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Houzz Tour: Treasured Pieces Add Personality to a 1930s Home
Colour, texture, antiques and new items combine to make a house feel like home for a family of five
A home filled with items you love can feel warm and welcoming, but it can also be tricky to know how to display them without making the space seem cluttered and disjointed. A challenge like this is where a skilled interior designer can work their magic.
The owners of this 1930s house had extended their property with the help of an architect, and brought in interior designer Sarah Goldstone of Goldstone Interiors to help them create a scheme that could mix those treasured items with new pieces for a home that felt both stylish and harmonious.
The owners of this 1930s house had extended their property with the help of an architect, and brought in interior designer Sarah Goldstone of Goldstone Interiors to help them create a scheme that could mix those treasured items with new pieces for a home that felt both stylish and harmonious.
The kitchen-living space is large, so Sarah created cosier zones within it. The kitchen is located on the left next to the longest stretch of wall, which is practical for storage. The seating areas are nearest the back, allowing the owners and their guests to look out across the garden.
The owners designed their kitchen with the help of a kitchen specialist and added a banquette seating area to the back of the island. “They wanted somewhere for the kids to sit while they were cooking,” Sarah says. The table had been handed down within the family, and Sarah paired it with some transparent plastic chairs that don’t obstruct the view.
The owner was very involved in design choices and Sarah says she had a really creative eye. Sarah used Houzz Pro project management software to make the process easier for her client.
“I always use the Houzz Pro Product Clipper and Selections tools to share product ideas with my clients,” she says. “I also use the Mood Boards feature. It’s really useful to have everything in the same place.”
The owner was very involved in design choices and Sarah says she had a really creative eye. Sarah used Houzz Pro project management software to make the process easier for her client.
“I always use the Houzz Pro Product Clipper and Selections tools to share product ideas with my clients,” she says. “I also use the Mood Boards feature. It’s really useful to have everything in the same place.”
The petrol blue-green kitchen cabinets were the starting point for the overall scheme, and Sarah persuaded her client to complement it with a warm terracotta. “She loves colour and travelling, so I really wanted to bring that feel into her house,” she says. “The terracotta wall was inspired by that. At first she was nervous about it, but now it’s her favourite thing in the room.”
Hand-blown glass pendants over the island tie in with the earthy-toned wall. “The owner used to be a glass blower, so I suggested finding lights from a firm that does hand-blown designs,” Sarah says.
Hunton kitchen, Kitchens With Elegance; painted in Copse Green. Pendant lights, Rothschild & Bickers. Walls painted in Natural Hessian and Red Sand, Dulux.
Hand-blown glass pendants over the island tie in with the earthy-toned wall. “The owner used to be a glass blower, so I suggested finding lights from a firm that does hand-blown designs,” Sarah says.
Hunton kitchen, Kitchens With Elegance; painted in Copse Green. Pendant lights, Rothschild & Bickers. Walls painted in Natural Hessian and Red Sand, Dulux.
Sarah’s clients wanted a living area where they could sit and have a coffee, and this space next to the patio doors was ideal. Two antique chairs and some dark wood furniture that the clients already owned create a cosy feel.
To lift the dark hues of the existing pieces, Sarah sourced a lighter-toned coffee table. The brass base and mother-of-pearl top add bright texture to the area.
Coffee table, Anthropologie.
To lift the dark hues of the existing pieces, Sarah sourced a lighter-toned coffee table. The brass base and mother-of-pearl top add bright texture to the area.
Coffee table, Anthropologie.
In the dining area, there’s more of the couple’s antique furniture, which Sarah positioned next to a large rear window and beneath a skylight. A ledge below the window is covered with cushions and provides a cosy focal point in the space.
More hand-blown lights hang on the walls around the dining table. “These have a surface cut into a diamond pattern,” Sarah says. “They cast beautiful patterns around the walls, which echo the ripples in the artwork above the sideboard.”
Wall lights, Rothschild & Bickers.
More hand-blown lights hang on the walls around the dining table. “These have a surface cut into a diamond pattern,” Sarah says. “They cast beautiful patterns around the walls, which echo the ripples in the artwork above the sideboard.”
Wall lights, Rothschild & Bickers.
Behind the dining area is a sunken TV room, which is ideal for the kids to hang out in during dinners with friends and family.
“The room is carpeted and there’s a sofa and fireplace in there,” Sarah says.
“The room is carpeted and there’s a sofa and fireplace in there,” Sarah says.
To separate the TV room from the kitchen area, Sarah designed an attractive storage wall. Open shelves allow light into the space while keeping it slightly hidden.
“The foliage wall hanging was made bespoke by someone I work with,” Sarah says. “The owner loves plants and has many around the house, but had seen these and thought it would be lovely to have one.”
Bench, Anthropologie. Foliage wall hanging, Lily’s House London.
“The foliage wall hanging was made bespoke by someone I work with,” Sarah says. “The owner loves plants and has many around the house, but had seen these and thought it would be lovely to have one.”
Bench, Anthropologie. Foliage wall hanging, Lily’s House London.
The front of the house had been extended into the adjoining garage, and the study is located in that area. Sarah’s joiner built a wall of storage behind the desk.
“The husband works here and he didn’t want it to look too serious,” she says. The dark blue open shelves help to display bright artwork, books and plants.
“The husband works here and he didn’t want it to look too serious,” she says. The dark blue open shelves help to display bright artwork, books and plants.
In what had been the back of the garage, Sarah created a cloakroom. A bold wallpaper was the starting point for the scheme. As it’s hung above the basin, Sarah added a Perspex sheet to protect the surface from splashes.
The wallpaper company also supplies paints to complement the wallpaper, so Sarah went with a bold blue shade.
Wallpaper and Dock Blue paint, Graham & Brown. Monkey towel hook, Etsy. Basin and vanity unit, Chris Stevens Trade Discount Centre.
The wallpaper company also supplies paints to complement the wallpaper, so Sarah went with a bold blue shade.
Wallpaper and Dock Blue paint, Graham & Brown. Monkey towel hook, Etsy. Basin and vanity unit, Chris Stevens Trade Discount Centre.
The ground floor plan shows how the area where the garage used to be (bottom left) has now been turned into the study and cloakroom.
Upstairs, another creative wallpaper design provided inspiration for the scheme in the couple’s bedroom. “The client had fallen in love with it. It’s really vivid and shiny, and the colours are gorgeous,” Sarah says.
Wallpaper, Arte.
Wallpaper, Arte.
Before Photo
A large bay window in the room had ended up as a bit of a clutter spot.
Sarah has turned the bay into a luxurious bathing area. Simple tiles protect the floor, while green walls frame the space and tie in with the foliage outside. The room isn’t overlooked, so it’s the perfect place to relax and look out at the trees.
Upper walls painted in School House White; lower walls painted in Vert de Terre, both Farrow & Ball. Bath, BC Designs.
Upper walls painted in School House White; lower walls painted in Vert de Terre, both Farrow & Ball. Bath, BC Designs.
Having the bath in the bedroom meant Sarah could fit a large shower into the en suite. The design in here is simple and contemporary, with two circular mirrors above the vanity unit adding interest.
Asked whether her clients are pleased with their new home, Sarah says they’re thrilled. “[The owner] says she couldn’t have done it without me. As designers, we can give our clients confidence and also access to suppliers and products they wouldn’t have known about,” she says.
Noble Beige Natural tiles, Porcelain Tiles. Sanitaryware; vanity unit; mirrors, all Chris Stevens Trade Discount Centre.
Tell us…
What do you like about this personality-filled family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Asked whether her clients are pleased with their new home, Sarah says they’re thrilled. “[The owner] says she couldn’t have done it without me. As designers, we can give our clients confidence and also access to suppliers and products they wouldn’t have known about,” she says.
Noble Beige Natural tiles, Porcelain Tiles. Sanitaryware; vanity unit; mirrors, all Chris Stevens Trade Discount Centre.
Tell us…
What do you like about this personality-filled family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A couple with three young children
Location North London
Property A 1930s house
Size Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Sarah Goldstone of Goldstone Interiors
Photos by Uliana Grishina Photography
The entrance to this 1930s family house reveals a glimpse of the large open-plan kitchen-living extension at the rear. The owners chose a glass internal door that would provide an immediate view of the garden and fill the space with light.
“They were originally considering colour in this space, so we tried a few ideas,” Sarah says, “but they changed their minds and decided on a neutral scheme instead. It makes the hallway feel lovely and calm, and helps to show off their beautiful furniture and accessories.”
Console, Graham & Green. Walls painted in Natural Hessian; woodwork painted in Linen White, both Dulux.