My Houzz: A Quirky Victorian Maisonette That's Doubled in Size
A clever two-storey extension has given this unique home space and character
Amy Anderson had always intended to build on to the back of her home, but it took 15 years of planning and saving for the project to get off the ground. By then she was married and by the time the designs were approved, she was pregnant with twins. The substantial-yet-subtle two-storey extension has given the family twice their original living space – plenty of room for growing children, plus a fascinating cornucopia of plants and antiques.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Jewellery and ceramics designer and maker Amy Anderson of Comfort Station, her husband Matthew, their 5-year-old twins and cat
Location Dalston, east London
Property An extended maisonette occupying the ground and lower-ground floors of a Victorian building
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Contractor Nat Ellis of Orsman Construction
Photos by Adelina Iliev
Building projects always seem to overrun, but this two-storey extension took almost two years instead of the expected six months. “There were so many delays that in the end we took over the project management, working directly with the builder,” says Anderson. “It was much easier and quicker once we started working directly with him. He was absolutely brilliant and worked with us to realise what we wanted to do.” What Anderson and her husband did was to turn what had been a two-bedroom, one-bathroom flat into a three bedroom, two bathroom space with an extra living room to boot.
Part of the original space, the airy living room above and below is on the ground floor of the maisonette. “This is meant to be our haven, with lots of plants and glass things, like my bell jars,” says Anderson. “The kids’ big toys are all downstairs in our living room in the extension.”
The metal chairs are both antiques, bought at markets on separate occasions. “It was just luck that they go together.” The storage chest was found at the Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair. “We keep everything in there. It’s called the beast. Everyone should have one!”
Who lives here Jewellery and ceramics designer and maker Amy Anderson of Comfort Station, her husband Matthew, their 5-year-old twins and cat
Location Dalston, east London
Property An extended maisonette occupying the ground and lower-ground floors of a Victorian building
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Contractor Nat Ellis of Orsman Construction
Photos by Adelina Iliev
Building projects always seem to overrun, but this two-storey extension took almost two years instead of the expected six months. “There were so many delays that in the end we took over the project management, working directly with the builder,” says Anderson. “It was much easier and quicker once we started working directly with him. He was absolutely brilliant and worked with us to realise what we wanted to do.” What Anderson and her husband did was to turn what had been a two-bedroom, one-bathroom flat into a three bedroom, two bathroom space with an extra living room to boot.
Part of the original space, the airy living room above and below is on the ground floor of the maisonette. “This is meant to be our haven, with lots of plants and glass things, like my bell jars,” says Anderson. “The kids’ big toys are all downstairs in our living room in the extension.”
The metal chairs are both antiques, bought at markets on separate occasions. “It was just luck that they go together.” The storage chest was found at the Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair. “We keep everything in there. It’s called the beast. Everyone should have one!”
Anderson’s collection of antiques and plants are a fascinating alternative to the standard contents of a living room. “When we moved in everything felt quite cold and we were both trying to decide what artwork to put on the walls. Then I gradually started putting up plants instead of pictures. Now the front room is our jungle,” she says.
As Anderson explains, the drawn-out building project gave her the opportunity to reassess the pieces she has on show. “We had very little access to our stuff while the building work was being done and we found we quite liked it. Unless we were really excited to see something again, we just got rid of it. It was brilliant. Now we don’t have that visual clutter of books that you’ve read or pictures that you don’t notice any more because they’ve been there for so long.”
As Anderson explains, the drawn-out building project gave her the opportunity to reassess the pieces she has on show. “We had very little access to our stuff while the building work was being done and we found we quite liked it. Unless we were really excited to see something again, we just got rid of it. It was brilliant. Now we don’t have that visual clutter of books that you’ve read or pictures that you don’t notice any more because they’ve been there for so long.”
The unique kitchen, also on the ground floor, in the original part of the building, not the extension, is full of character. “I got really sick of looking at standard kitchens. Matthew and I really wanted wood and something that was handmade,” says Anderson. “The outside is all reclaimed wood that our builder put together into panels. And I found the handles on eBay.” The floorboards are also reclaimed and the worktops are made of concrete. “They were Matthew’s idea. I wasn’t convinced at first, but when we saw samples I fell in love with the concrete.”
Walls painted in Off-Black, Farrow & Ball. Worktops, Mortise Concrete.
See other options for kitchen worktops
Walls painted in Off-Black, Farrow & Ball. Worktops, Mortise Concrete.
See other options for kitchen worktops
A white ceiling lifts the dark walls and cabinetry in the kitchen. Even the dining table is used to display plants. “I’m plant obsessed,” confesses Anderson. “I like displaying them in a whole bunch of different pots. I was thinking of designing some hanging planters because I’ve not seen many that I like.”
Talia dining chairs, Habitat.
Talia dining chairs, Habitat.
There was some debate about the best location for the kitchen, which starts in the original part of the maisonette and extends out into the new part (beyond the fridge). “Everyone told us to put our kitchen downstairs, but we use it so much we wanted it to be where there was a tall ceiling and loads of light. We’re really happy with the way we use it,” says Anderson. Open shelving and a Belfast sink add to the rustic look.
Anderson found the antique doors that the builder used to create a spacious larder in the dining area, which is part of the extension. “I’ve always loved big antique doors,” she says. Beyond the glazed doors, which Anderson designed, is a terrace.
The stairs just outside the maisonette’s kitchen lead down to the second living room, which was created thanks to the two-storey extension.
The new living room includes several bespoke features, such as the doors and the cross-lattice ceiling, which gives the impression of exposed beams. “We wanted the ceiling to be quite high down here and this design makes it feel so much taller.”
Doors and wall painted in Hardwick White, Farrow & Ball.
Doors and wall painted in Hardwick White, Farrow & Ball.
The downstairs living room, in the lower part of the two-storey extension, was designed with the children in mind. “It’s the room that we get messy in and it’s where all the toys are. If we’ve had a big day and we can’t be bothered to tidy up the toys, that’s fine,” says Anderson.
Both the walls and floors here are made from reclaimed materials sourced by Anderson from various reclamation yards. “We wanted everything in the extension to be as sympathetic to the existing house as possible. I really love the fact that you can’t tell in this house where the new extension starts,” she says.
Sofa, Loaf.
See a more contemporary extension to a Victorian home
Both the walls and floors here are made from reclaimed materials sourced by Anderson from various reclamation yards. “We wanted everything in the extension to be as sympathetic to the existing house as possible. I really love the fact that you can’t tell in this house where the new extension starts,” she says.
Sofa, Loaf.
See a more contemporary extension to a Victorian home
A huge antique mirror bounces light around the main bedroom, which is also part of the new extension and is home to plenty of plants and antique finds. “The rocking horse never had a head, so we put a plant pot there instead.”
Vintage textiles adorn the bed in the couple’s room. The headboard was made using old grain sacks. “I go to a lot of markets and fairs and pick up bits along the way,” says Anderson.
Walls painted in Lamp Room Gray, Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Lamp Room Gray, Farrow & Ball.
A handy storage chest (known as the mini beast) is similar to the drawers in the living room. The new bathroom (off to the left and which is part of the extension) has concrete floor tiles in two shades of grey which Anderson designed herself.
There are two skylights in the new bathroom, including one directly over the freestanding tub. “Kew Gardens was a big influence in terms of plants, but also the amazing glasshouses there,” says Anderson.
Bath, CP Hart.
Bath, CP Hart.
Anderson brought the ornate mirror frame in the new bathroom back from Morocco many years ago. It’s now used to display some of Anderson’s own jewellery creations.
Even the spiral staircase attached to the two-storey extension is a vintage find. “I sourced it through eBay and was so lucky because it fitted like a dream. We had matching railings made for the roof terrace above,” says Anderson.
Railings, Leighton Ironcraft.
Railings, Leighton Ironcraft.
The twins have inherited their mother’s love of plants and have plenty of them in their own room.
“When Matthew and I go to nurseries we normally let them choose something,” says Anderson. “They really like having them and plants are such a calming thing to have around. They’re great for air purity, too.”
“When Matthew and I go to nurseries we normally let them choose something,” says Anderson. “They really like having them and plants are such a calming thing to have around. They’re great for air purity, too.”
It’s easy to access the garden from both the upper and lower level of the extension. “We’re lucky enough to still have a good-sized garden, even after the extension,” says Anderson. “At the moment, Matthew is building a shed, then a treehouse. We want to make the outside space as much a part of our living area as the inside space.”
Have you used reclaimed materials in your building project? Tell us in the Comments below.
Have you used reclaimed materials in your building project? Tell us in the Comments below.
Related Stories
House Tours
Houzz Tour: Warm Tones and Luxurious Surfaces in a City Townhouse
An earthy colour palette, hidden storage and well-placed texture add character and practicality to this London home
Full Story
Room Tours
Kitchen Tour: A Gorgeous Extension With a Leafy Glasshouse Feel
By Kate Burt
When the owners of this terraced house extended, they were keen to retain its period feel and highlight the garden
Full Story
Gardens
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Smart Layout and Genius Storage in a Victorian Home
Flipping the standard layout and carving out excellent storage have turned this tired house into a brilliant family home
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Victorian House Brought Impressively Up to Date
By Jo Simmons
A cohesive layout and warm colours combined with energy-efficiency measures thoroughly modernise this terraced home
Full Story
Kitchen Tours
Kitchen Tour: An Open, Airy Space Made for Entertaining
Combining two separate rooms has improved flow and created a sociable open-plan kitchen, dining and seating space
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Family Home Inspired by its Seaside Location
Coastal colours and practical design combine to create a house that will adapt as the family grows
Full Story
Kitchens
5 Inspiring Before and After Kitchen Transformations
Whether you want to boost storage, incorporate original features or maximise your space, take ideas from these designs
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: An Airy, Scandi Finish for a Tall Victorian House
By Kate Burt
From a tricky inherited bath to a sticky-out staircase, on-site problem-solving led to a seamless update for an old home
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A 17th Century Cottage Gains Warmth and Character
The clever use of colour and pattern has revived this old building while creating a 21st century family home
Full Story
A very cool, creative space to live!
Kitchen reminds me of the one in the family home of Monty Don....a kitchen you can mess in. Wish I could send you a bunch of the antique bottles that are in the old dump in my woods. Over 60 yrs the original owner accumulated quite a pile! Blue, browns, milky white, clear, various shades of green & most with flaws since they were not factory made.
This is a homeowner who would find pleasure in having them in windows, same as I do.
Great article on such a beautiful, inspirational and resplendent home.