Houzz Tour: Brilliant Broken-plan Living in a Victorian House
Architects create a spacious yet cosy family home by combining open areas with distinct zones
After designing numerous beautiful properties for their clients, architects Maya Carni and Ran Ankory had always planned to make a project of their first family home. Their search for a property to work on took them just a few metres away from their old flat as they bought a neighbour’s larger Victorian house. “The house was still in its original layout,” says Carni. “As we’re architects, that was perfect for us.” The couple set about creating a bright, original home that feels light, airy and comfortable, and that will grow with their family.
The family living room is situated in the original front room. A simple scheme helps to highlight the room’s period features. “The bay window is a lovely feature of Victorian houses,” says Carni. “It didn’t need any blinds or curtains, just shutters.”
A low shelf runs along the whole of the side wall and into the next space. A closed area beneath the television hides cumbersome items, such as the DVD and digital box.
The original laminate floor was replaced with a beautiful parquet. “I love herringbone but it’s very expensive, so we decided to use it just for the main part of the house and chose a more cost-effective solution elsewhere,” says Carni. The space is uncluttered and simple, so the floor adds texture and is a feature in itself.
Mags soft three-seater sofa, Hay. Oak Tate herringbone parquet, Solid Floor.
A low shelf runs along the whole of the side wall and into the next space. A closed area beneath the television hides cumbersome items, such as the DVD and digital box.
The original laminate floor was replaced with a beautiful parquet. “I love herringbone but it’s very expensive, so we decided to use it just for the main part of the house and chose a more cost-effective solution elsewhere,” says Carni. The space is uncluttered and simple, so the floor adds texture and is a feature in itself.
Mags soft three-seater sofa, Hay. Oak Tate herringbone parquet, Solid Floor.
The second living area is a relaxed space with a fireplace below the extended white wall. “Fire is a big element in a house,” says Carni. “This is a gas one, so it’s cleaner and has a remote control. It’s so easy to use, a real luxury.”
The couple didn’t want this area to feel like a hallway on the way to the kitchen, so the fire works well as a focal point. “We spent a lot of time this winter sitting on pouffes in front of the fire,” says Carni.
Dancing Flame open gas fire, Bespoke Fireplace Designs.
Considering a fire? Discover the right one for your home
The couple didn’t want this area to feel like a hallway on the way to the kitchen, so the fire works well as a focal point. “We spent a lot of time this winter sitting on pouffes in front of the fire,” says Carni.
Dancing Flame open gas fire, Bespoke Fireplace Designs.
Considering a fire? Discover the right one for your home
The library area above is where the cloakroom used to be. “It felt heavy with the wall there,” says Carni. “So we got rid of the wall, which created a nook where the library is now. It now feels lighter, as if it’s floating.”
Mini My pouffes, Woodnotes.
Mini My pouffes, Woodnotes.
A glass balustrade lines the eight steps that lead to the kitchen level. A tilted skylight above draws the eye out towards the garden.
Belleville plastic armchairs, Vitra.
Belleville plastic armchairs, Vitra.
The herringbone on the stairs presented a big challenge as it had to form a precise pattern. The floor is actually glued on to an MDF underlay board which provided the couple with a solution. “For the stairs, we took a flat board and glued herringbone onto one whole piece,” explains Carni. “Then we cut it into sections and glued it on to the stairs.”
An exposed brick wall adds character to the kitchen area, while the glazed back wall is broken up with a window seat. “We’re not big fans of flat walls of glass doors because there’s always something you can do,” says Carni. “We love window seats as they provide a space between the inside and outside, so we created a half bay window.”
Beneath the window seat is a handy storage area for DIY equipment.
The polished concrete in the kitchen area continues on to the patio, creating a link between the inside and out.
“The garden is a separate project,” says Carni. “We’d like to add a pergola so that we can sit outside when it’s raining, but for now, the lawn is perfect for the kids to play football on.”
The kitchen is a clean, clutter-free space with plenty of storage. A breakfast bar at the far end is highlighted by a row of simple pendant lights. A pop-up extractor fan sits behind the island hob, and the sink is fitted with a boiling water tap.
Carni isn’t keen on wall cabinets and has used a couple of tall units for storage instead, while the box shelves add decoration.
Kitchen units, Pronorm. Hob and extractor fan, Siemens. Boiling water tap, Quooker.
Carni isn’t keen on wall cabinets and has used a couple of tall units for storage instead, while the box shelves add decoration.
Kitchen units, Pronorm. Hob and extractor fan, Siemens. Boiling water tap, Quooker.
The space under the stairs has been cleverly designed to store the children’s toys and craft supplies. Each section is either a drawer or a cupboard, and some of them slide open, while others lift up.
When the couple created this lower level, they weren’t immediately sure what to do with it. At the back is a guest room with an en-suite bathroom, which they didn’t want to be too large. They decided to push the wall back and create a separate area for the kids. It’s the perfect spot for the boys to do crafts and homework alongside the family, and it keeps any mess out of the way. The children also use the table as a dining area when friends come over.
Bespoke joinery under the stairs allows a bench to be pulled out of the storage wall, and pushed back when it’s not needed.
Bespoke joinery under the stairs allows a bench to be pulled out of the storage wall, and pushed back when it’s not needed.
Two floorplans show the layout of the property’s lower levels.
This view from the stairs shows the other side of the library area. “I don’t like a railing with a handrail,” says Carni. “We sometimes use a half wall but that would have blocked out too much light. These painted metal spindles go all the way to the ceiling and feel open.”
Want to turn your stairs into something special? Here’s how
Want to turn your stairs into something special? Here’s how
Scenario has developed a range of wood stains with its supplier, so the couple chose a dark shade for the oak floor. The moody rustic finish provides a stunning contrast with the white walls.
Beneath the staircase, the couple designed a bench seat with shoe storage. The children sit here to put their outerwear on when they leave the house.
Beneath the staircase, the couple designed a bench seat with shoe storage. The children sit here to put their outerwear on when they leave the house.
The main bedroom is a large light space, so the couple decided to add an en-suite bathroom.
A joiner built a custom-made vanity unit in the en suite. Instead of a glass screen next to the shower area, the couple opted for a plain wall.
Mirrors, Hay.
Mirrors, Hay.
The children prefer to share a bedroom at the moment, but when they’re older there are enough rooms for them to have their own space. “We’re very lucky to have so much room,” says Carni. “So we were able to use an extra bedroom to create a walk-in wardrobe.” The door to this room used to lead to the hallway, but is now adjoined to the main bedroom.
“The boys often ask us what we do at work all day, so we decided to get them involved,” says Carni. “They helped with the design process for their own bedroom.”
Parisot Tam Tam bunk bed, Cuckooland.
Parisot Tam Tam bunk bed, Cuckooland.
The unused space in the eaves was turned into a den area and the boys found solutions for getting up and down – a climbing wall and a fireman’s pole, of course. “I got the climbing stones from Amazon,” says Carni. “Then we applied a concrete finish to the walls to make them hard-wearing and easy to clean.”
It’s a really fun room, and the bars are even bent near the pole to look like the children have pulled them apart.
It’s a really fun room, and the bars are even bent near the pole to look like the children have pulled them apart.
The loft space was already in place and the family use it as a guest room and games area. At the back is a quiet nook for meditation.
These floorplans illustrate how the two top floors have been planned out.
What do you think of this broken-plan family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below – and please remember that you’re discussing someone’s home!
What do you think of this broken-plan family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below – and please remember that you’re discussing someone’s home!
Who lives here Architects Maya Carni and Ran Ankory with their two sons
Location Stoke Newington, London
Property Victorian terraced house
Size 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a cloakroom
Architects Maya Carni and Ran Ankory of Scenario Architecture
Photographs by Matt Clayton
The primary goal for Carni and Ankory’s home renovation was to create a connection between the front living rooms and the garden. “The two street-level front sitting rooms are a full floor above the lower-ground kitchen and garden,” explains Carni. “So we opened up the two rooms and lowered the back one by two steps.” You can now see right out to the garden from the front of the house, but the areas remain separate.
Walls throughout painted in Brilliant White washable paint, Dulux. Rug, City Cows.