the upholstery fabric from Turkey for the cushion.
The dining table, meanwhile, can be extended, so it can accommodate plenty of guests.
The owners had some key pieces already, including the sofa in the living room, artworks and a collection of Turkish rugs. Omar then sourced new furniture and lighting to complement these, creating a Selections Board using Houzz Pro tools for each room.
“The client can go in and see all the lighting or furniture options, chose yes or no, and also leave a comment, and we are notified as soon as they do,” he says. “It’s a great, great tool for us and we use it religiously with every project, once we’ve done the design spec and got to the sourcing stage.”
Dining table and grey chair, House Of Twenty. Refurbished midcentury yellow chair, 2&4 Vintage Furniture. Black and wooden chair, Case. Pendant light, Louis Poulsen.
The dining table, meanwhile, can be extended, so it can accommodate plenty of guests.
The owners had some key pieces already, including the sofa in the living room, artworks and a collection of Turkish rugs. Omar then sourced new furniture and lighting to complement these, creating a Selections Board using Houzz Pro tools for each room.
“The client can go in and see all the lighting or furniture options, chose yes or no, and also leave a comment, and we are notified as soon as they do,” he says. “It’s a great, great tool for us and we use it religiously with every project, once we’ve done the design spec and got to the sourcing stage.”
Dining table and grey chair, House Of Twenty. Refurbished midcentury yellow chair, 2&4 Vintage Furniture. Black and wooden chair, Case. Pendant light, Louis Poulsen.
Omar converted the old bathroom into a shower room. “We didn’t want Turkish tiles over the whole place,” he says, “just little hints in the enclosure and along the basin wall, so it’s quite striking and fresh.”
The walls have a light grey microcement finish. “I love the play of materials in here – the super-soft microcement contrasting with the Turkish tiles, and then fittings that are more traditional. It works really well,” he says.
Tiles, Otto Tiles & Design. Ceiling light, Astro. Microcement in Feather 1, Forcrete. Shower, TBK Design. Hanging planter, Garden Trading.
The walls have a light grey microcement finish. “I love the play of materials in here – the super-soft microcement contrasting with the Turkish tiles, and then fittings that are more traditional. It works really well,” he says.
Tiles, Otto Tiles & Design. Ceiling light, Astro. Microcement in Feather 1, Forcrete. Shower, TBK Design. Hanging planter, Garden Trading.
A before shot of what is now the main bedroom.
The owners’ bedroom now has bespoke cherrywood wardrobes fitted right up to the high ceiling to maximise storage space.
“This room summarises the house’s entire design scheme,” Omar says. “Warm colours, textures, patterns and an eclectic style.”
Pendant light, Dyke & Dean.
More: How to Futureproof Your Bedroom
“This room summarises the house’s entire design scheme,” Omar says. “Warm colours, textures, patterns and an eclectic style.”
Pendant light, Dyke & Dean.
More: How to Futureproof Your Bedroom
All the walls throughout the house have been replastered. Here, though, Omar spotted the beautiful colours and textures on the chimney breast, made up of old wallpaper and exposed concrete, when the room was being stripped out.
“I happened to be on a site visit and I said, stop! Don’t take this off. Keep this!” he says. A special sealant was used to preserve it, and then he showed the owners. “They loved it.”
The dressing table is a restored midcentury piece.
Dressing table, Vinterior.
“I happened to be on a site visit and I said, stop! Don’t take this off. Keep this!” he says. A special sealant was used to preserve it, and then he showed the owners. “They loved it.”
The dressing table is a restored midcentury piece.
Dressing table, Vinterior.
The upstairs front room before.
The owners still use this large room as a home office, with a combination of vintage furniture and one of their Turkish rugs. The original floor was sanded and stained and Omar designed floating shelves and added a storage unit.
Desks, West Elm. Black and wooden chair, Case. Ceiling light, Make Space For This. Floor lamp, La Redoute. Storage unit, Ferm Living.
Desks, West Elm. Black and wooden chair, Case. Ceiling light, Make Space For This. Floor lamp, La Redoute. Storage unit, Ferm Living.
A block of stripped-back wall has been preserved in here, too. “It might have been too much across the whole wall, so we just did a section,” Omar says. “Now it looks like a piece of framed art.”
The armchair is an heirloom piece that once belonged to one of the owners’ grandfathers.
The armchair is an heirloom piece that once belonged to one of the owners’ grandfathers.
There are two guest rooms in the house, both featuring earthy tones and both used frequently by family and friends. A fifth bedroom (not photographed) is a box room that now works as a yoga space.
In the main guest room, Omar designed a cork headboard with a cherrywood border. It brings in the warmth and earthy texture the owners love.
Wall painted in Lichen, Farrow & Ball. Bed, Get Laid Beds. Bedside table, Maisons du Monde. Table lamp, John Lewis & Partners. Throw, Print Sisters.
In the main guest room, Omar designed a cork headboard with a cherrywood border. It brings in the warmth and earthy texture the owners love.
Wall painted in Lichen, Farrow & Ball. Bed, Get Laid Beds. Bedside table, Maisons du Monde. Table lamp, John Lewis & Partners. Throw, Print Sisters.
This is the smallest bedroom in the house. “We emphasised the little nook where the bed sits with colour blocking, adding a rich, warm yellow paint,” Omar says. A neat floating shelf makes an effective bedside table.
Walls painted in India Yellow, Farrow & Ball. Bed, Get Laid Beds. Wall lights, Muuto. Knitted beige throw, Retreat Home. Cushions, Global Explorer.
Walls painted in India Yellow, Farrow & Ball. Bed, Get Laid Beds. Wall lights, Muuto. Knitted beige throw, Retreat Home. Cushions, Global Explorer.
The landing as it looked before.
“It was a bit boring upstairs and we wanted impact as you come up,” Omar says. “The owners can add art as they go, but we wondered what else might work well here, so we put in those [beams].”
Again, this detail channels the look and feel of the Australian interiors that were a key inspiration from the start. Pendant lights and the owners’ existing armchair make this a real focal point.
The project was completed in about three months, and the owners are thrilled with the transformation, saying, “We love how the house now feels spacious, warm and personal.”
Medium pendant lights, Menu Lighting. Large pendant light, Caravane.
Tell us…
What do you like about this reimagined Victorian house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Again, this detail channels the look and feel of the Australian interiors that were a key inspiration from the start. Pendant lights and the owners’ existing armchair make this a real focal point.
The project was completed in about three months, and the owners are thrilled with the transformation, saying, “We love how the house now feels spacious, warm and personal.”
Medium pendant lights, Menu Lighting. Large pendant light, Caravane.
Tell us…
What do you like about this reimagined Victorian house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A couple
Location Tottenham, north London
Property A two-storey semi-detached Victorian house with five bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Omar Bhatti of Space Shack
Project year 2022
Photos by Chris Snook
The owners had lived here for about six months, having moved to London from Australia, when they got in touch with Omar via Houzz. Inside, the property was tired and in poor condition. “It’s an old place, so none of the walls or floors were straight. It wasn’t all pristine, but they didn’t care about it being perfect,” he says. “It was spacious, and they were drawn to its character.”
Uchiwa lounge chair, Hay. Formakami pendant, Jaime Hayon for &Tradition.