Houzz Tour: English Victorian Mixes Old and New
An open gathering spot combines beautifully with period features and traditional-looking fixtures in this family home
Sarah Warwick
September 24, 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
Like many Victorians, this house in Hertfordshire, the English county just north of London, has great proportions. What it lacked, though, was a generous space in which the family could gather. It also needed new electrical and plumbing systems — and a new look. “The decor was multicolored,” says interior designer Cherie Lee, who came to the rescue.
It was important for the remodeled interior to be relaxed and comfortable in addition to appearing less chaotic. “The couple didn’t want their children walking on eggshells,” Lee says. Crucial, too, was a design that respected the house’s age while introducing modern touches.
It was important for the remodeled interior to be relaxed and comfortable in addition to appearing less chaotic. “The couple didn’t want their children walking on eggshells,” Lee says. Crucial, too, was a design that respected the house’s age while introducing modern touches.
Photos by Ray Main
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a 6-year-old boy and 3-year-old twin girls
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Size: Six bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designer: Cherie Lee of Cherie Lee Interiors
The house used to have two parlors far removed from the kitchen. Now those rooms are combined in an open-plan living-dining area next to a relocated kitchen. At the far end, a previously dead space is a cozy hangout for the children. “They’re too young to be in a separate room at the moment,” Lee says.
A new skylight boosts the amount of daylight in the open-plan space, brightening the previously dark interior. The rainbow-colored decor, meanwhile, gave way to a neutral scheme that’s soft enough to also offer warmth.
Find an interior designer near you
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a 6-year-old boy and 3-year-old twin girls
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Size: Six bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designer: Cherie Lee of Cherie Lee Interiors
The house used to have two parlors far removed from the kitchen. Now those rooms are combined in an open-plan living-dining area next to a relocated kitchen. At the far end, a previously dead space is a cozy hangout for the children. “They’re too young to be in a separate room at the moment,” Lee says.
A new skylight boosts the amount of daylight in the open-plan space, brightening the previously dark interior. The rainbow-colored decor, meanwhile, gave way to a neutral scheme that’s soft enough to also offer warmth.
Find an interior designer near you
The revamped layout allows the family to entertain groups of all ages. “It’s the hub of the house,” Lee says.
Dining table: Oka; CH24 Wishbone dining chairs: Carl Hansen & Son; Alfred sofa: Sweetpea & Willow
Dining table: Oka; CH24 Wishbone dining chairs: Carl Hansen & Son; Alfred sofa: Sweetpea & Willow
The living area now has a new window on the right and a pivot door that leads outside. “We wanted to mix modern elements into the fabric of the building itself, not just in the furnishings,” Lee says.
Lee introduced a wood-burning stove to help zone the living area and add coziness to the large space. “It really makes you want to gather round the fire,” she says.
The stove is positioned on a polished concrete plinth that works as both a decorative feature and a handy platform to store logs.
Graphic patterns, like the throw and the armchair fabric, add interest to the neutral backdrop.
Armchair: Loaf
The stove is positioned on a polished concrete plinth that works as both a decorative feature and a handy platform to store logs.
Graphic patterns, like the throw and the armchair fabric, add interest to the neutral backdrop.
Armchair: Loaf
Veneer of Reclaimed Brick Provides Texture
An exposed wall was created using thin cuts of reclaimed bricks. Besides bringing in texture and warmth, it adds another traditional element to the Victorian home.
Downton cabinet: Abigail Ahern
An exposed wall was created using thin cuts of reclaimed bricks. Besides bringing in texture and warmth, it adds another traditional element to the Victorian home.
Downton cabinet: Abigail Ahern
The original bay window was rotten, so Lee replaced it with one in the same style and added a window seat underneath, which makes the most of the view to the garden.
“We made sure we weren’t losing the period elements of the house and retained those touches wherever we could,” she says.
Photo Flip: 85 Window Seats for Whiling Away the Day
“We made sure we weren’t losing the period elements of the house and retained those touches wherever we could,” she says.
Photo Flip: 85 Window Seats for Whiling Away the Day
A wall was taken down to create an open layout from the living-dining space to the relocated kitchen.
Lee chose kitchen cabinetry sympathetic to the age of the house but in contemporary colors to continue the fine balance between old and new.
Kitchen cabinetry: Humphrey Munson
Lee chose kitchen cabinetry sympathetic to the age of the house but in contemporary colors to continue the fine balance between old and new.
Kitchen cabinetry: Humphrey Munson
An island was one of the family’s must-haves, ensuring that whoever is in the kitchen doesn’t feel cut off from the entertaining space.
A vintage mirrored backsplash behind the range keeps the room light and reflects a beautiful view of the yard.
Cleo pendant lights: Olive & the Fox; AAS 38 bar stools: Hay
A vintage mirrored backsplash behind the range keeps the room light and reflects a beautiful view of the yard.
Cleo pendant lights: Olive & the Fox; AAS 38 bar stools: Hay
A generous refrigerator-freezer is among a host of appliances. “The kitchen is full of gadgets, but they’re well blended in,” Lee says.
The hall features fabulous original paneling. “It needed restoration because it had taken a bit of a battering,” she says.
A deep gray palette adds warmth. “This area is a little deprived of daylight, and we were never going to make it super light, so we went for something atmospheric and snug instead,” Lee says.
Mole’s Breath woodwork paint: Farrow & Ball; Jutland oak herringbone flooring: Havwoods; Reader armchair in Bumblebee velvet: Loaf
A deep gray palette adds warmth. “This area is a little deprived of daylight, and we were never going to make it super light, so we went for something atmospheric and snug instead,” Lee says.
Mole’s Breath woodwork paint: Farrow & Ball; Jutland oak herringbone flooring: Havwoods; Reader armchair in Bumblebee velvet: Loaf
A large hallway mirror for last-minute checks on the way out was firmly on the owners’ wish list.
The house used to have a mixture of old and new radiators, but Lee replaced them with efficient modern cast-iron designs throughout.
Farol wall light: Bert Frank
The Key Ingredient Your Entry May Be Missing
The house used to have a mixture of old and new radiators, but Lee replaced them with efficient modern cast-iron designs throughout.
Farol wall light: Bert Frank
The Key Ingredient Your Entry May Be Missing
An old storage space became a powder room, allowing a utility room to go where the original powder room used to be. Lee went for a toilet with a period look.
Browse high-tank toilets
Browse high-tank toilets
“It was important to the couple that their bedroom was a relaxed sanctuary,” Lee says. Since the walls are neutral, a hit of teal in the furnishings ensures that the color scheme doesn’t look too bland.
A wood floor provides hotel-style ambiance.
Bed: Sweetpea & Willow; Downton chandelier: Graham and Green
A wood floor provides hotel-style ambiance.
Bed: Sweetpea & Willow; Downton chandelier: Graham and Green
Repeated Patterns Provide Cohesion
The master bedroom en suite features geometric patterns used elsewhere in the house, with the herringbone wall tiles recalling the flooring in the hall and open-plan living space.
The fixtures and faucets, meanwhile, have a traditional feel, nodding to the age of the house.
Subway tiles: Craven Dunnill; hexagonal tiles: Mandarin Stone; faucets: Drummonds
The master bedroom en suite features geometric patterns used elsewhere in the house, with the herringbone wall tiles recalling the flooring in the hall and open-plan living space.
The fixtures and faucets, meanwhile, have a traditional feel, nodding to the age of the house.
Subway tiles: Craven Dunnill; hexagonal tiles: Mandarin Stone; faucets: Drummonds
Small hexagonal tiles around the sink echo those on the shower walls, helping tie the look together.
Sink: Drummonds; wall tiles: Bert & May
Find hexagon mosaic tile
Sink: Drummonds; wall tiles: Bert & May
Find hexagon mosaic tile
The son’s room features muted colors that reflect the Scandinavian-style aesthetic the family likes.
“The bed has a trundle for sleepovers and includes useful storage as well,” Lee says.
Bed: Nubie; Carnival letter lights: Notonthehighstreet
“The bed has a trundle for sleepovers and includes useful storage as well,” Lee says.
Bed: Nubie; Carnival letter lights: Notonthehighstreet
“Building in storage was really important in the son’s room, so we used a big wardrobe with extra drawers,” Lee says.
The original fireplace was missing from this room, so she installed one taken from another room, creating a classic feature. Star wallpaper above the fireplace adds a playful feel.
Wardrobe closet: Cuckooland.com; wallpaper: Peony & Sage; Oval Room Blue wall paint: Farrow & Ball; tepee: Nobodinoz
Browse children’s tepees
The original fireplace was missing from this room, so she installed one taken from another room, creating a classic feature. Star wallpaper above the fireplace adds a playful feel.
Wardrobe closet: Cuckooland.com; wallpaper: Peony & Sage; Oval Room Blue wall paint: Farrow & Ball; tepee: Nobodinoz
Browse children’s tepees
Lee future-proofed the twins’ bedroom. “Pink was the color of the moment, but we didn’t want a room they’d outgrow in a few years, so we only included pink accents, which can be updated to suit as required,” she says.
Beds: Nubie; Glass III wall paint: Paint & Paper Library; Cornforth White trim paint: Farrow & Ball
Beds: Nubie; Glass III wall paint: Paint & Paper Library; Cornforth White trim paint: Farrow & Ball
The previous bathroom had wood paneling — something that didn’t work well with young children. So when it came to this family bathroom, “it was really important that everything was tiled to the max,” Lee says.
The traditional tub shape adds a period feel, while the geometric floor tiles give the space a contemporary update.
Lee designed the color scheme to suit the whole family. “The wall tiles are a blush tone, but I didn’t want to make it too girly,” she says, “so it’s toughened up with black and dark grays.”
Bathtub: BC Designs; floor tiles: Bert & May; wall tiles: Topps Tiles
The traditional tub shape adds a period feel, while the geometric floor tiles give the space a contemporary update.
Lee designed the color scheme to suit the whole family. “The wall tiles are a blush tone, but I didn’t want to make it too girly,” she says, “so it’s toughened up with black and dark grays.”
Bathtub: BC Designs; floor tiles: Bert & May; wall tiles: Topps Tiles
Lee transformed the original kitchen into an office, installing a fireplace from the owners’ former home where a range used to be. In the alcoves alongside, she used custom cabinetry to create hidden storage for files and folders.
Down Pipe fireplace wall paint and Pavilion Gray wall paint: Farrow & Ball
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Down Pipe fireplace wall paint and Pavilion Gray wall paint: Farrow & Ball
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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Stunning
Absolutely stunning home. Love the herring bone flooring and ensuite.
Stunning - love the woodburner! (Not sure it it’s only of our installs)