My Houzz: A Cosy London Flat Full of Personal Treasures
A plain, white rental property has been transformed into a delightful home filled with unique, eye-catching pieces
Anna Tobin
18 March 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
Tom Malcolm Green has owned this flat in Fulham, London, for several years and rented it out to tenants. But when he and his fiancée decided to make it their home, they wanted to add their own personality to the space. ‘The original décor was very simple and white, but we’ve entirely redecorated the place,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘We’ve transformed it into a home we enjoy spending time in, marked with our own personal stamp.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Tom Malcolm Green with his fiancée
Location Fulham, London
Property A purpose-built flat in a Victorian terrace
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
‘We didn’t make a lot of structural changes, but we opened up and enlarged the fireplace in the living room to make it the focal point of the room, and had a mixture of closed and open storage built in on either side,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘In a relatively small flat, you need to ensure that you make the most of all potential storage space.’
The large bay window in the light-filled living room hugs the industrial-style dining table and helps to subtly separate the eating area from the rest of the living space.
Painted steel dining table, House Junkie. Coffee table, Retrouvius.
Who lives here Tom Malcolm Green with his fiancée
Location Fulham, London
Property A purpose-built flat in a Victorian terrace
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
‘We didn’t make a lot of structural changes, but we opened up and enlarged the fireplace in the living room to make it the focal point of the room, and had a mixture of closed and open storage built in on either side,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘In a relatively small flat, you need to ensure that you make the most of all potential storage space.’
The large bay window in the light-filled living room hugs the industrial-style dining table and helps to subtly separate the eating area from the rest of the living space.
Painted steel dining table, House Junkie. Coffee table, Retrouvius.
As co-founder of luxury diffuser and candle waxsmiths Wick & Tallow, it’s not surprising that Malcolm Green’s home is filled with lovely scents.
A striking copper architectural sidelight from William Morris Antiques adds a metallic sheen to the living room, while plump cushions and a comfy throw on the sofa create a cosy feel.
Candle, Wick & Tallow.
Want a home that smells amazing? Check out these super-scented ideas
A striking copper architectural sidelight from William Morris Antiques adds a metallic sheen to the living room, while plump cushions and a comfy throw on the sofa create a cosy feel.
Candle, Wick & Tallow.
Want a home that smells amazing? Check out these super-scented ideas
Many of the more unusual pieces in this property were discovered in antiques markets and auction houses.
‘We found the mirror at Ardingly Antiques & Collectors Fair,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘It’s lovely to bring a few unique pieces into your home, plus this works really well opposite the window as it helps bring in more light.’
Placing a window-shaped mirror opposite a real window gives the effect of having an additional outside wall, which makes a room feel more spacious.
Sofa, Multiyork.
‘We found the mirror at Ardingly Antiques & Collectors Fair,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘It’s lovely to bring a few unique pieces into your home, plus this works really well opposite the window as it helps bring in more light.’
Placing a window-shaped mirror opposite a real window gives the effect of having an additional outside wall, which makes a room feel more spacious.
Sofa, Multiyork.
The rustic-style dresser came from Lots Road Auction House. The couple decided to keep the unusual lettering that was on it, and it didn’t even need a coat of paint.
Malcolm Green enjoys seeing what’s coming up for sale at his local auction house. ‘I’ve learnt not to put your hand up until you’re absolutely sure you want it – and to know your maximum price, so you don’t get carried away,’ he says.
Juke armchair, Made.com.
Malcolm Green enjoys seeing what’s coming up for sale at his local auction house. ‘I’ve learnt not to put your hand up until you’re absolutely sure you want it – and to know your maximum price, so you don’t get carried away,’ he says.
Juke armchair, Made.com.
To make more room in the kitchen, the couple had the old fireplace and chimney removed. Although this was a tricky structural undertaking, it was worth it, as it’s allowed them to squeeze in more units.
Polished concrete on the simple white units gives the kitchen a smart, high-end feel.
‘We really wanted something different to your usual kitchen surface and we love the look of polished concrete,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘It’s hard-wearing and looks great. I didn’t realise how much maintenance it needs, though, as we have to feed it with special cream every now and then, but it’s worth the effort.’ As concrete is a porous material, it needs to be sealed this way to stop it from staining.
Range cooker, Bertazzoni. Bottle rack, Antikkontor.
Discover the smooth secrets of polished concrete
Polished concrete on the simple white units gives the kitchen a smart, high-end feel.
‘We really wanted something different to your usual kitchen surface and we love the look of polished concrete,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘It’s hard-wearing and looks great. I didn’t realise how much maintenance it needs, though, as we have to feed it with special cream every now and then, but it’s worth the effort.’ As concrete is a porous material, it needs to be sealed this way to stop it from staining.
Range cooker, Bertazzoni. Bottle rack, Antikkontor.
Discover the smooth secrets of polished concrete
The large expanse of wall in the hallway has been turned into a personal gallery, with pieces of artwork interspersed with family photos, all illuminated by bare pendant light bulbs.
The lit-up ‘Aloha’ sign provides an instant welcome to guests and indicates more retro treasures to be unearthed within the house.
Radiator, Feature Radiators. Walls painted in Dimpse, Farrow & Ball.
Fancy yourself as a curator? Here’s how to create an artistic wall display
The lit-up ‘Aloha’ sign provides an instant welcome to guests and indicates more retro treasures to be unearthed within the house.
Radiator, Feature Radiators. Walls painted in Dimpse, Farrow & Ball.
Fancy yourself as a curator? Here’s how to create an artistic wall display
To achieve a calm and serene feel in the master bedroom, the décor has been kept simple, with the original period fireplace as the focal point.
A single curtain ensures the smallish window isn’t drowned in fabric, while the mismatched bedside tables from French Connection Antiques mean that, just like the rest of the flat, the room doesn’t feel too uniform.
Curtain fabric, GP & J Baker. Bed, Tesco.
A single curtain ensures the smallish window isn’t drowned in fabric, while the mismatched bedside tables from French Connection Antiques mean that, just like the rest of the flat, the room doesn’t feel too uniform.
Curtain fabric, GP & J Baker. Bed, Tesco.
The bathroom was the one room the couple left as it was. ‘I did it up when I first bought the property to let out,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘I fitted it with period-style sanitaryware and classic tiles, and we recently gave it a lick of paint. It has a timeless style, so we didn’t need to change it.’
The original fireplace has been made the focal point in the second bedroom, while a vintage-style bedside table from French Connection Antiques adds to the retro feel.
‘We’re really lucky that so many of the period features have survived in this flat,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘All the cornicing and skirting boards are still here, too. It’s what adds to the character of the place.’
Bed, eBay.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Victorian flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
‘We’re really lucky that so many of the period features have survived in this flat,’ says Malcolm Green. ‘All the cornicing and skirting boards are still here, too. It’s what adds to the character of the place.’
Bed, eBay.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Victorian flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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What a great flat, personality, style and practicality in equal measures. This is my kind of decorating (although I have been known to fail with the practical side of things ;) and I can only agree with Maria Galvano, get that kettle on Malcolm....
Love this flat. just what the doctor ordered. could live here happily. well done with the decorating.
Thank you for the credit. The flat looks amazing!