Houzz Tour: A 1930s House Becomes a Light and Bright Family Space
A revamp of this London home shows how open-plan living can be fun, warm and cozy
French interior designer Joséphine Lecouflé-Vinet redesigned her 1930s home in London by opening up its small, dark rooms. Now the bright house has a flowing layout that the whole family enjoys.
The large room is zoned to break up the space. This dining area, for example, has a wainscot of aubergine paint. “It creates a cozy feel and reminds me of a French bistro,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. The paint matches the color on the seating side of the island.
The carrotlike artwork is a vintage sign designating a French tobacco shop, or tabac. It inspired the orange chairs. “They really brighten up the room, and the plastic makes them easy to clean,” Lecouflé-Vinet says.
The children do their homework and drawing in this space, so Lecouflé-Vinet attached a handy magazine rack to the wall to hold their notebooks and other items the family needs to grab quickly.
Dining table: Habitat; Victoria Ghost chairs: Kartell; Ice chair: Calligaris; magazine rack: Monoqi; wainscot paint: Mulberry Burst, Dulux
Discover how to use color with an open floor plan
The carrotlike artwork is a vintage sign designating a French tobacco shop, or tabac. It inspired the orange chairs. “They really brighten up the room, and the plastic makes them easy to clean,” Lecouflé-Vinet says.
The children do their homework and drawing in this space, so Lecouflé-Vinet attached a handy magazine rack to the wall to hold their notebooks and other items the family needs to grab quickly.
Dining table: Habitat; Victoria Ghost chairs: Kartell; Ice chair: Calligaris; magazine rack: Monoqi; wainscot paint: Mulberry Burst, Dulux
Discover how to use color with an open floor plan
“These ‘house rules’ are a piece of family humor,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “I bought them online as transfers and carefully applied them to the wall. Some of the smaller letters were a bit tricky, so it was a two-person job!
“The children didn’t realize what the last line said until they learned to read,” she adds with a laugh.
To give a finished edge to the aubergine wainscot, Lecouflé-Vinet topped it with a line of washi tape.
“The children didn’t realize what the last line said until they learned to read,” she adds with a laugh.
To give a finished edge to the aubergine wainscot, Lecouflé-Vinet topped it with a line of washi tape.
A gallery of illustrations, which includes work by Lecouflé-Vinet’s illustrator husband, hangs on the wall and adds to the intimate feel of the dining area.
The sandy-gray kitchen cabinets complement the walls. “We wanted them to disappear into the space,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. The island is the perfect spot for convivial cooking. “There’s a lot of space for people to gather, so it’s a very nice place to be,” she says.
Lecouflé-Vinet likes the texture of the oak countertops. Since her husband is tall, they used a leftover piece to make a raised chopping board for him.
Behind the sink is a glass backsplash. “It’s a simple Ikea hack,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “We used two glass notice boards, which worked out much more cost-effective. We can also clip things like shopping lists to them.”
Above are small artworks made from silk-screened tea towels.
Kludd notice boards: Ikea
Find more clever Ikea hacks
Lecouflé-Vinet likes the texture of the oak countertops. Since her husband is tall, they used a leftover piece to make a raised chopping board for him.
Behind the sink is a glass backsplash. “It’s a simple Ikea hack,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “We used two glass notice boards, which worked out much more cost-effective. We can also clip things like shopping lists to them.”
Above are small artworks made from silk-screened tea towels.
Kludd notice boards: Ikea
Find more clever Ikea hacks
The library space at the front of the house is where the family spends quiet time. The colors, inspired by the striped rug, make the zone bright and cheerful.
“We created the bookshelf by buying shelf boxes and holding them together with bulldog clips,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “I painted them in bright colors and used a few interesting books as decorations.”
In the corner is a reproduction of a Louis XV occasional table. “My father is an antiques dealer, and he gave us this as a wedding present,” says the designer. “The gold leaf adds a quirky feel. It’s the perfect spot for displaying artwork that doesn’t really fit with the rest of the space.”
Sofa and floor lamp: Made; shelving cubes: Muji and Ikea; Strib rug (discontinued): Ikea
“We created the bookshelf by buying shelf boxes and holding them together with bulldog clips,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “I painted them in bright colors and used a few interesting books as decorations.”
In the corner is a reproduction of a Louis XV occasional table. “My father is an antiques dealer, and he gave us this as a wedding present,” says the designer. “The gold leaf adds a quirky feel. It’s the perfect spot for displaying artwork that doesn’t really fit with the rest of the space.”
Sofa and floor lamp: Made; shelving cubes: Muji and Ikea; Strib rug (discontinued): Ikea
The flooring throughout the house is natural oak with a wax finish. “I love oak and have used it everywhere,” Lecouflé-Vinet says.
The living room area is in the back of the house. The couple chose a gray sofa, which goes with everything and blends into the space.
Flooring: Wood and Beyond; sofa: Adventures in Furniture
The living room area is in the back of the house. The couple chose a gray sofa, which goes with everything and blends into the space.
Flooring: Wood and Beyond; sofa: Adventures in Furniture
“This chair was a lucky find,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “I found two of them in the street.” The chairs were painted in a dark color and lacked cushions. “I spent the summer sanding the frames and had some cushions made. I’m really pleased with the result,” she says.
To give a snug feel to the large expanse of wall behind, Lecouflé-Vinet painted a dark gray stripe up the corner and along the ceiling. Together with the dark curtain, it visually reduces the wall and creates a cozy corner.
To give a snug feel to the large expanse of wall behind, Lecouflé-Vinet painted a dark gray stripe up the corner and along the ceiling. Together with the dark curtain, it visually reduces the wall and creates a cozy corner.
Lecouflé-Vinet’s desk, situated behind the gray sofa, consists of a pine top attached to table legs.
This pegboard was made from a piece of plywood. “My husband drilled holes into it, and I attached some little shelves,” she says. “I also hung a bulb from a copper house to create a desk lamp.”
Bulb and wire: Heal’s; copper house: Tiger
This pegboard was made from a piece of plywood. “My husband drilled holes into it, and I attached some little shelves,” she says. “I also hung a bulb from a copper house to create a desk lamp.”
Bulb and wire: Heal’s; copper house: Tiger
Next to the desk is a cabinet of curiosities that displays part of Lecouflé-Vinet’s cloche collection and an anatomical drawing. “It’s a fun corner,” she says.
The hallway gave Lecouflé-Vineta a chance to stray from the pale color palette of the rest of the ground floor. She chose an inky shade for the walls, which contrasts well with the white woodwork.
She uses the narrow space along the staircase to hang her collection of mirrors, Victorian silhouettes and old photos.
She uses the narrow space along the staircase to hang her collection of mirrors, Victorian silhouettes and old photos.
The master bedroom is large, so the couple decided to partition it with a headboard wall and create a small bathroom behind. “The room is south-facing and bright, so we could afford to go for a dark blue around the bed,” the designer says. “It creates a cozy sleep area.” The rest of the room is painted in a pearly gray, which reflects the light.
Two pale blue desk lamps sit on mismatched bedside tables, while the bed linen is neutral. “I like plain bedding,” Lecouflé-Vinet adds. “It goes with everything, it feels calm, and you don’t get tired of it. You can then throw on a blanket to add interest.”
Blue wall paint: Monsoon Night, Valspar; gray wall paint: Lavender-Grey Silk, Colourcourage; lamps: Made
Two pale blue desk lamps sit on mismatched bedside tables, while the bed linen is neutral. “I like plain bedding,” Lecouflé-Vinet adds. “It goes with everything, it feels calm, and you don’t get tired of it. You can then throw on a blanket to add interest.”
Blue wall paint: Monsoon Night, Valspar; gray wall paint: Lavender-Grey Silk, Colourcourage; lamps: Made
The en suite has a compact vanity and a shower.
“We found this vanity unit at Ikea,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “We removed the legs to make it easy to keep the area beneath clean.”
Hexagonal stone tiles on the floor provide a textured look. “They’re lovely and soft to walk on,” she adds.
Lantau Grey mosaic tiles: Topps Tiles
“We found this vanity unit at Ikea,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “We removed the legs to make it easy to keep the area beneath clean.”
Hexagonal stone tiles on the floor provide a textured look. “They’re lovely and soft to walk on,” she adds.
Lantau Grey mosaic tiles: Topps Tiles
At the foot of the bed is a wall that hides the staircase. The couple called in a cabinetmaker to make a closet and drawers on one side.
Lecouflé-Vinet swapped the upstairs hinged doors for pocket models. “We couldn’t get a bed into one of the rooms, so that prompted us to change the doors,” she says. “We gained a lot more space.”
Two of the framed pictures in the selection of artworks are actually scarves. “They’re so beautiful, I decided to frame them,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “I also hang the Chanel jacket on the wall hooks. It’s a shame to put it away, and it’s almost like another piece of art.”
Lecouflé-Vinet swapped the upstairs hinged doors for pocket models. “We couldn’t get a bed into one of the rooms, so that prompted us to change the doors,” she says. “We gained a lot more space.”
Two of the framed pictures in the selection of artworks are actually scarves. “They’re so beautiful, I decided to frame them,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “I also hang the Chanel jacket on the wall hooks. It’s a shame to put it away, and it’s almost like another piece of art.”
The family bathroom is small, so Lecouflé-Vinet left it white and bright. “Everything is compact in here and has its own spot,” she says.
The couple also saved space by replacing the tub with a shower.
Bathroom fixtures: Chris Stevens; mosaic tiles: Topps Tiles
The couple also saved space by replacing the tub with a shower.
Bathroom fixtures: Chris Stevens; mosaic tiles: Topps Tiles
For her oldest son’s room, Lecouflé-Vinet chose a palette of blues and grays to create a geometric design on the walls. “It’s fun to add pattern to children’s rooms,” she says, “and the scheme will last him for a few years.”
A small shelf behind the bed provides enough surface for knickknacks and a lamp, while the bed frame has three drawers and a spare bed underneath.
The boy’s collection of wooden animal heads adds an organic feel to the space.
Bed: House Additions via Wayfair; off-white wall paint: Egyptian Cotton, Dulux; light and dark blue-green wall paint: Eau du Nil and Barbados Blue, Colours via B&Q; blue-gray wall paint: Vintage Blue, Valspar
A small shelf behind the bed provides enough surface for knickknacks and a lamp, while the bed frame has three drawers and a spare bed underneath.
The boy’s collection of wooden animal heads adds an organic feel to the space.
Bed: House Additions via Wayfair; off-white wall paint: Egyptian Cotton, Dulux; light and dark blue-green wall paint: Eau du Nil and Barbados Blue, Colours via B&Q; blue-gray wall paint: Vintage Blue, Valspar
“This room is very small,” says Lecouflé-Vinet of her youngest son’s bedroom, “so we put storage high on the wall.” The designer arranged various cabinets and shelves in an attractive Mondrian-style design.
The table at the head of the bed maximizes the space, and the boy now has enough room to fit in a spare bed for sleepovers.
Wall paint: Egyptian Cotton, Dulux; bed: House Additions via Wayfair; storage: Ikea
Look to Mondrian’s paintings for inspiration
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The table at the head of the bed maximizes the space, and the boy now has enough room to fit in a spare bed for sleepovers.
Wall paint: Egyptian Cotton, Dulux; bed: House Additions via Wayfair; storage: Ikea
Look to Mondrian’s paintings for inspiration
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Joséphine Lecouflé-Vinet of JLV Design, her husband and two sons
Location: Muswell Hill, London
Size: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
When Lecouflé-Vinet and her family moved into their 1930s home, the ground floor consisted of a succession of small, dark rooms. “We wanted to create a family space where we could communicate and live together in harmony,” she says.
They achieved this by removing walls to turn the area into an open-plan space. The starting point for the design was the kitchen. “We wanted the hub of the house to be the kitchen, so we placed it right in the middle,” Lecouflé-Vinet says. “I like to cook and wanted to be able to communicate with the rest of the family while they were in the other areas.”
Kitchen cabinets and counters: Wren Kitchens; wall paint: Egyptian Cotton, Dulux