London Houzz: A Danish-Inspired Redesign Offers Style & Sunshine
Improved flow, a new sunny side extension and a navy-and-white colour palette gently revitalised this Victorian house
Jill Morgan
26 June 2022
Freelance Editor and content writer specialising in property, interiors and gardens
Freelance Editor and content writer specialising in property, interiors and gardens... More
Keen to update their much-loved period home, the owners of this property in London, UK contacted Stephen Nash, creative director and founder of All & Nxthing. Having bought the Victorian semi seven years ago, they were now more than ready to create the family-friendly space they desired.
“The couple had spotted our previous projects on Houzz and, after making initial contact, were thrilled to discover we had also worked on a friend’s home, too,” says Nash.
Rethinking how the family used their living space was key and Nash had numerous smart suggestions. The ground floor, as in many London houses, was long and thin, and the rear kitchen, although roomy, was very much a space for food prep rather than somewhere the family could enjoy time together. Upstairs, the rooms needed a refresh and there was potential to rejig doorways, add more storage and tailor fittings to suit the family’s lifestyle.
“The couple had spotted our previous projects on Houzz and, after making initial contact, were thrilled to discover we had also worked on a friend’s home, too,” says Nash.
Rethinking how the family used their living space was key and Nash had numerous smart suggestions. The ground floor, as in many London houses, was long and thin, and the rear kitchen, although roomy, was very much a space for food prep rather than somewhere the family could enjoy time together. Upstairs, the rooms needed a refresh and there was potential to rejig doorways, add more storage and tailor fittings to suit the family’s lifestyle.
Photos by Ben Waterhouse
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two daughters, aged 5 and 7
Location: South London, UK
Property: A Victorian semi-detached house
Size: Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Stephen Nash of All & Nxthing
In order to create a multi-use space where they could relax, eat and socialise together, the couple’s instinct was to add a rear extension with a side courtyard, but Nash felt extending to the side, too, was a more useful option.
“Incorporating the side return into the new kitchen area widens the narrow space and helps to balance the wider front reception rooms, creating a better sense of flow throughout the ground floor,” he says.
It also gives the space more potential, which was clearly shown when Nash sent over a sketched plan complete with a kitchen island, dining table and TV area with a sofa. “I had a reply to that evening’s email at 9am the next morning saying, ‘Yes, that’s exactly what we want. Let’s go ahead!’” he says.
Ready to renovate? Find a local architect near you who understands your council’s regulations
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two daughters, aged 5 and 7
Location: South London, UK
Property: A Victorian semi-detached house
Size: Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Stephen Nash of All & Nxthing
In order to create a multi-use space where they could relax, eat and socialise together, the couple’s instinct was to add a rear extension with a side courtyard, but Nash felt extending to the side, too, was a more useful option.
“Incorporating the side return into the new kitchen area widens the narrow space and helps to balance the wider front reception rooms, creating a better sense of flow throughout the ground floor,” he says.
It also gives the space more potential, which was clearly shown when Nash sent over a sketched plan complete with a kitchen island, dining table and TV area with a sofa. “I had a reply to that evening’s email at 9am the next morning saying, ‘Yes, that’s exactly what we want. Let’s go ahead!’” he says.
Ready to renovate? Find a local architect near you who understands your council’s regulations
A standard side-return extension was definitely not on the cards with this project. “My clients share a love of Danish and industrial design and it was partly this sense of pared-back honesty that drew them to some of our previous projects,” says Nash.
“It was important to create a contemporary and practical space that also felt warm and welcoming, and that incorporated some of the beautiful natural wood found in the living room,” he continues.
The team stripped the rear ground floor back to its supporting steel joists and added industrial-style French windows and a partially glazed roof. This instantly opened up the space and filled the dark kitchen area with natural light.
Covering the eight-metre-long side return with a single expanse of glass would have been prohibitively expensive, so Nash designed a series of smaller panes interspersed with oak braces. These not only provide extra support, but cover the joins to create the sense of a seamless finish. The whitewashed brick wall adds a stunning, textural contrast.
“It was important to create a contemporary and practical space that also felt warm and welcoming, and that incorporated some of the beautiful natural wood found in the living room,” he continues.
The team stripped the rear ground floor back to its supporting steel joists and added industrial-style French windows and a partially glazed roof. This instantly opened up the space and filled the dark kitchen area with natural light.
Covering the eight-metre-long side return with a single expanse of glass would have been prohibitively expensive, so Nash designed a series of smaller panes interspersed with oak braces. These not only provide extra support, but cover the joins to create the sense of a seamless finish. The whitewashed brick wall adds a stunning, textural contrast.
Deep-blue bespoke kitchen units painted in in Hague Blue by UK-based Farrow & Ball make a bold statement in the original part of the open-plan kitchen area. Nash paid careful attention to the layering of texture to add depth to the industrial style in the room. For example, the terrazzo benchtop features alongside reeded door fronts, tactile ceramic wall tiles and a traditional fluted Belfast sink.
To give the seating area at the far end of the kitchen a cosy feel, Nash added timber beams across the low ceiling.
Matching floor levels and similar flooring materials create an almost seamless flow from indoors to out.
The main living room is positioned at the front the house and Nash and the couple were keen to ensure it retained some of its period charm. “There’s a sense of responsibility when owning a period property,” he says, “and decisions on removing internal walls and period details, and altering the proportions of a space, have to be carefully thought through.”
After much deliberation, the team decided to remove the original coving on the ceiling, as part of it would be disrupted anyway with the insertion of a new RSJ (rolled steel joist), but a sense of period charm was reinstated by adding a ceiling bead. New wall panelling was also installed, creating an intimate and slightly formal edge to complement the original fireplace.
After much deliberation, the team decided to remove the original coving on the ceiling, as part of it would be disrupted anyway with the insertion of a new RSJ (rolled steel joist), but a sense of period charm was reinstated by adding a ceiling bead. New wall panelling was also installed, creating an intimate and slightly formal edge to complement the original fireplace.
The couple invested in a 30-millimetre-thick solid oak parquet floor throughout the living room. “We retrofitted a wet underfloor heating system beneath the parquet to provide the family with a gently constant heat,” says Nash.
Floor-standing cast-iron radiator heaters were also fitted [see previous image] to make a striking statement and are handy for boosting the room temperature when needed.
Browse more beautifully designed transitional living rooms
Floor-standing cast-iron radiator heaters were also fitted [see previous image] to make a striking statement and are handy for boosting the room temperature when needed.
Browse more beautifully designed transitional living rooms
While eager to open up the living space, the couple also wanted to preserve the character of the home. So, while creating a sense of flow through the ground floor was important, they decided to go for a double-width doorway into the kitchen rather than removing the entire wall. This is practical while also helping to distinguish between old and new.
A new wood-burning stove was installed in the middle living area, creating a cosy reading spot. Custom-designed cupboards and shelving in the alcoves provide essential storage and an elegant display area.
Upstairs, the main bedroom required a complete rethink to make the most of the space. Fitted wardrobes span both sides of the room, providing plenty of practical storage and helping to conceal everyday clutter.
The original tiled fireplace was a standout feature in the room and one everyone was keen to retain and highlight. Nash expertly incorporated a graceful arch into the wardrobe design and topped the fireplace surround with a curved antique mirror to add to the tranquil feel.
The original tiled fireplace was a standout feature in the room and one everyone was keen to retain and highlight. Nash expertly incorporated a graceful arch into the wardrobe design and topped the fireplace surround with a curved antique mirror to add to the tranquil feel.
Subtle panelling on the custom cupboard doors softens the overall impact without proving too fussy or distracting. Stripped wooden floorboards and a neat Roman blind are simple touches that add to the calm mood.
“The double vanity unit made from solid oak has to be my favourite piece in the house,” says Nash. Designed by All & Nxthing and made by local furniture-maker James Bowyer, it sits proudly in the family bathroom.
“The only original fitting left in this room is the window,” says Nash. The decision to remove the only bath in the house and replace it with a generous walk-in shower was surprisingly easy for the family. Firm shower devotees, they knew it would help free up floor space in the small room, which was further helped by moving the doorway, too.
“The only original fitting left in this room is the window,” says Nash. The decision to remove the only bath in the house and replace it with a generous walk-in shower was surprisingly easy for the family. Firm shower devotees, they knew it would help free up floor space in the small room, which was further helped by moving the doorway, too.
Simple elegance sums up the mood of the family bathroom. In keeping with the rest of the property, the decor features pale tones, with terrazzo tiles adding a touch of texture, and simple materials that have been beautifully finished. The reeded glass shower screen is edged in brass to tie in with the high-quality fittings used elsewhere in the room.
A downstairs bathroom was created as part of the ground-floor redesign and new kitchen extension. The concrete surfaces, a fluted concrete basin and solid brass fittings are a subtle nod to the pieces used elsewhere in the house.
Your turn
What do you like about this beautifully renovated Victorian home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for your own renovation inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great British redesign? Check out this London Houzz: An Apartment Revived With Colour and Personality
Your turn
What do you like about this beautifully renovated Victorian home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for your own renovation inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great British redesign? Check out this London Houzz: An Apartment Revived With Colour and Personality
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Stunning renovation. Love the chosen textures and shapes and the clever surround of the fireplace in the bedroom.
And just anyone in England can afford it! People are so stupid not to do it!
Love the glazed extension in the kitchen & the wardrobes in the main bedroom - thank you for sharing :-)