Reinvented Victorian Town House


The property A five-storey Victorian town house.
Location West London.

The space A shower room, gym and utility space in the basement, and three bedrooms, a children’s living room, kitchen and bathroom on the lower ground floor. On the ground floor, there’s a cloakroom, library, living room, dining space, kitchen and external stairs leading to the garden. The first floor has three bedrooms, an office and bathroom. The master bedroom, with dressing room and en suite is on the top floor.

The sleek units contrast with the decorative cornicing and natural-wood finishes. "We love mixing old and new and, while we needed to completely renovate the house, we wanted to be sympathetic to its origins," says Serena. Eye-level shelves are a good alternative to wall-hung units, giving a more relaxed look.

The window frames were stripped and left rough, which adds a warm, country-cool look to the kitchen and complements the floor.

Glass doors slide back to create a dining room that’s more like one big balcony, says Serena. We chose garden-style furniture to emphasise the feeling of being outside.

By sticking to a neutral palette, the cool mix of 20th-century designs has cohesion, and Johnny’s film poster really stands out. Serena added the fireplace to create a grand focal point.

By recessing a large flatscreen TV into the wall and adding plenty of low-level storage which doubles as seating, the ground-floor family room can either be a cosy gathering spot or a party venue. The couple bought the light installation at an auction.

"This is my sanctuary," says Serena. An antique rug with elegantly faded colours softens the pine boards, while the romance of the exposed beams is given edge with a funky poster of Jimi Hendrix.

Johnny needed lots of shelving to store his collection of photography books, so floor-to-ceiling units were built into the room.

Floor-to-ceiling shelving creates the ideal storage solution in the master bedroom, while a comfy chair is ideal for a spot of reading.

The long sandstone sink was specially made for Serena and Johnny’s bathroom, and matches the colours of the flooring. Muted mosaic tiles add elegant contrast. "We wanted our bathroom to be completely tranquil," says Serena. A panel of glass screens the sleek shower space.

Rustic materials mix with minimal-cool brassware to create a hint of warm, cottage mood in the bathroom. "I love texture and allowing the beauty of natural materials to shine," saya Serena.
Open shelves allow the bare brick wall to take centre stage in this guest bedroom, while a burst of hot colour is introduced with the light fitting.
A bespoke bed has been built for the couple’s daughter, with a play area underneath the bed that can be shut off with curtains.
Source : Livingetc