Houzz Tour: Elegant Hues and Classic Design Transform a Townhouse
Relaxed style meets traditional sophistication in this family home in the heart of London
It’s difficult to imagine that the interior of this elegant London townhouse was once a worn-out place with peach walls, heavy curtains and a threadbare carpet.
“It was very dated when I got my hands on it,” says designer Lisette Voute, who was recommended by a friend of a friend for the job. “It had undergone years and years of wear and tear. The house hadn’t been touched since the 1980s, so it needed a lot of work. However, it’s a Victorian [row house] with 14-foot-high ceilings and original moldings, coving and fireplaces, so it had a nice set of bones.”
“It was very dated when I got my hands on it,” says designer Lisette Voute, who was recommended by a friend of a friend for the job. “It had undergone years and years of wear and tear. The house hadn’t been touched since the 1980s, so it needed a lot of work. However, it’s a Victorian [row house] with 14-foot-high ceilings and original moldings, coving and fireplaces, so it had a nice set of bones.”
The living room benefits from beautiful original moldings that define the high ceiling, as well as a marble fireplace surround, which Voute finished off with antique brass sconces.
Built-in bookcases that flank the fireplace were repainted in white eggshell, while the large sofa in pale blue linen ties in with the elegant color palette.
Built-in bookcases that flank the fireplace were repainted in white eggshell, while the large sofa in pale blue linen ties in with the elegant color palette.
The tufted armchair is an original piece that belonged to the owners.
“The antique side table paired with a more modern stone lamp provides a fun, quirky combination,” Voute says. “I also love embroidery in my fabrics, which you can see on the cushions.”
Stone lamp: Neptune
“The antique side table paired with a more modern stone lamp provides a fun, quirky combination,” Voute says. “I also love embroidery in my fabrics, which you can see on the cushions.”
Stone lamp: Neptune
A pair of tall sash windows allows the light to flood in.
“We covered the desk chair’s seat in a linen — the same as on one of the sofas,” Voute says. “The curtains are more duck-egg green in color, but with a really fun, soft pattern. The celadon gourd lamp ties it all together.”
Upholstery fabric: Romo
Upholstery fabric: Romo
The house is filled with a mix of antique finds and new pieces, illustrated nicely by this antique sewing table topped with a modern stone lamp.
“It’s hit and miss when you hunt around in antiques shops, but you might just find that one thing that fits,” Voute says, “and it does make an interior special.”
“It’s hit and miss when you hunt around in antiques shops, but you might just find that one thing that fits,” Voute says, “and it does make an interior special.”
Voute wanted to make a feature of the home’s tall, narrow staircase.
“There are so many stairs, and the owners spend so much time going up and down them, that we decided to add interest by papering the walls,” she says. “This way you really notice the height of the space and it creates something beautiful and interesting to look at. The wallpaper has a big pattern in a creamy-silvery abstract floral —not overly busy or too traditional, but muted enough to relax in the house.”
Wallpaper: Zoffany
“There are so many stairs, and the owners spend so much time going up and down them, that we decided to add interest by papering the walls,” she says. “This way you really notice the height of the space and it creates something beautiful and interesting to look at. The wallpaper has a big pattern in a creamy-silvery abstract floral —not overly busy or too traditional, but muted enough to relax in the house.”
Wallpaper: Zoffany
The compact but convenient eat-in kitchen at the back of the house was revamped with a fresh coat of paint, new knobs and granite counters.
“The original kitchen had good-quality wooden [cabinets], so we decided to keep them and paint them in a warm off-white rather than spending a lot of money on new ones,” Voute says.
Dark oak chairs complement the flooring (which replaced old linoleum tiles), while the Roman blind fabric matches the chair cushions.
“The pendant light is one of my favorite pieces in the entire house,” Voute says. “It adds an industrial edge that’s fresh and urban.”
“The original kitchen had good-quality wooden [cabinets], so we decided to keep them and paint them in a warm off-white rather than spending a lot of money on new ones,” Voute says.
Dark oak chairs complement the flooring (which replaced old linoleum tiles), while the Roman blind fabric matches the chair cushions.
“The pendant light is one of my favorite pieces in the entire house,” Voute says. “It adds an industrial edge that’s fresh and urban.”
Upstairs, the master bedroom with en suite bathroom is sited over the living room at the front of the house.
“I wanted to paint the walls navy,” Voute says. “There’s already so much white with the built-in wardrobes, bookcases, window and door frames, so I thought navy would really make the room pop and wouldn’t appear too dark.”
However, the owners were nervous about the color and wanted to stick with something similar to the turquoise that was already there. “I convinced them to go with an updated version of the color, which has a grayer undertone.”
Wall paint: Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball
“I wanted to paint the walls navy,” Voute says. “There’s already so much white with the built-in wardrobes, bookcases, window and door frames, so I thought navy would really make the room pop and wouldn’t appear too dark.”
However, the owners were nervous about the color and wanted to stick with something similar to the turquoise that was already there. “I convinced them to go with an updated version of the color, which has a grayer undertone.”
Wall paint: Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball
Voute cleverly personalized the Gustavian-style bed by reupholstering the headboard in a decorative fabric.
“The bed would have been all beige otherwise. The new fabric adds detail and pattern to the room,” she says
Bed: Neptune; headboard fabric: Zimmer & Rohde
“The bed would have been all beige otherwise. The new fabric adds detail and pattern to the room,” she says
Bed: Neptune; headboard fabric: Zimmer & Rohde
Swing-arm wall lights act as both handy bedside lamps and reading lights.
The luxuriously thick floral curtains match the headboard.
Touches of brighter colors bring the design to life. “The blue is warmed up with sunny yellow splashes around the room — on cushions, stools and chairs,” Voute says.
Curtain fabric: Zimmer & Rohde
Touches of brighter colors bring the design to life. “The blue is warmed up with sunny yellow splashes around the room — on cushions, stools and chairs,” Voute says.
Curtain fabric: Zimmer & Rohde
An original marble fireplace surround is framed by built-in bookcases. “The bookcases and built-in wardrobe were already there — we simply refurbished them,” the designer says.
The classic master bath was overhauled with dark blue paint and a new marble vanity top and floor tiles.
“This is where I got my navy fix,” Voute says. “The cabinets used to be white and got very dirty, so the dark blue makes it more practical, but stunning at the same time.”
Mirror frames were painted to match and are offset with nickel wall lights.
Faucets: Lefroy Brooks
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“This is where I got my navy fix,” Voute says. “The cabinets used to be white and got very dirty, so the dark blue makes it more practical, but stunning at the same time.”
Mirror frames were painted to match and are offset with nickel wall lights.
Faucets: Lefroy Brooks
Check out more vanities
The mix of navy blue and marble creates a classic and elegant palette.
The twin bedroom on the third floor is a large space for the owners’ two sons.
“I didn’t want everything too blue,” Voute says. “The red and yellow color scheme with tribal patterns is young, warm and fresh, and quite unexpected.”
The bed bases and upholstered headboards are finished with antique studding to add texture.
“I love the ikat fabric on the blinds. It’s a really cool pattern and you get to see more of the fabric than with curtains,” Voute says. “I found the kilim rug in another part of the house. It’s the perfect size and print for this room.”
Ikat fabric: Andrew Martin; pillow fabric: Lee Jofa
“I didn’t want everything too blue,” Voute says. “The red and yellow color scheme with tribal patterns is young, warm and fresh, and quite unexpected.”
The bed bases and upholstered headboards are finished with antique studding to add texture.
“I love the ikat fabric on the blinds. It’s a really cool pattern and you get to see more of the fabric than with curtains,” Voute says. “I found the kilim rug in another part of the house. It’s the perfect size and print for this room.”
Ikat fabric: Andrew Martin; pillow fabric: Lee Jofa
An antique chest of drawers with beautiful brass drop handles is balanced by botanical prints in antique black and gold frames.
Wall paint: Pointing, Farrow & Ball
Wall paint: Pointing, Farrow & Ball
The existing vanity in the twin bedroom is “really handy for the boys to clean their teeth,” so Voute simply overhauled it with a new paint color, undercounter sink and marble top.
“We finished it off with an antique oak bedroom mirror, rather than a more clinical bathroom version.”
Vanity paint: Picture Gallery Red, Farrow & Ball
“We finished it off with an antique oak bedroom mirror, rather than a more clinical bathroom version.”
Vanity paint: Picture Gallery Red, Farrow & Ball
A delicate blend of lavender walls, linen-colored nightstands and soft, geo-print cushions creates a soothing yet fresh design in the guest room.
“It’s my favorite color scheme and I love the beautiful lavender, blue and yellow mix,” Voute says. “We painted the simple guest bed in a bluer shade of lavender to offset it against the wall. You always need at least two colors in a room.”
Wall paint: French Grey, Dulux Trade; nightstand: Oka
“It’s my favorite color scheme and I love the beautiful lavender, blue and yellow mix,” Voute says. “We painted the simple guest bed in a bluer shade of lavender to offset it against the wall. You always need at least two colors in a room.”
Wall paint: French Grey, Dulux Trade; nightstand: Oka
The family bathroom on the first floor follows the same deep blue and marble palette as the master. “I like having some uniformity throughout a house,” Voute says. “It’s a nice way to pair the furnishings and create a quality finish.”
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Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Pimlico area of central London
Size: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designer: Lisette Voute of Lisette Voute Designs
The three-story Victorian townhouse needed complete refurbishment throughout. “It’s been a total transformation,” Voute says. “We didn’t need to make any structural changes, but we did gut every room, from the flooring through to the lighting, painted everything and rewired a lot of the house.”
The designer describes the look as transitional style that’s classic without being traditional or frilly. The living room is decorated in a duck-egg-blue scheme with a neutral, sisal herringbone carpet throughout.
“It’s a more modern carpet than the typical sandy beige sisal, and the grayer tones keep it both fresh and a bit more casual,” Voute says. “It’s also very versatile and can work with most color schemes.”
Carpet: Sinclair Till