Houzz Tour: Midcentury Design Adds Style to a Victorian Family Home
A modern backdrop and 20th century touches blend seamlessly with the period details in this relaxed family home
When the owners of this renovated Victorian house first met interior and garden designer Beth Dadswell, it didn’t take them long to realise they were all on the same page. “It became obvious they were into midcentury design,” says Dadswell. “I like that style, too, so it was easy to work together.”
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
The modern kitchen opens out onto the garden by way of huge bifold doors. Dadswell had a concrete floor laid that offers a seamless transition to the patio.
The bar stools add some midcentury character to the modern kitchen.
Bar stools, Swivel UK. Concrete flooring, Polished Concrete Company.
The bar stools add some midcentury character to the modern kitchen.
Bar stools, Swivel UK. Concrete flooring, Polished Concrete Company.
To the right of the kitchen is the dining area with its own set of bifold doors and a large window on the side wall.
“The Victorian dining chairs have been passed down through the family,” says Dadswell. “To make them fit in with the rest of the house, we had the seats reupholstered in midcentury colours.”
On the wall is a map of the local area. It was enlarged by the owner’s brother who runs a printing company.
The glass ceiling prevented the use of spotlights, so Dadswell
chose these wall lights instead. “They have a midcentury look, so they tie in with the overall feel,” she says.
A handy room divider was custom-made with a teal cushioned seat on top and storage below. “It’s on wheels,” says Dadswell, “so it can be moved around the room.”
Wall lights, Graham & Greene. Large map print, Make, Design & Print.
“The Victorian dining chairs have been passed down through the family,” says Dadswell. “To make them fit in with the rest of the house, we had the seats reupholstered in midcentury colours.”
On the wall is a map of the local area. It was enlarged by the owner’s brother who runs a printing company.
The glass ceiling prevented the use of spotlights, so Dadswell
chose these wall lights instead. “They have a midcentury look, so they tie in with the overall feel,” she says.
A handy room divider was custom-made with a teal cushioned seat on top and storage below. “It’s on wheels,” says Dadswell, “so it can be moved around the room.”
Wall lights, Graham & Greene. Large map print, Make, Design & Print.
Behind the room divider, the L-shaped space becomes a family living room. Dadswell chose an oak herringbone parquet to give it a cosy feel and separate it from the kitchen and dining zones.
The modular shelving is big enough to accommodate the family’s large book collection, and Dadswell designed practical storage below. There’s even a handy log section right next to the fireplace. “The space has become a reading nook as well as a play area,” she says.
Walls painted in Platinum Pale, Fired Earth. Tumbled oak herringbone parquet, HS Wood Flooring. Rug, Ikea. Shelving system, Vitsœ.
The modular shelving is big enough to accommodate the family’s large book collection, and Dadswell designed practical storage below. There’s even a handy log section right next to the fireplace. “The space has become a reading nook as well as a play area,” she says.
Walls painted in Platinum Pale, Fired Earth. Tumbled oak herringbone parquet, HS Wood Flooring. Rug, Ikea. Shelving system, Vitsœ.
At the far end of the family zone is a comfortable sofa where the kids can watch TV. Dadswell chose grey for the wall to give it a contemporary feel, but ensured it was a light enough hue to keep the space bright.
Lime green Roman blinds and bright cushions continue the midcentury colour scheme.
Sofa, Sofa.com. Pendant lights, Quirk. Armchair, Swoon Editions. Roman blind fabric, Designers Guild. Bespoke sheer fixed panels, Village Blinds.
Lime green Roman blinds and bright cushions continue the midcentury colour scheme.
Sofa, Sofa.com. Pendant lights, Quirk. Armchair, Swoon Editions. Roman blind fabric, Designers Guild. Bespoke sheer fixed panels, Village Blinds.
In the garden, an attractive dining table with comfortable chairs sits next to the bifold doors. Dadswell planted the borders with purples, oranges and limes to reflect the colours in the house.
Long grasses and structural shapes maintain a contemporary look in the garden. “We painted the fence and shed black to provide a backdrop for the bright planting,” says Dadswell.
“The rear of the garden gets a lot of sun,” the designer says, “so we put a raised seating area here, as well as a small vegetable patch.”
Chairs, Made.com.
Chairs, Made.com.
The family are lucky enough to have two living spaces. This one is where the adults relax once the kids have gone to bed. Dadswell painted the walls dark to make the space cosy and installed another comfortable sofa, this time with grey upholstery.
“All the original period features had previously been ripped out,” says Dadswell. So the team reinstated the coving and ceiling roses throughout the property.
Walls painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
Discover how to make dark walls work in your home
“All the original period features had previously been ripped out,” says Dadswell. So the team reinstated the coving and ceiling roses throughout the property.
Walls painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
Discover how to make dark walls work in your home
Custom-built shelving and a storage unit make good use of the alcoves, and the bright white surfaces stand out from the inky walls.
A large pendant lamp is just the right size for the space. “My clients were unsure when I suggested extra-large pendants for both this room and the other living area,” says Dadswell, “but they soon realised they needed something huge to fill the space.”
Tempted to try a new wall colour in your living room? Track down painters and decorators in your area on Houzz
A large pendant lamp is just the right size for the space. “My clients were unsure when I suggested extra-large pendants for both this room and the other living area,” says Dadswell, “but they soon realised they needed something huge to fill the space.”
Tempted to try a new wall colour in your living room? Track down painters and decorators in your area on Houzz
Dadswell’s joiner fitted panelling to the hallway walls in order to break up the large space. “We gave a modern feel to the traditional hallway with grey walls and a geometric patterned stair runner,” she says.
A glass pendant lamp provides a striking feature.
Walls painted in Granite, Fired Earth. Pendant lamp, John Lewis. Stair runner, Hartley & Tissier; installed by Barbers Flooring.
A glass pendant lamp provides a striking feature.
Walls painted in Granite, Fired Earth. Pendant lamp, John Lewis. Stair runner, Hartley & Tissier; installed by Barbers Flooring.
Upstairs, a graphic rug contrasts with a traditional Victorian chair. Glass-boxed wall lights, with Edison bulbs inside, provide a warm glow in the evening.
Messina wall lights, Heal’s. Rug, Swoon Editions.
Messina wall lights, Heal’s. Rug, Swoon Editions.
The family bathroom is a calm, practical space. Soft green tiles provide a wipe-clean surface on the walls, while the patterned floor lifts the room.
Floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Retro Metro wall tiles, Fired Earth.
Classic design touches to ensure your bathroom never dates
Floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Retro Metro wall tiles, Fired Earth.
Classic design touches to ensure your bathroom never dates
The owners bought these boxes online to form practical shelving in their son’s room. Dadswell suggested painting them in bright colours, which they thought was a great idea, and they now look striking against the dark grey feature wall.
On the top floor is a master bedroom with two walk-in dressing areas and an en suite. The grey and navy colour palette gives the space a calm feel. Sumptuous fabrics, such as the wool curtains and velvet headboard, add a cosy element.
Walls painted in Pigeon, Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Pigeon, Farrow & Ball.
The midcentury look continues here with two attractive bedside tables and some bold cushions. To free up surfaces, Dadswell opted for wall lights instead of table lamps. “When you’re fitting wall lights in a bedroom, you need to plan ahead,” she says. “Measure up first to make sure they’re perfectly in line with the bed.”
Cushions, Habitat. Headboard, Sofa.com. Wall lights, Anglepoise. Bedside tables, West Elm.
Cushions, Habitat. Headboard, Sofa.com. Wall lights, Anglepoise. Bedside tables, West Elm.
A sideboard sits opposite the bed and provides both storage and a surface on which to display 20th century glass and ceramics. The lamp is a vintage bottle that Dadswell customised.
What do you think of this contemporary family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this contemporary family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A couple with their two small children
Location East Dulwich, London
Property A Victorian double-fronted house
Size 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a cloakroom
Designer Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors
Photos by Ignas Jermosenka
“My brief was to create a family-friendly home and keep it contemporary,” Beth Dadswell says. Her clients had bought the property in a state of disrepair. “It was derelict,” she says, “so they hired builders to open up the space, construct an extension at the back and convert the loft.”
The couple then brought in Dadswell to help them design the interior, as well as the garden, which can be seen through the entire back wall of the ground floor.