Houzz Tour: A Historic Townhouse Gets a Modern Makeover
Iconic architecture meets high-end design in this 5-story London redo with a bold glass addition
With its picture-book Regency architecture and dreamy location in London’s Little Venice, the interior of this late-19th-century terrace house, or row house, at the end of a block has a lot to live up to. And it exceeds expectations. The substantial family home is both stunning and practical, thanks to an all-encompassing interior redesign by Tavis Wright of DOS Architects. His top-to-bottom transformation had its greatest impact on the lower level, where boxy rooms were opened up and a modern glass addition was put in. “The previous owners hadn’t really used this floor, but now it’s the family’s main living space,” Wright says.
A large, colorful rug defines the living room in the open-plan lower level, which also features the kitchen and dining area. Symmetrical twin sofas and matching alcove seats on either side of the fireplace lend a crisp, smart look, with textiles adding a cozy touch and a sculptural pendant light creating a contemporary feel.
Mamounia Sky rug: The Rug Company; Ray sofas: B&B Italia;
Lumi mirror: Skandium; Heerenhuis Mesa console table: Clippings, also available from Different Like a Zoo; Beat pendant light: Tom Dixon
Mamounia Sky rug: The Rug Company; Ray sofas: B&B Italia;
Lumi mirror: Skandium; Heerenhuis Mesa console table: Clippings, also available from Different Like a Zoo; Beat pendant light: Tom Dixon
Although there are some original features, such as the marble fireplace, this floor is far less ornate than the one above. It also has direct access to the yard, making it the perfect family area. “Upstairs, the house has a more formal feel — it has very high ceilings and all the original moldings. It made sense to make this the main living space,” Wright says.
The custom kitchen is made from MDF clad in stainless steel and features concrete counters. “The homeowner liked the idea of the contrast between a harsh industrial look of stainless steel and concrete and the softer features of the Victorian architecture — it’s worked really well in other projects we’ve done,” Wright says.
The concrete had to be poured and polished in place. “It’s a mighty piece and would have been too heavy to cart around,” Wright says. “The process was quite a labor of love.”
Custom kitchen and concrete counters: Alex Findlater;
Tractor stools: Bassam Fellows
The concrete had to be poured and polished in place. “It’s a mighty piece and would have been too heavy to cart around,” Wright says. “The process was quite a labor of love.”
Custom kitchen and concrete counters: Alex Findlater;
Tractor stools: Bassam Fellows
The unashamedly modern addition is striking against the classic Regency architecture. “It makes a virtue out of the contrast between what’s old and what’s new, rather than trying to get away from it,” Wright says.
The original design for a larger addition had to be modified several times. “The planning process was quite complicated because the house is in a conservation area — in fact, that was more of an issue than its Grade II listed status,” Wright says.
The glass roof is sloped and self-cleaning and there’s a solar filter, making it both practical and low-maintenance.
“The client was clear that they wanted sliding doors, and we were keen on the look of aluminum framing and wanted to try something a bit different,” Wright says. “We’ve deliberately made the frame quite bulky and substantial and, because it’s made of stainless steel, it’s quite striking.”
Glass: Trombé
The original design for a larger addition had to be modified several times. “The planning process was quite complicated because the house is in a conservation area — in fact, that was more of an issue than its Grade II listed status,” Wright says.
The glass roof is sloped and self-cleaning and there’s a solar filter, making it both practical and low-maintenance.
“The client was clear that they wanted sliding doors, and we were keen on the look of aluminum framing and wanted to try something a bit different,” Wright says. “We’ve deliberately made the frame quite bulky and substantial and, because it’s made of stainless steel, it’s quite striking.”
Glass: Trombé
Warm, grainy wood contrasts with the sleek texture of the steel and glass extension in the dining area.
Floors: Element 7; Wishbone chairs by Hans Wegner: The Conran Shop; Beat pendant lights: Tom Dixon; custom dining table: Alex Findlater; Lowry sideboard: Pinch Design
Floors: Element 7; Wishbone chairs by Hans Wegner: The Conran Shop; Beat pendant lights: Tom Dixon; custom dining table: Alex Findlater; Lowry sideboard: Pinch Design
A study area specifically designed for the kids is hidden away off the side of the extension. Baskets tucked into custom-designed cubbies keep clutter at bay, and there’s plenty of desk space to do homework.
Ray lounge chair by Hay: Twentytwentyone;
custom desk and cubby storage: Alex Findlater
Ray lounge chair by Hay: Twentytwentyone;
custom desk and cubby storage: Alex Findlater
The living room one floor up is a more formal area and has double doors that separate the front and back of the house. Original molding and coving and the beautiful, classically styled windows give a real sense of the history of the house, and the spaces on either side of the ornate fireplace have been filled with custom shelving. “The original timber floor remained, but we had it stained and painted throughout,” Wright says. The coffee table is a reupholstered vintage design.
There’s an old-fashioned drawing room feel to the grandly proportioned living room. Twin armchairs upholstered in velvet have decadent appeal and an antiqued mirror reflects a warm light.
Mirror: Ochre
Mirror: Ochre
Double doors separate the master bedroom from the dressing room. Ample storage is provided by drawers and two full-height built-in wardrobes. “All of the woodwork in the bedrooms was redone,” Wright says.
Bird and Thistle wallpaper: Brunschwig & Fils
Bird and Thistle wallpaper: Brunschwig & Fils
This child’s bedroom features mood-lifting bursts of yellow. “The interior designer chose all of the soft furnishings in the house, and a lot of the loose furniture too,” Wright says.
Smarties rug: The Rug Company; La Volière pendant light: The Conran Shop; custom desk: Alex Findlater; Tip Ton chair by Vitra: John Lewis; limited-edition framed print by R. Castle: Castle and Things
Smarties rug: The Rug Company; La Volière pendant light: The Conran Shop; custom desk: Alex Findlater; Tip Ton chair by Vitra: John Lewis; limited-edition framed print by R. Castle: Castle and Things
The younger child has a simple bedroom with a high bed, which makes the most of the floor space.
Bed: Bobo Kids; custom wallpaper: Digetex; rug: similar can be custom-made at The Rug Company.
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Bed: Bobo Kids; custom wallpaper: Digetex; rug: similar can be custom-made at The Rug Company.
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A vintage mirror coordinates with the traditional brass fixtures in the bathroom. Ever-popular white subway tiles cover just the immediate shower area and provide contrast to the masculine blue of the walls.
Bathroom fixtures: Lefroy Brooks
Bathroom fixtures: Lefroy Brooks
An all-white color palette, including a generous built-in desk and plenty of custom storage, makes this small office a light and practical space. One of the owners works from home, so it was important to create an inviting and functional room.
Ponti Blue rug: The Rug Co.
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Ponti Blue rug: The Rug Co.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Little Venice area of northwest London
Size: Five bedrooms, three bathrooms (plus two water closets)
Designers: Tavis Wright of DOS Architects (architecture), Mary Valaika Design (interior design) and Alex Findlater (custom cabinetry)
“There was a lot of internal partitioning on the [bottom] floor, and there was a little kitchen and a [tiny] dining area that weren’t being used,” Wright says. “We opened up all the way through to the back to let in more light, added the extension and brought the house up to date.”