British Houzz: A Seven-Storey New-Build Gets a Personality
This fully renovated and decorated family home was given an injection of character to make it something special
It’s no mean feat to totally transform a seven-storey, five-bedroom house in a matter of just eight weeks, but that’s exactly what Viki Lander of Ensoul Interior Architecture was tasked with when the owners of this substantial home in the heart of Highgate Village hired her for the job.
“We had only two months to design the house and get all the fixtures, fittings and core furniture delivered,” explains Lander. “The owners wanted a turnkey solution to include a full refurbishment plus furniture, soft furnishings, decorative accessories and full contents of the entire house. The family wanted to move in with nothing but their clothes and personal effects.”
“We had only two months to design the house and get all the fixtures, fittings and core furniture delivered,” explains Lander. “The owners wanted a turnkey solution to include a full refurbishment plus furniture, soft furnishings, decorative accessories and full contents of the entire house. The family wanted to move in with nothing but their clothes and personal effects.”
The original kitchen, which is on the third floor, was always this large (10.2 x 4.3 metres), but Lander totally transformed it with a mix of industrial, reclaimed and contemporary fixtures, including a unique timber plank feature wall and cork flooring.
“Grey satin lacquer-sprayed cabinets, a timber wall and stainless steel lighting make this modern kitchen feel luxurious with an industrial twist,” says Lander. “No walls were removed and nothing was extended, but the entire guts of the house were ripped out.”
“Grey satin lacquer-sprayed cabinets, a timber wall and stainless steel lighting make this modern kitchen feel luxurious with an industrial twist,” says Lander. “No walls were removed and nothing was extended, but the entire guts of the house were ripped out.”
The random plank feature wall adds warmth and personality to the kitchen, and anchors the mood for a low-key industrial vibe with reclaimed features.
“It’s a mix of reclaimed, engineered timber boards with old paint on them,” adds Lander. “It was quite a leap of faith to sell to the client, as it sounds a bit off the wall (excuse the pun) to put timber boards on a kitchen wall. But everyone is thrilled with the result, which proves taking a risk can pay off.”
A glass panel sits behind the hob to protect the timber from cooking stains.
“It’s a mix of reclaimed, engineered timber boards with old paint on them,” adds Lander. “It was quite a leap of faith to sell to the client, as it sounds a bit off the wall (excuse the pun) to put timber boards on a kitchen wall. But everyone is thrilled with the result, which proves taking a risk can pay off.”
A glass panel sits behind the hob to protect the timber from cooking stains.
Simple, handle-free units in matt pale grey are finished with a warm brown quartz benchtop.
The rich burgundy pelmet and patterned blind with a subtle leaf print add warmth, and soften the overall mood.
The rich burgundy pelmet and patterned blind with a subtle leaf print add warmth, and soften the overall mood.
Lander used two different shades of grey for the cabinet doors, with a slightly darker hue on the appliance wall for subtle contrast.
An informal dining space works perfectly for a busy family and a regular stream of visitors.
The robust, handmade table has a chunky, rustic wood top and steel base with a matching bench, while the honey-coloured rattan chairs add texture and echo the look and feel of the wooden pendant light.
The robust, handmade table has a chunky, rustic wood top and steel base with a matching bench, while the honey-coloured rattan chairs add texture and echo the look and feel of the wooden pendant light.
The chic pendant light is handmade from Finnish birch for a simple, Scandinavian feel and filters a soft, luminous glow over the dining table.
The pale grey-brown wall colour is used throughout the house for an easy-on-the-eye, harmonious flow.
The pale grey-brown wall colour is used throughout the house for an easy-on-the-eye, harmonious flow.
Cork flooring is laid throughout the open-plan space and contrasts effectively with the grey cabinetry and rattan chairs.
“The cork flooring was my idea,” says Lander. “It’s so much warmer than tiles – both aesthetically and to walk on – and it’s something a bit different to a timber floor, which has become omnipresent. It has so many brilliant other benefits too, in terms of acoustics and hygiene. It’s easy to clean and has such beautiful markings.”
“The cork flooring was my idea,” says Lander. “It’s so much warmer than tiles – both aesthetically and to walk on – and it’s something a bit different to a timber floor, which has become omnipresent. It has so many brilliant other benefits too, in terms of acoustics and hygiene. It’s easy to clean and has such beautiful markings.”
The large, single space is cleverly designed to create three different zones: a full kitchen with island; an informal dining space for nine, and a comfortable lounge area with a low-slung, L-shaped sofa.
“The kitchen and family room is my favourite part of the house,” says Lander. “It’s the real heart and workhorse of the home. I love the clearly defined spaces, as well as the mix of furniture and textures.”
“The kitchen and family room is my favourite part of the house,” says Lander. “It’s the real heart and workhorse of the home. I love the clearly defined spaces, as well as the mix of furniture and textures.”
Retro-style, red-wine coloured armchairs and a vintage rug inject a gorgeous hit of colour into the space.
“The reclaimed wood and steel TV cabinet and leather trunk also work brilliantly to ensure a rich, warm and interesting area in which to kick back and relax,” explains Lander.
“The reclaimed wood and steel TV cabinet and leather trunk also work brilliantly to ensure a rich, warm and interesting area in which to kick back and relax,” explains Lander.
The entrance hall, with its slight industrial twist, sets the mood for the rest of the house. The 24-drawer chest is a serious storage boon for a busy family, while the pendant light creates a striking feature.
“Our clients really bought into the idea that the hallways and landings should be just as interesting as the rooms off them,” says Lander.
“Our clients really bought into the idea that the hallways and landings should be just as interesting as the rooms off them,” says Lander.
The space beneath the stairs has been transformed into neat and efficient bespoke shoe storage, which is open-fronted for easy access.
It’s painted, along with the stairs, in a rich brown and offset with a striped runner.
It’s painted, along with the stairs, in a rich brown and offset with a striped runner.
The formal dining room on the fourth floor is a picture of sophistication.
“The brief was to create a space for elegant, adult dinner parties, with a seating area where guests could enjoy drinks before and after,” explains the designer. “They also wanted to be able to use the same space for family parties and events such as Christmas.”
Glass medical cabinets from a Polish hospital are offset by a beautiful, perforated aluminium pendant light, which throws interesting shadows around the room.
“The brief was to create a space for elegant, adult dinner parties, with a seating area where guests could enjoy drinks before and after,” explains the designer. “They also wanted to be able to use the same space for family parties and events such as Christmas.”
Glass medical cabinets from a Polish hospital are offset by a beautiful, perforated aluminium pendant light, which throws interesting shadows around the room.
The glass dining table with an anthracite sculptural base is paired with buttoned leather chairs and a shiny lacquered sideboard, creating a unique style that blends contemporary, vintage and reclaimed treasures.
“I opted for a round table, as they’re much better for dinner conversation, and decided to mix up contemporary and vintage pieces for real interest,” Lander says.
The circular rug underneath the table is a bespoke piece made from a textured weave to add luxury and comfort to the timber flooring.
“I opted for a round table, as they’re much better for dinner conversation, and decided to mix up contemporary and vintage pieces for real interest,” Lander says.
The circular rug underneath the table is a bespoke piece made from a textured weave to add luxury and comfort to the timber flooring.
A lime green velvet chesterfield sofa is an ideal spot for pre- and post-dinner drinks, or simply for relaxing, and embraces the vintage-inspired look of the formal dining room.
“I wanted to bring some vibrant colour into the room, but keep a sophisticated look to it,” explains Lander. “And I love mixing textures, hence the linen curtains, woven textured rug, velvet sofa and leather chairs, which contrast with the hard materials in the room.”
“I wanted to bring some vibrant colour into the room, but keep a sophisticated look to it,” explains Lander. “And I love mixing textures, hence the linen curtains, woven textured rug, velvet sofa and leather chairs, which contrast with the hard materials in the room.”
The second floor games room is a space for all of the family to enjoy.
“The brief was to design it primarily for the two boys to watch movies, use their games consoles and play their musical instruments, but it also houses a full-size table tennis table and a football table,” Lander says.
The bespoke media unit was designed by Ensoul and combines closed storage to hide a multitude of toys and books, with open shelving to display more interesting items.
“The brief was to design it primarily for the two boys to watch movies, use their games consoles and play their musical instruments, but it also houses a full-size table tennis table and a football table,” Lander says.
The bespoke media unit was designed by Ensoul and combines closed storage to hide a multitude of toys and books, with open shelving to display more interesting items.
The games room isn’t too child-centric, however, and the design also works for the owners to enjoy the space with guests after dinner parties.
One son is an avid supporter of the UK football team Arsenal, so the themed bedroom reflects his love of the team – in a stylish, crisp, grown-up way.
“It features fun decals of his favourite player and an inspirational quote by the manager, which can both easily be removed at any time should tastes change,” says Lander.
The vintage-inspired metal desk offers a robust area for homework and other pastimes.
“It features fun decals of his favourite player and an inspirational quote by the manager, which can both easily be removed at any time should tastes change,” says Lander.
The vintage-inspired metal desk offers a robust area for homework and other pastimes.
The smart grey of the velvet carpet and metal furniture is punctuated by red accessories to reinforce the Arsenal theme.
The walls are painted in the same colour as the rest of the house.
The walls are painted in the same colour as the rest of the house.
A super-sized Emperor bed in plum suede upholstery is the centrepiece of this luxurious, hotel-inspired master suite.
“The armchairs were the only items the clients brought with them,” says Lander. “They wanted them to work somewhere in the house, so we had them cleaned and I designed a scheme around them in the master bedroom.”
“The armchairs were the only items the clients brought with them,” says Lander. “They wanted them to work somewhere in the house, so we had them cleaned and I designed a scheme around them in the master bedroom.”
Lander gave the guest bedroom on the ground floor an uplifting grey and yellow scheme.
TELL US
What do you think of this spacious family home refurbishment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US
What do you think of this spacious family home refurbishment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here: Jane Webster, a psychotherapist, her husband, Andrew, who works in property, their two sons, aged 6 and 8, plus Spencer the cat
Location: Highgate Village, London, UK
Style: Semi-detached property built 12 years ago
Size: 5 bedrooms, 5 ensuite bathrooms and a powder room
Designer: Viki Lander of Ensoul Interior Architecture
Photos by Darren Chung
The Websters had a clear brief when they took on Ensoul Interior Architecture for this massive property transformation.
“They wanted to turn what was a very boring, nondescript house with zero interest into an elegant family home that also works for socialising and guests staying over,” explains Lander. “Jane knew what she didn’t want too: no minimalism and nothing that looked cold, clinical or contrived. She wanted a warm, family home that, when finished, looked elegant but lived-in, comfortable and homey.”