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Room Tour: A Contemporary Take on a Midcentury Scheme
Repurposed spaces and an eclectic mix of new and vintage furniture updated the ground floor of this period home
Typical of a Victorian terrace, this London house had the benefit of both a front and rear reception room together with a spacious kitchen-diner beyond. But without a cohesive scheme or clear function for each space, the interior just wasn’t the equal of the house’s period features and proportions.
It was time for a rethink, and that’s where interior designers Holly Canham and Alex Hart of Canham & Hart came in.
It was time for a rethink, and that’s where interior designers Holly Canham and Alex Hart of Canham & Hart came in.
The interior designers chose original midcentury chairs for the bay window of the front reception room and had them reupholstered in yellow. “We injected pattern, texture and colour into the rooms so they’re more interesting to look at, and the yellow works well with the wall colour,” Holly says.
A green marble coffee table was placed between the chairs, introducing a luxurious finish and providing a counterpoint to the timber of the midcentury furniture and flooring.
Standard radiators were replaced by more characterful cast-iron versions in this and the other ground-floor spaces.
Armchairs, LoftMe. Walls painted in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball. Rug, Ikea. Side table, La Redoute. Radiator, Castrads.
A green marble coffee table was placed between the chairs, introducing a luxurious finish and providing a counterpoint to the timber of the midcentury furniture and flooring.
Standard radiators were replaced by more characterful cast-iron versions in this and the other ground-floor spaces.
Armchairs, LoftMe. Walls painted in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball. Rug, Ikea. Side table, La Redoute. Radiator, Castrads.
A mosaic table is the key item of furniture for the front reception room. “It’s an original midcentury piece,” Holly says. “It formed the basis of the room and we worked the scheme around it.”
Although new, the sofa has midcentury lines that complement the table. Abstract canvases above – by a local artist – introduce additional accents of colour, and the cushions on the sofa pick up a hue from the table.
Mosaic table, Diagonal Furniture. Hepburn sofa, Heal’s. Cushions, Eleanor Pritchard.
Find coffee tables in the Houzz Shop.
Although new, the sofa has midcentury lines that complement the table. Abstract canvases above – by a local artist – introduce additional accents of colour, and the cushions on the sofa pick up a hue from the table.
Mosaic table, Diagonal Furniture. Hepburn sofa, Heal’s. Cushions, Eleanor Pritchard.
Find coffee tables in the Houzz Shop.
The designers were keen to create the impression the interiors had evolved over time. “We didn’t want everything to look brand spanking new,” Holly says.
A new but midcentury-style leather chair in the alcove adds another texture to the scheme, and it’s dressed with contemporary textiles. Above is a vintage poster, found at a midcentury fair and given a simple black frame.
Leather chair, West Elm. Grasshopper floor lamp, Gubi. Textiles, French Connection. Hammershoi ridged vase, Heal’s.
A new but midcentury-style leather chair in the alcove adds another texture to the scheme, and it’s dressed with contemporary textiles. Above is a vintage poster, found at a midcentury fair and given a simple black frame.
Leather chair, West Elm. Grasshopper floor lamp, Gubi. Textiles, French Connection. Hammershoi ridged vase, Heal’s.
The rear reception room previously didn’t have a distinct purpose and acted much like a corridor to the kitchen. Now it’s been turned into a snug, with the TV relocated here from the front room. As it’s a family space, the scheme is more informal in here.
“We got a furniture-maker to create a bespoke corner sofa that fits the nook like a glove,” Holly says. Joinery in walnut was also specially built, so the television could be positioned in the alcove to the right of the fireplace.
Although the feel of the snug is different from the front room, the look is complementary. “The colours, such as the Oval Room Blue on the walls, run through,” Holly says.
Wall lights, Made.com.
Find joinery specialists in your neighbourhood.
“We got a furniture-maker to create a bespoke corner sofa that fits the nook like a glove,” Holly says. Joinery in walnut was also specially built, so the television could be positioned in the alcove to the right of the fireplace.
Although the feel of the snug is different from the front room, the look is complementary. “The colours, such as the Oval Room Blue on the walls, run through,” Holly says.
Wall lights, Made.com.
Find joinery specialists in your neighbourhood.
A throw and plenty of cushions make the sofa welcoming. “The vibe is cosy and comfortable,” Holly says.
Kilim rug and cushions, Ferm Living. Woollen throw, Heal’s.
Kilim rug and cushions, Ferm Living. Woollen throw, Heal’s.
The designers hung a mirror above the original marble fireplace. Like the overmantel mirror in the front room, it’s made from antique glass and given a contemporary frame, continuing the space’s happy mixing of old and new elements.
Terracotta pots filled with foliage plants are lined up on the mantel. Like the snug’s other decorative pieces, they’re designed to soften the look of the room, and the greens of the leaves complement the other tones in the scheme.
A side-return extension meant the home’s kitchen-diner is generous in its proportions, but a large expanse of white wall and a concrete floor made the space feel cold.
To add both character and warmth, the wall was painted in a different, but complementary, blue to the front reception room and snug. “It’s slightly darker, but we could afford to use it here because this room is very bright,” Holly says. “The more dramatic colour works well with the white kitchen units and concrete floor, as well as the walnut furniture.”
The large space permitted the inclusion of a seating area as well as kitchen and dining zones, so the couple’s midcentury leather sofa was used here and dressed with cushions and a sheepskin throw.
The designers supplemented the owners’ collection of artwork with new prints that inject accents of colour into the scheme.
Dining table and chairs, West Elm. Wall painted in Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball. Selected artwork, Print Club London. Textiles, French Connection.
To add both character and warmth, the wall was painted in a different, but complementary, blue to the front reception room and snug. “It’s slightly darker, but we could afford to use it here because this room is very bright,” Holly says. “The more dramatic colour works well with the white kitchen units and concrete floor, as well as the walnut furniture.”
The large space permitted the inclusion of a seating area as well as kitchen and dining zones, so the couple’s midcentury leather sofa was used here and dressed with cushions and a sheepskin throw.
The designers supplemented the owners’ collection of artwork with new prints that inject accents of colour into the scheme.
Dining table and chairs, West Elm. Wall painted in Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball. Selected artwork, Print Club London. Textiles, French Connection.
The sideboard is another original midcentury piece. Above it, the designers hung a shelving unit that’s filled with ceramics and objets d’art, adding to the character of the room.
String shelves, Skandium. Rug, The Conran Shop.
Tell us…
Which are your favourite elements of this scheme? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
String shelves, Skandium. Rug, The Conran Shop.
Tell us…
Which are your favourite elements of this scheme? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here A professional couple and their two children
Location Clapham, London
Property A Victorian terrace
Dimensions of the three spaces Around 74 sq m
Interior designers Holly Canham and Alex Hart of Canham & Hart
Photos by Chris Snook
“The couple were looking to refurbish the double reception room and the kitchen, and they wanted to bring the three rooms together,” Holly Canham says.
The homeowners had a preference for midcentury modern style, but Holly and Alex were reluctant to make the influence particularly strong. “We wanted to create a more eclectic look and include vintage and contemporary pieces to create a timeless feel,” Holly explains.
One of the room’s original midcentury designs is the shelving unit in the alcove. It stands where the TV used to be in a room now transformed into an area for entertaining friends and family.
Carmina lampshade, Umage. Ladderax shelving, Diagonal Furniture.