Houzz Tour: An Edwardian House is Restored to its Former Glory
Modern lines blend with original features in this period property converted from two flats back into a beautiful house
When the owners bought this Edwardian terraced property, it had been converted into two flats. They commissioned Paul Conibere of Conibere Phillips Architects to turn it back into a house, then asked Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors to help them design a contemporary home that reflected their tastes.
The couple’s brief was simple: create a beautifully designed, bespoke home where they could relax away from their busy jobs surrounded by the art and furniture they’d collected together.
The couple’s brief was simple: create a beautifully designed, bespoke home where they could relax away from their busy jobs surrounded by the art and furniture they’d collected together.
The hallway had the potential to feel dark, as there were no windows in it when the building was converted into flats.
The glazed front door helps to brighten the space now, but Beth also pulled light in from the living room. “We widened the entrance to the room and fitted a sliding pocket door,” she says. “When it’s open, the light from the living room floods in.”
Wall lights, David Hunt Lighting.
The glazed front door helps to brighten the space now, but Beth also pulled light in from the living room. “We widened the entrance to the room and fitted a sliding pocket door,” she says. “When it’s open, the light from the living room floods in.”
Wall lights, David Hunt Lighting.
The ground floor cloakroom is decorated with a botanical print wallpaper and dark blue painted skirting boards, architraves and ceiling, bringing a little drama to the tiny space.
“This room doesn’t have any natural daylight,” Beth says. “The owners were happy to embrace that, so we went very dark and bold and added brass taps and a large mirror [not shown] for a bit of glamour.”
Wallpaper, House of Hackney. Basin, Drummonds. Taps, Waterworks. Woodwork and ceiling painted in Bond Street, Mylands.
“This room doesn’t have any natural daylight,” Beth says. “The owners were happy to embrace that, so we went very dark and bold and added brass taps and a large mirror [not shown] for a bit of glamour.”
Wallpaper, House of Hackney. Basin, Drummonds. Taps, Waterworks. Woodwork and ceiling painted in Bond Street, Mylands.
The living room is at the front of the house and opens into a dining area and kitchen at the back. “The owners wanted this to be a place to entertain guests and somewhere that would be full of colour and bold shapes,” Beth says.
She used cushions for colour, contrast and texture – bright designs for the sofa and more toning versions for the midcentury-style black leather armchairs. Bespoke Roman blinds in a mustard printed fabric contrast with the flooring – custom-stained engineered oak boards that feature throughout the ground floor.
Sofa, Sofa.com. Armchairs; pendant shade, all The Conran Shop. Bespoke armchair cushions, Christopher Farr. Standard lamp, Pooky. Blind fabric, Rapture & Wright.
She used cushions for colour, contrast and texture – bright designs for the sofa and more toning versions for the midcentury-style black leather armchairs. Bespoke Roman blinds in a mustard printed fabric contrast with the flooring – custom-stained engineered oak boards that feature throughout the ground floor.
Sofa, Sofa.com. Armchairs; pendant shade, all The Conran Shop. Bespoke armchair cushions, Christopher Farr. Standard lamp, Pooky. Blind fabric, Rapture & Wright.
The dining area towards the back of the house leads off the living space and features a bespoke shelving unit.
“The owners had already designed these floor-to-ceiling units with Paul, the architect,” Beth says. “Inlaid brass trims were added and carried through to the kitchen island beyond. To tie in, I chose a black pendant fitting with brass detailing for the dining table and a mix of brightly coloured dining chairs.
“Paul designed a clever pivoting door to separate the dining area from the kitchen when required,” Beth says. “When it’s open, it becomes part of the bespoke joinery unit.”
He also integrated some beautiful wooden louvred screens into the glazing at the side of the house (seen here on the left).
Dining chairs, Monologue.
“The owners had already designed these floor-to-ceiling units with Paul, the architect,” Beth says. “Inlaid brass trims were added and carried through to the kitchen island beyond. To tie in, I chose a black pendant fitting with brass detailing for the dining table and a mix of brightly coloured dining chairs.
“Paul designed a clever pivoting door to separate the dining area from the kitchen when required,” Beth says. “When it’s open, it becomes part of the bespoke joinery unit.”
He also integrated some beautiful wooden louvred screens into the glazing at the side of the house (seen here on the left).
Dining chairs, Monologue.
“The full-height glazing and door at the back of the house make the garden visible from every room on the ground floor, including the kitchen,” Beth says. “We kept the spaces uncluttered by furniture and lighting so the views could be fully enjoyed.”
White walls highlight the dark island and the black glazing frames.
Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
White walls highlight the dark island and the black glazing frames.
Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
There’s a second living room on the first floor at the front of the house. It has a less formal feel than the downstairs entertaining space.
“It’s a comfortable and light-filled room where the owners can put their feet up, read a book or listen to music,” Beth says. “We added velvet sofas, midcentury-inspired cushions and bookshelves, a sisal carpet and bespoke Roman blinds.”
Sofa, Sofa.com. Bookshelves, SCP. Pendant shade, Petite Friture. Standard lamp, Pooky. Blinds fabric, Christopher Farr. Walls painted in Soft Stone, Dulux.
“It’s a comfortable and light-filled room where the owners can put their feet up, read a book or listen to music,” Beth says. “We added velvet sofas, midcentury-inspired cushions and bookshelves, a sisal carpet and bespoke Roman blinds.”
Sofa, Sofa.com. Bookshelves, SCP. Pendant shade, Petite Friture. Standard lamp, Pooky. Blinds fabric, Christopher Farr. Walls painted in Soft Stone, Dulux.
The master bedroom has views of neighbouring trees. The owners were keen for the space to feel like a calm oasis.
“We chose a deep blue for the walls, which felt cosy, but still grown-up,” Beth says. “We complemented that with a deep blue-grey velvet headboard.”
A mix of coral and indigo linen bedding adds the colour, while a rattan chair, which the owners already had, brings in a little texture.
“We also added a pair of metal wall lights for a touch of industrial glamour,” Beth adds.
Wall light, Bert Frank. Walls painted in Blue Verditer, Heritage range at Dulux.
“We chose a deep blue for the walls, which felt cosy, but still grown-up,” Beth says. “We complemented that with a deep blue-grey velvet headboard.”
A mix of coral and indigo linen bedding adds the colour, while a rattan chair, which the owners already had, brings in a little texture.
“We also added a pair of metal wall lights for a touch of industrial glamour,” Beth adds.
Wall light, Bert Frank. Walls painted in Blue Verditer, Heritage range at Dulux.
In the en suite, a walk-in shower has a floor-to-ceiling glazed window at one end that brings masses of light into the space.
“The deep indigo chevron tiles add a graphic and dramatic element to what’s otherwise quite a simple space,” Beth says. Storage is provided by a double vanity unit.
Chevron tiles, Domus.
“The deep indigo chevron tiles add a graphic and dramatic element to what’s otherwise quite a simple space,” Beth says. Storage is provided by a double vanity unit.
Chevron tiles, Domus.
More storage is concealed behind mirrored doors above the vanity unit. Inlaid brass strips echo the bespoke joinery downstairs, while brass hardware and a wall-mounted towel rail continue the limited palette used throughout the house, making the space feel elegant and contemporary.
Taps; towel rail, all Waterworks.
You might also enjoy 6 Ways to Design a Beautiful Bedroom Suite.
Taps; towel rail, all Waterworks.
You might also enjoy 6 Ways to Design a Beautiful Bedroom Suite.
There are two guest bedrooms in the property and this one is on the first floor. The room only has one small, high-level window, which could have made the space dark.
“To mitigate that, we painted the room a very vibrant shade of mustard to make it feel as if it was filled with sunshine,” Beth says. “We added an indigo velvet bedhead and a black bedside table to stand out against the wall colour. One of the owner’s existing pieces of art ties all the shades together.”
The sisal carpet, used throughout the first and second floors, adds warmth and texture.
Bed, bedside table; bedding, all Sofa.com. Walls painted in Chinese Emperor, Paint & Paper Library.
“To mitigate that, we painted the room a very vibrant shade of mustard to make it feel as if it was filled with sunshine,” Beth says. “We added an indigo velvet bedhead and a black bedside table to stand out against the wall colour. One of the owner’s existing pieces of art ties all the shades together.”
The sisal carpet, used throughout the first and second floors, adds warmth and texture.
Bed, bedside table; bedding, all Sofa.com. Walls painted in Chinese Emperor, Paint & Paper Library.
The guest bathroom is at the top of the house and, like the en suite, was carefully designed to include hidden storage behind mirrored cabinet doors. The pitch of the roof has been cleverly utilised to create display space.
“A composite solid surface material was chosen for its ability to be cut and fashioned into seamless wall-mounted vanity units and worktops,” Beth says.
Dekton solid surface material, Cosentino. Walls painted in Shirting, Little Greene.
“A composite solid surface material was chosen for its ability to be cut and fashioned into seamless wall-mounted vanity units and worktops,” Beth says.
Dekton solid surface material, Cosentino. Walls painted in Shirting, Little Greene.
“This bathroom is naturally light and bright,” Beth says, “but we prevented it from feeling too clinical by adding brass hardware and touches of warm pink around the storage areas.”
Brassware, Waterworks.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite room in this restored Edwardian home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Brassware, Waterworks.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite room in this restored Edwardian home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A professional couple
Location South-east London
Property A three-storey Edwardian terraced house
Size Three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors
Architect Paul Conibere of Conibere Phillips Architects
Photos by Chris Snook
To meet the brief, Beth was keen to bring together the homeowners’ love of contemporary furniture with the midcentury pieces they were also drawn to, while keeping the vibe comfortable and lived-in.
In the hallway, white walls and a pale runner help to lighten the space and provide a contrast to the dark wood floor. A slim marble console fits neatly against the wall, while lights either side create a focal point. The cloakroom can be seen at the end of the hallway.
“We painted the staircase in black to take the eye up through the house,” Beth says.
Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene.