Houzz Tour: A Victorian Townhouse Redesigned for Family Life
Behind its late 19th century facade lies an open-plan family home that effortlessly combines elegance and functionality
This terraced home was completely derelict when the current owners bought it. “I think the previous occupiers had started stripping it back, but had given up halfway through. It was a building site from the start,” explains interior designer Gretchen Trusted of Shake the Sky.
“Working from these bare bones, the brief that architect Michaelis Boyd and I were given was to preserve the property’s period features while creating a calm and inviting home that would be able to withstand the knocks of busy family life.”
“Working from these bare bones, the brief that architect Michaelis Boyd and I were given was to preserve the property’s period features while creating a calm and inviting home that would be able to withstand the knocks of busy family life.”
With the front door opening directly into this space, what would have been the formal drawing and dining room has a much more relaxed air. “The homeowner was really keen for the whole house to be practical and feel warm and inviting for the whole family,” explains Trusted.
In this Before image, prior to all the furniture going in, you can see just how much space Trusted had to work with.
To add to the informality, the stairwell has been left open and the brickwork exposed along its length to help each floor flow naturally into the next. “This emphasis on natural finishes is also what helps the home to feel so graceful and easy to live in,” adds Trusted.
Sofas, Ben Whistler Bespoke Furniture. Cushions made bespoke by Shake the Sky. Rug, Stark Carpet.
Discover how to make your stairs special
Sofas, Ben Whistler Bespoke Furniture. Cushions made bespoke by Shake the Sky. Rug, Stark Carpet.
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The working practicalities of adding brand-new staircases.
One of the requirements of the brief was to create a home office that would feel part of the rest of the house, but that could be cut off from it when necessary. This has been achieved by creating a sort of internal conservatory at the front of the ground floor.
The room is sound-proofed to allow conference calls to be played out, but the bifold doors can also be completely folded back, so this library/study can be opened out to the rest of the ground floor when required.
Desk, Desiron. Pendant lights, Urban Archaeology. Rug, Stark Carpet.
The room is sound-proofed to allow conference calls to be played out, but the bifold doors can also be completely folded back, so this library/study can be opened out to the rest of the ground floor when required.
Desk, Desiron. Pendant lights, Urban Archaeology. Rug, Stark Carpet.
Like many large, Victorian terraced homes, the property already featured a basement, but the ceiling was low. The building team raised it and extended it out further into the back garden.
Kitchen units, bulthaup. Refectory table, I&JL Brown. Lights, The Limehouse Lamp Company.
Kitchen units, bulthaup. Refectory table, I&JL Brown. Lights, The Limehouse Lamp Company.
To make this space brighter and more airy, the floor was lowered to increase the head height. “Again, the focus here was on creating a practical cooking, eating and living space,” says Trusted.
“The homeowner is a keen cook, so we ensured not only that the kitchen area looks great, but that all the units are easy to wipe down and keep clean, too.”
“I wanted to give the impression there are windows on both sides of this room, so I added these window-shaped mirrors,” says Trusted. “They also maximise the light coming into the basement and reflect the view of the lovely garden.”
The exposed brickwork helps to link this space to the more formal drawing room above and adds an on-trend industrial feel to the room. A dumb waiter has been installed to take food from the kitchen up to the dining room.
Coffee table, I&JL Brown. Sofas, Poliform. Mirrors, Aldgate Home.
The exposed brickwork helps to link this space to the more formal drawing room above and adds an on-trend industrial feel to the room. A dumb waiter has been installed to take food from the kitchen up to the dining room.
Coffee table, I&JL Brown. Sofas, Poliform. Mirrors, Aldgate Home.
A stroke of genius sees the far wall open up to separate the playroom from the rest of the kitchen and living space. This vast door, covered with blackboard paint, is set on industrial hinges, so that even the little children can easily swing it open.
“The kids love having their own private space here,” says Trusted. “It’s amazingly light to open and beyond it there’s an organised storage wall for all their toys.”
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“The kids love having their own private space here,” says Trusted. “It’s amazingly light to open and beyond it there’s an organised storage wall for all their toys.”
Browse these child-friendly spaces that don’t scrimp on style
The wall closes up again like so.
This Before photo demonstrates what a massive undertaking renovating this derelict home was.
An entire floor is given over to the master bedroom suite. “The idea was to make the master bedroom feel like an inner sanctuary,” says Trusted. “It’s filled with beautiful materials to give it a sense of luxury, but, at the same time, almost restrained in its elegance. It’s a very calming, tranquil space as a result.”
Rug, Stark Carpet. Bed, Oly Studio.
Rug, Stark Carpet. Bed, Oly Studio.
Two roomy his and hers dressing rooms lead off the master bedroom.
“The female homeowner wanted her dressing room to feel very feminine, a lovely place that she can retreat to and feel pampered in away from the children,” says Trusted. The walk-in wardrobes have been designed around the homeowner’s clothing needs, so there’s a place for everything.
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“The female homeowner wanted her dressing room to feel very feminine, a lovely place that she can retreat to and feel pampered in away from the children,” says Trusted. The walk-in wardrobes have been designed around the homeowner’s clothing needs, so there’s a place for everything.
Explore 9 ways to make space for a chic dressing area
The exposed brickwork features again in the master en suite, where it helps to give the room a laid-back look. The fireplace adds an additional homely feel and throws a cosy glow over the room when lit. The twin basins avoid queues at the start of a busy day.
Sanitaryware, The Water Monopoly. Mirror made bespoke by Shake the Sky.
Sanitaryware, The Water Monopoly. Mirror made bespoke by Shake the Sky.
Light is abundant on this staircase and the top floor hallway, due to this spectacular glass roof.
The nursery has been designed to grow with the child. “I focused on not making it too babyish in here,” says Trusted. “The walls have been kept neutral and the blinds and bed linen provide splashes of colour. It’s elegant, but useable.”
Chest of drawers; cot, both The White Company.
Chest of drawers; cot, both The White Company.
The children have an unusual seating area in their bathroom. After bathing, they can leap into a furnished porthole space just off the corridor, seen here on the far left.
Even the tiniest details have been carefully considered in this home. The cushions lining the porthole space are made of towelling, so the kids can curl up into them for a story after washing.
Cushions made bespoke by Shake the Sky.
Cushions made bespoke by Shake the Sky.
“It’s unusual for a family bathroom to be so large and we managed to get a huge double shower in here. I’ve also added more colour into the children’s areas – this is a fun space for them,” says Trusted.
Sanitaryware, CP Hart. Tiles, European Heritage.
Sanitaryware, CP Hart. Tiles, European Heritage.
Here you can see the portholes being installed during the building work.
The guest bedroom has been designed to be as comfortable as possible. “It’s a clean, elegant space filled with beautiful materials,” says Trusted, “a place where guests can feel instantly at home.”
Bed, Robert Langford. Rug, Stark Carpet. Chest of drawers, Chelsea Textiles.
Bed, Robert Langford. Rug, Stark Carpet. Chest of drawers, Chelsea Textiles.
TELL US…
Has this renovation inspired you? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Has this renovation inspired you? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A couple with their three young children
Location Chelsea, London
Property A late-Victorian terraced house
Size 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Michaelis Boyd Associates
Designer Gretchen Trusted of Shake the Sky
Photographer Marco Joe Fazio, LBIPP
“It’s rare to find a terraced home as wide as this one,” says designer Gretchen Trusted. “Consequently, it’s so much lighter and brighter than most and it was a great space to work with.”
Having few internal walls means the whole ground floor is flooded with sunlight from the tall, dual-aspect windows, while the engineered oak floor has been fitted with underfloor heating, ensuring the walls aren’t interrupted by radiators.
Occasional chairs; coffee table, all Andrew Martin. Rug, Stark Carpet.