A Master Suite Where Tradition and Comfort Meet
A Georgian townhouse in London gets a luxurious new bedroom and bath
Sarah Warwick
July 15, 2018
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines and websites. A serial house revamper, I love great design, beautiful interiors and practical solutions.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines... More
Original features are prized — and sometimes even protected by law to ensure that they aren’t lost to future generations. That was the case with this London townhouse, so when the owners decided to turn the second floor into their bedroom and bathroom suite, they had to preserve the historic elements.
But how could they create contemporary functionality and style while working with the building’s assets? For answers, the owners turned to design studio Run for the Hills.
But how could they create contemporary functionality and style while working with the building’s assets? For answers, the owners turned to design studio Run for the Hills.
Photos by Katya de Grunwald
Master Suite at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple and their two young daughters
Location: Islington, north London
Size: 18 by 14 feet (5.5 by 4.2 meters) for the bedroom and 12½ by 11 feet (3.8 by 3.3 meters) for the bathroom
Designer: Run for the Hills
The second floor of the Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse had huge potential as a master bedroom and en suite. However, the protected status of the building, which has five bedrooms and three baths, imposed a number of restrictions.
“We couldn’t change or block up a door, and the cabinetry, which looks fitted, is actually self-supporting, as we couldn’t change or move [baseboards],” says Anna Burles, creative director of Run for the Hills. Attaching things to the original walls, coving and paneling was also prohibited in the listed building consent.
Master Suite at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple and their two young daughters
Location: Islington, north London
Size: 18 by 14 feet (5.5 by 4.2 meters) for the bedroom and 12½ by 11 feet (3.8 by 3.3 meters) for the bathroom
Designer: Run for the Hills
The second floor of the Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse had huge potential as a master bedroom and en suite. However, the protected status of the building, which has five bedrooms and three baths, imposed a number of restrictions.
“We couldn’t change or block up a door, and the cabinetry, which looks fitted, is actually self-supporting, as we couldn’t change or move [baseboards],” says Anna Burles, creative director of Run for the Hills. Attaching things to the original walls, coving and paneling was also prohibited in the listed building consent.
The wooden floorboards threw up another hurdle. “They are completely wonky,” Burles says, “but the owners loved the floor, so we sanded it back.”
A big bed was a must-have for the tall owners, so the designers planned the room from this starting point, bearing in mind the need for access around the original shutters and the old radiators beneath the windows.
A big bed was a must-have for the tall owners, so the designers planned the room from this starting point, bearing in mind the need for access around the original shutters and the old radiators beneath the windows.
“We realized there was only space for dinky bedside tables,” Burles says. “Hence, we created a niche with space for charging a phone and a laptop. The bedside tables are for a cup of tea and a book.”
Pendant bedside lights are space savers too, and they emphasize the lofty proportions of the room.
Bedside table: Graham & Green; brass pendant lights: Bert Frank; browse similar pendants
Pendant bedside lights are space savers too, and they emphasize the lofty proportions of the room.
Bedside table: Graham & Green; brass pendant lights: Bert Frank; browse similar pendants
The couple wanted a color scheme that didn’t play it safe or look dull. So against a background of warm gray walls and cabinetry is a bold teal headboard. Other furniture pieces are in warmly tinted rosewood.
The super-king bed is dressed in layered linens to create textural interest and introduce pattern. The headboard’s studded finish adds a tailored element.
Paint: Purbeck Stone (cabinetry) and Wimborne White (walls): Farrow & Ball; headboard: Loaf
The super-king bed is dressed in layered linens to create textural interest and introduce pattern. The headboard’s studded finish adds a tailored element.
Paint: Purbeck Stone (cabinetry) and Wimborne White (walls): Farrow & Ball; headboard: Loaf
Shaker-style paneling conceals extensive storage on the wall behind the headboard. “The doors have a push-click opening, and then a light comes on,” Burles says.
The cabinets can house lots of things, including shoes and family paperwork. Even the area behind the headboard is useful, retained for documents that need to be kept but rarely accessed.
The cabinetry at the far right of the photo is wardrobe space.
The cabinets can house lots of things, including shoes and family paperwork. Even the area behind the headboard is useful, retained for documents that need to be kept but rarely accessed.
The cabinetry at the far right of the photo is wardrobe space.
The house faces a garden square, so the couple didn’t feel the need for an additional window treatment alongside the shutters. However, the layers of paint that had accumulated through time meant that the shutters needed sanding to work properly.
A midcentury bench at the foot of the bed adds to the collection of vintage furniture in the room. Besides bringing another historic layer to the design, it’s a functional spot for reading a bedtime story to the children or laying out clothes.
The designers found a Capiz shell lampshade for the ceiling light. “It’s substantial but still feels light and airy,” Burles says. Between the windows is an antique cigar cabinet.
Shutter paint: Wimborne White, Farrow & Ball; bench and pendant lampshade: Pamono
A midcentury bench at the foot of the bed adds to the collection of vintage furniture in the room. Besides bringing another historic layer to the design, it’s a functional spot for reading a bedtime story to the children or laying out clothes.
The designers found a Capiz shell lampshade for the ceiling light. “It’s substantial but still feels light and airy,” Burles says. Between the windows is an antique cigar cabinet.
Shutter paint: Wimborne White, Farrow & Ball; bench and pendant lampshade: Pamono
A fun and textural feather decoration hangs above the cigar cabinet. “The windows are such a hero element, it needed something strong to create a focal point,” Burles says.
Feather decoration: Graham & Green
Feather decoration: Graham & Green
The marble fireplace simply needed cleaning to bring back its good looks, and the brickwork inside was spruced up too.
A tall mirror next to the fireplace makes the most of the room’s height.
Find a floor mirror
A tall mirror next to the fireplace makes the most of the room’s height.
Find a floor mirror
The designers placed a 1960s Danish chest of drawers — in rosewood and with beautiful metal handles — in the alcove to the left of the fireplace. It made the unevenness of the floor obvious. “We had all kinds of jazz to make it stand right,” Burles says.
The entrance to the bedroom is through the bathroom. The listed building consent meant that the door to the bedroom couldn’t be altered, but it’s blocked by a piece of art, leaving this as the only access for a more private arrangement.
As the way into the suite, and because it’s visible from the bedroom, the bathroom had to be a showstopper. The layout presented a challenge, with a fireplace, alcoves and an original radiator under the picture window to work the elements around.
Shower enclosure: Fabco Sanctuary; lampshade: 1stdibs
As the way into the suite, and because it’s visible from the bedroom, the bathroom had to be a showstopper. The layout presented a challenge, with a fireplace, alcoves and an original radiator under the picture window to work the elements around.
Shower enclosure: Fabco Sanctuary; lampshade: 1stdibs
The tall owners needed a high shower, but that wasn’t the sole consideration. “The enclosure had to be a real focal point,” Burles says.
The team chose a framed glass design that features clear glass on two sides with reeded glass for privacy on the toilet side. To adhere to the listed building consent, a false wall had to be built for it to be positioned against.
10 Reasons to Go for Black-Framed Shower Doors
The team chose a framed glass design that features clear glass on two sides with reeded glass for privacy on the toilet side. To adhere to the listed building consent, a false wall had to be built for it to be positioned against.
10 Reasons to Go for Black-Framed Shower Doors
The location of the sinks was determined by the room’s original features and the need to create flow through the space. The designers put the vanity in the center of the room between the shower enclosure and the fireplace. It’s made from a vintage rosewood sideboard.
The mirrors needed to be high up for the owners, and thin enough to fit neatly on the vanity. An extra towel bar is cleverly positioned on the back.
Faucets: Tapwell
The mirrors needed to be high up for the owners, and thin enough to fit neatly on the vanity. An extra towel bar is cleverly positioned on the back.
Faucets: Tapwell
A cut-to-size piece of slate protects the surface of the repurposed sideboard.
The sinks are made of Carrara marble and tie in with the bedroom’s marble fireplace. The sideboard needed reinforcing to bear the weight of the sinks.
Sinks: Living’ROC
The sinks are made of Carrara marble and tie in with the bedroom’s marble fireplace. The sideboard needed reinforcing to bear the weight of the sinks.
Sinks: Living’ROC
The false wall at the back of the shower was finished with custom tiles that allowed interesting configurations of dark and light tones and arrow shapes.
Antique brass fixtures are sympathetic to the period property. “There’s no chrome, even down to the loo roll holder,” Burles says.
Tiles: Smink Things; shower controls: The Watermark Collection
More
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Antique brass fixtures are sympathetic to the period property. “There’s no chrome, even down to the loo roll holder,” Burles says.
Tiles: Smink Things; shower controls: The Watermark Collection
More
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Dream Bedroom
Find an interior designer
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Really odd layout, no flow or cohesion, jumbled up, feel the beautiful old place has been ruined.
Really weird layout, looks jumbled up, no flow, feel like the beautiful old SPCA has been ruined.
Gorgeous. I love old houses as they are full of surprises and aren't obvious and sterile like modern dwellings. The bedroom outlook is splendid, and I love the iron balcony balustrade.