Houzz Tour: An Airy Addition Gives an 1890s Home New Attitude
By adding on to his Victorian home, a London designer gains space for texture, heirlooms and a dose of minimalist style
Remodeling an old house can be complicated, but interior designer Stephen Nash fortunately was able to draw on his experience when it came to revamping the 1890s red-brick cottage he’d bought with his wife, Miranda. The project, which included a two-story addition, required more work than a newer place would have, but the effort paid off, resulting in a spacious, light-filled home full of texture and character.
That the couple wanted to avoid having columns in the open-plan space was another factor in the decision, but it enabled them to create a light, airy living space that’s easy to move around.
“We wanted the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area to be the main hub for entertaining and everyday use,” Stephen says.
The kitchen is in the rear left-hand corner of the room. “There’s a long wall here, so it meant we could put a run of units along it,” he says.
On the right side, a tall cabinet houses the water heater, fuse box and plumbing controls. On the left is the refrigerator.
For the end of the kitchen corridor, Stephen designed a window where people can sit and talk to the cook.
“We wanted the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area to be the main hub for entertaining and everyday use,” Stephen says.
The kitchen is in the rear left-hand corner of the room. “There’s a long wall here, so it meant we could put a run of units along it,” he says.
On the right side, a tall cabinet houses the water heater, fuse box and plumbing controls. On the left is the refrigerator.
For the end of the kitchen corridor, Stephen designed a window where people can sit and talk to the cook.
The custom cabinetry was made by Gregos Builders and Contractors, which also handled the construction.
“It’s quite a minimal design, with very narrow beading around the edge, and handles the same size as the trim,” Stephen says. “The exposed brick and steel supports elsewhere are quite busy, so this offers a nice balance.”
Black Blue cabinet paint: Farrow & Ball
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“It’s quite a minimal design, with very narrow beading around the edge, and handles the same size as the trim,” Stephen says. “The exposed brick and steel supports elsewhere are quite busy, so this offers a nice balance.”
Black Blue cabinet paint: Farrow & Ball
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The countertops on both sides of the range are made of terrazzo, while the 10¾-foot-long island is covered with reclaimed parquet flooring.
“This was the first thing I’d decided on before we planned the renovation,” Stephen says. “It was a nightmare to do, but well worth it.”
Stephen and the builders spent hours cleaning the wood. Then the builders glued each piece individually and sealed the countertop with oil to make it water-resistant.
“This was the first thing I’d decided on before we planned the renovation,” Stephen says. “It was a nightmare to do, but well worth it.”
Stephen and the builders spent hours cleaning the wood. Then the builders glued each piece individually and sealed the countertop with oil to make it water-resistant.
Terrazzo frames the sink area to keep it waterproof. “I chose a terrazzo with brownish flecks to take into account the oak it was sitting next to,” Stephen says.
Evo brass kitchen faucet: Tapwell; find similar faucets
See how to use terrazzo around the home
Evo brass kitchen faucet: Tapwell; find similar faucets
See how to use terrazzo around the home
Above the island is a hanging shelf made of Carrara marble. “We had to drill through the steels to support it with brass chain fixings,” Stephen says. “It’s a nice place to display [odds and ends] and have plants hanging down.”
Stephen found the 1950s German pendant lights at an antiques market. “The industrial Bakelite finish adds another texture to the room,” he says. “As the whole space is white and gray, I’ve added interest with texture.”
Stephen found the 1950s German pendant lights at an antiques market. “The industrial Bakelite finish adds another texture to the room,” he says. “As the whole space is white and gray, I’ve added interest with texture.”
The couple installed heating beneath the micro cement flooring. “The concrete works incredibly well with the underfloor heating,” Stephen says. “It’s cool in summer and nice and warm in winter.”
Steel-framed French windows and side panels line the back wall. “They’re beautiful and let in so much light,” he says.
Micro cement flooring: Kote London; steel doors: IDF Aluminium
Steel-framed French windows and side panels line the back wall. “They’re beautiful and let in so much light,” he says.
Micro cement flooring: Kote London; steel doors: IDF Aluminium
“In this big room, we wanted to make a chill-out area where you can [turn on the TV] while someone’s cooking dinner,” Stephen says. A modular sofa sits in front of a cozy wood-burning stove and a stylish television. The thin cement coating runs up the chimney surround to match the floor.
Stephen is particularly fond of the TV. “It took me awhile to convince Miranda to buy it, but it’s the only TV I’ve seen that’s beautiful enough to have on show,” he says.
Wood-burning stove: The London Stove Co.; Mags modular sofa: Hay; Serif TV: Samsung
Stephen is particularly fond of the TV. “It took me awhile to convince Miranda to buy it, but it’s the only TV I’ve seen that’s beautiful enough to have on show,” he says.
Wood-burning stove: The London Stove Co.; Mags modular sofa: Hay; Serif TV: Samsung
The Ercol dining table and chairs are secondhand finds. At the back of the space, a G Plan sideboard, which belonged to Stephen’s grandmother, provides useful storage for dishware.
Dining table and chairs: Everything but the Dog
Dining table and chairs: Everything but the Dog
Next to the large open-plan living space is a smaller, more formal living room. “We wanted this room to have a softer feel, so we went for a gray chevron floor,” Stephen says.
Deep blue-green walls surround a terra-cotta velvet sofa and two midcentury chairs. The coffee table once belonged to Stephen’s grandmother.
Sofa: The Conran Shop; Chevron collection floor: Kährs; midcentury chairs: Everything but the Dog; Livid wall paint: Little Greene
Deep blue-green walls surround a terra-cotta velvet sofa and two midcentury chairs. The coffee table once belonged to Stephen’s grandmother.
Sofa: The Conran Shop; Chevron collection floor: Kährs; midcentury chairs: Everything but the Dog; Livid wall paint: Little Greene
In the fireplace alcoves opposite the sofa are custom bookcases with LED strips positioned along the shelves. The cabinets are identical to the kitchen cabinets, but they’re painted to match the living room walls.
“We decided to expose the brickwork around the fire opening, which worked out well,” Stephen says. “We chose a gas fire in here, as we wanted to be able to walk in and turn it on easily.”
“We decided to expose the brickwork around the fire opening, which worked out well,” Stephen says. “We chose a gas fire in here, as we wanted to be able to walk in and turn it on easily.”
In the powder room, Stephen chose a vibrant wallpaper. A 1960s luggage rack with coat hooks and hat storage is ideal for stowing any overflow of outerwear from the hallway.
Spotted Plum wallpaper: Martyn Thompson Studio
Spotted Plum wallpaper: Martyn Thompson Studio
The hallway has a traditional feel, with paneling and dark blue walls. “The front of the house is the original part, as opposed to the newer section at the back,” Stephen says. “I wanted the design of each area to be in keeping with its exterior.
“The stairs were a happy accident,” he adds. “Once we’d taken the carpet off, we just couldn’t think of anything we liked the look of more than this exposed wood, so we left it as it was.”
Squid Ink wall paint: Paint and Paper Library
“The stairs were a happy accident,” he adds. “Once we’d taken the carpet off, we just couldn’t think of anything we liked the look of more than this exposed wood, so we left it as it was.”
Squid Ink wall paint: Paint and Paper Library
The house has a few styles of roof — gable, pitched and flat —so the mismatched ceilings presented a challenge when it came to painting the landing. The couple had chosen this nude plaster color for the walls, which they really loved. However, it would have looked quite confusing to paint up to the different angles and heights of the ceiling.
“By keeping the top section white, we could unify the different ceilings and make it feel as one,” Stephen says.
The vintage desk at the top of the stairs is handy for evening work. “This is my 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. desk,” says Stephen, laughing, “and it’s also the cats’ favorite perch.”
Setting Plaster wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Snow White floorboard wax: Osmo
“By keeping the top section white, we could unify the different ceilings and make it feel as one,” Stephen says.
The vintage desk at the top of the stairs is handy for evening work. “This is my 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. desk,” says Stephen, laughing, “and it’s also the cats’ favorite perch.”
Setting Plaster wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Snow White floorboard wax: Osmo
The house didn’t have a bathroom when the couple bought it, so the addition enabled them to include one.
“It was quite hard to plan,” Stephen says. “We had to cut a portion off another room, take out the chimney, vault the ceiling and add steel bars to support the chimney above.”
The couple also installed a skylight, which helps fill this lofty room with plenty of daylight.
“It’s quite a small room, but we wanted a separate shower,” Stephen says. “So we tanked the whole space to turn it into a watertight wet room.”
A screen protects the toilet, and the rest of the room contains water-resistant materials.
Exposed brick on the left and on the chimney contrasts with two walls of micro cement in a slightly darker color than that used downstairs. A concrete sink sits atop a hardwood vanity, which is painted in a high gloss.
On the floor, honed Carrara marble tiles add another layer of interest. Brass fixtures and a copper pipe towel warmer bring warmth to the space.
“It’s quite a small room, but we wanted a separate shower,” Stephen says. “So we tanked the whole space to turn it into a watertight wet room.”
A screen protects the toilet, and the rest of the room contains water-resistant materials.
Exposed brick on the left and on the chimney contrasts with two walls of micro cement in a slightly darker color than that used downstairs. A concrete sink sits atop a hardwood vanity, which is painted in a high gloss.
On the floor, honed Carrara marble tiles add another layer of interest. Brass fixtures and a copper pipe towel warmer bring warmth to the space.
Towel warmer: Plank & Pipe; sink: White Wolf; brass fixtures: Bert & May
The split color idea continues into the master bedroom, where a light gray shade finishes in line with the top of the door frame.
The picture propped on the midcentury sideboard is a vintage poster. “My wife thought the people in it looked like us, so we just had to get it,” says Stephen, laughing.
A pale orange throw, brought home from a vacation in Greece, adds color to the bed.
Pale gray alpaca throw: The Conran Shop; Cotton V wall paint: Paint and Paper Library
The picture propped on the midcentury sideboard is a vintage poster. “My wife thought the people in it looked like us, so we just had to get it,” says Stephen, laughing.
A pale orange throw, brought home from a vacation in Greece, adds color to the bed.
Pale gray alpaca throw: The Conran Shop; Cotton V wall paint: Paint and Paper Library
Stephen designed a vanity for Miranda in the shallow central area of the custom closet wall. “She can do her makeup here, then close the doors to hide everything away,” he says.
In the second bedroom, the area to the right of the exposed brick wall is part of the addition. The room is full of vintage finds and midcentury furniture.
In the third bedroom, Stephen removed five layers to expose an original fireplace.
The picture above the bed is an oil painting by Miranda. “She hates that I framed it, but I genuinely love it,” he says.
Bedding: Habitat; Down Pipe fireplace paint: Farrow & Ball
The picture above the bed is an oil painting by Miranda. “She hates that I framed it, but I genuinely love it,” he says.
Bedding: Habitat; Down Pipe fireplace paint: Farrow & Ball
At the rear of the house, part of the new addition is clad in black cedar, which ties in with the black window frames. “We tried to keep as many of the original sash windows and box frames as possible,” Stephen says.
The original front of the house contrasts with the new area at the back, but the dark woodwork provides a cohesive look.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Stephen Nash and his wife, Miranda, with their two cats
Location: Northeast London
Size: Three bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
When the couple bought the semidetached Victorian home, it was split into lots of rooms. “We wanted to open up the majority of the downstairs as one big space to give it more flow,” Stephen says.
They also wanted to add on to the back of the house, which presented its own challenges. “The engineer was concerned that, with the age of the building and foundations, we needed more structural support,” Stephen says. “We had to take off the entire rear of the house, which was more work than we’d envisioned — but these things happen.”