Houzz Tour: Elegant Hues and Classic Design Transform a City Townhouse
Relaxed style meets classic sophistication in this revived Victorian family home in the heart of London
It’s difficult to imagine that the interior of this elegant London townhouse was once a worn-out place with peach walls, heavy curtains and a threadbare carpet.
“It was very dated when I got my hands on it,” says Lisette Voute, who was recommended by a friend of a friend for the job. “It had undergone years and years of wear and tear. The house hadn’t been touched since the 1980s, so it needed a lot of work. However, it’s a Victorian terrace with 14ft-high ceilings and original mouldings, coving and fireplaces, so it had a nice set of bones.”
“It was very dated when I got my hands on it,” says Lisette Voute, who was recommended by a friend of a friend for the job. “It had undergone years and years of wear and tear. The house hadn’t been touched since the 1980s, so it needed a lot of work. However, it’s a Victorian terrace with 14ft-high ceilings and original mouldings, coving and fireplaces, so it had a nice set of bones.”
The living room benefits from beautiful original mouldings that define the high ceiling, and a marble fireplace surround, which Voute finished off with antique brass wall lights.
Built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace were repainted in white eggshell, while the large sofa in pale blue linen ties in with the elegant colour palette.
Built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace were repainted in white eggshell, while the large sofa in pale blue linen ties in with the elegant colour palette.
The buttoned armchair was an original piece belonging to the owners.
“The antique side table paired with a more modern stone lamp provides a fun, quirky combination,” explains Voute. “I also love embroidery in my fabrics, which you can see on the cushions.”
Stone lamp, Neptune.
“The antique side table paired with a more modern stone lamp provides a fun, quirky combination,” explains Voute. “I also love embroidery in my fabrics, which you can see on the cushions.”
Stone lamp, Neptune.
A pair of tall sash windows allows the light to flood into the living space.
“We covered the desk chair’s seat in a linen – the same as on one of the sofas,” says the designer. “The curtains are more duck-egg green in colour, but with a really fun, soft pattern. The celadon gourd lamp ties it all together.”
Upholstery fabric, Romo.
Upholstery fabric, Romo.
The house is filled with a mix of antique finds and new pieces, illustrated nicely by this antique sewing table topped with a modern stone lamp.
“It’s hit and miss when you hunt around in antiques shops, but you might just find that one thing that fits,” says Voute, “and it does make an interior special.”
Discover how to mix antique artwork with a modern scheme
“It’s hit and miss when you hunt around in antiques shops, but you might just find that one thing that fits,” says Voute, “and it does make an interior special.”
Discover how to mix antique artwork with a modern scheme
Voute wanted to make a feature of the tall, narrow staircase that continues up through three floors of the house.
“There are so many stairs, and the owners spend so much time going up and down them, that we decided to add interest by papering the walls,” she says. “This way you really notice the height of the space and it creates something beautiful and interesting to look at. The wallpaper has an big pattern in a creamy/silvery abstract floral – not overly busy or too traditional, but muted enough to relax in the house.”
Wallpaper, Zoffany.
“There are so many stairs, and the owners spend so much time going up and down them, that we decided to add interest by papering the walls,” she says. “This way you really notice the height of the space and it creates something beautiful and interesting to look at. The wallpaper has an big pattern in a creamy/silvery abstract floral – not overly busy or too traditional, but muted enough to relax in the house.”
Wallpaper, Zoffany.
The compact but convenient eat-in kitchen at the back of the house was revamped with a fresh lick of paint, new door knobs and a granite worktop.
“The original kitchen had good-quality wooden units, so we decided to keep them and paint them in a warm off-white rather than spending a lot of money on new ones,” says Voute.
Dark oak chairs complement the flooring (which replaced old lino tiles), while the Roman blind fabric matches the chair seat cushions.
“The pendant light is one of my favourite pieces in the entire house,” Voute says. “It adds an industrial edge that’s fresh and urban.”
“The original kitchen had good-quality wooden units, so we decided to keep them and paint them in a warm off-white rather than spending a lot of money on new ones,” says Voute.
Dark oak chairs complement the flooring (which replaced old lino tiles), while the Roman blind fabric matches the chair seat cushions.
“The pendant light is one of my favourite pieces in the entire house,” Voute says. “It adds an industrial edge that’s fresh and urban.”
A new granite worktop lifts the kitchen, while the original turquoise-blue tiles were replaced with clean white metro ones.
Built-in ovens, Smeg.
Built-in ovens, Smeg.
The first-floor master bedroom with en suite bathroom is sited over the living room at the front of the house.
“I wanted to paint the walls navy,” says Voute. “There’s already so much white with the built-in wardrobes, bookcases, window and door frames, so I thought navy would really make the room pop and wouldn’t appear too dark.”
However, the owners were nervous about the colour and wanted to stick with something similar to the turquoise colour that was already there. “I convinced them to go with an updated version of the colour, which has a greyer undertone.”
Walls painted in Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball.
“I wanted to paint the walls navy,” says Voute. “There’s already so much white with the built-in wardrobes, bookcases, window and door frames, so I thought navy would really make the room pop and wouldn’t appear too dark.”
However, the owners were nervous about the colour and wanted to stick with something similar to the turquoise colour that was already there. “I convinced them to go with an updated version of the colour, which has a greyer undertone.”
Walls painted in Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball.
Voute cleverly personalised the Gustavian-style bed by reupholstering the headboard in a decorative fabric.
“The bed would have been all beige otherwise. The new fabric adds detail and pattern to the room.”
Bed, Neptune. Headboard fabric, Zimmer & Rohde.
“The bed would have been all beige otherwise. The new fabric adds detail and pattern to the room.”
Bed, Neptune. Headboard fabric, Zimmer & Rohde.
Swing-arm wall lights act as both handy bedside lamps and reading lights.
The luxuriously thick floral curtains match the headboard.
Touches of brighter colours bring the scheme to life. “The blue is warmed up with sunny yellow splashes around the room – on cushions, stools and chairs,” says Voute.
Curtain fabric, Zimmer & Rohde.
Touches of brighter colours bring the scheme to life. “The blue is warmed up with sunny yellow splashes around the room – on cushions, stools and chairs,” says Voute.
Curtain fabric, Zimmer & Rohde.
An original marble fireplace surround is framed by built-in archway bookcases either side. “The bookcases and built-in wardrobe were already there – we simply refurbished them,” says the designer.
The classic master en suite was overhauled with dark blue paintwork and a new marble vanity unit top and floor tiles.
“This is where I got my navy fix,” says Voute. “The cabinets used to be white and got very dirty, so the dark blue makes it more practical, but stunning at the same time.”
Mirrors with demisting elements were painted to match, and offset with nickel wall lights.
Taps, Lefroy Brooks.
Check out more vanity units
“This is where I got my navy fix,” says Voute. “The cabinets used to be white and got very dirty, so the dark blue makes it more practical, but stunning at the same time.”
Mirrors with demisting elements were painted to match, and offset with nickel wall lights.
Taps, Lefroy Brooks.
Check out more vanity units
The mix of navy blue and marble creates a classic and very elegant palette.
The twin bedroom on the top floor is a large space for the two sons.
“I didn’t want everything too blue,” explains the designer. “The red and yellow colour scheme with tribal patterns is young, warm and fresh, and quite unexpected.”
The divan bases and upholstered headboards are finished off with antique studding to add texture.
“I love the Ikat fabric on the blinds – it’s a really cool pattern and you get to see more of the fabric than with curtains,” Voute says. “I found the kilim rug in another part of the house – it’s the perfect size and print for this room.”
Ikat fabric, Andrew Martin. Cushion fabric, Lee Jofa.
“I didn’t want everything too blue,” explains the designer. “The red and yellow colour scheme with tribal patterns is young, warm and fresh, and quite unexpected.”
The divan bases and upholstered headboards are finished off with antique studding to add texture.
“I love the Ikat fabric on the blinds – it’s a really cool pattern and you get to see more of the fabric than with curtains,” Voute says. “I found the kilim rug in another part of the house – it’s the perfect size and print for this room.”
Ikat fabric, Andrew Martin. Cushion fabric, Lee Jofa.
An antique chest of drawers with beautiful brass drop handles is balanced by botanical prints in antique black and gold frames.
Walls painted in Pointing, Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Pointing, Farrow & Ball.
The existing vanity unit in the twin bedroom is “really handy for the boys to clean their teeth”, so Voute overhauled it with a new paint colour, under-counter basin and marble top.
“We finished it off with an antique oak bedroom mirror, rather than a more clinical bathroom version.”
Vanity unit painted in Picture Gallery Red, Farrow & Ball.
“We finished it off with an antique oak bedroom mirror, rather than a more clinical bathroom version.”
Vanity unit painted in Picture Gallery Red, Farrow & Ball.
A delicate blend of lavender walls, linen-coloured bedside tables and soft, geo-print cushions creates a soothing yet fresh scheme in the guest room.
“It’s my favourite colour scheme and I love the beautiful lavender, blue and yellow mix,” Voute says. “We painted the simple guest bed in a bluer shade of lavender to offset it against the wall. You always need at least two colours in a room.”
Walls painted in French Grey, Dulux Heritage. Bedside table, Oka.
“It’s my favourite colour scheme and I love the beautiful lavender, blue and yellow mix,” Voute says. “We painted the simple guest bed in a bluer shade of lavender to offset it against the wall. You always need at least two colours in a room.”
Walls painted in French Grey, Dulux Heritage. Bedside table, Oka.
The family bathroom on the first floor follows the same deep blue and marble palette as the en suite. “I like having some uniformity throughout a house,” says Voute. “It’s a nice way to pair the furnishings and create a quality finish.”
What do you think of this redecorated London townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this redecorated London townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A family of four
Location Pimlico, central London
Property A Victorian terraced townhouse
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Lisette Voute of Lisette Voute Designs
This three-storey Victorian townhouse needed complete refurbishment throughout. “It’s been a total transformation,” says designer Lisette Voute. “We didn’t need to make any structural changes, but we did gut every room, from the flooring through to the lighting, painted everything and rewired a lot of the house.”
Voute describes the look as ‘transitional style’ that’s classic without being traditional or frilly. The ground floor living room is decorated in a duck-egg blue scheme with a neutral, sisal herringbone carpet throughout.
“It’s a more modern carpet than the typical sandy beige sisal, and the greyer tones keep it both fresh and a bit more casual,” Voute says. “It’s also very versatile and can work with most colour schemes.”
Sisal carpet, Sinclair Till.