Houzz Tour: A 1920s House Reinvented as a Chic Modern Family Home
An extensive renovation transformed a warren of rooms into a light, bright home with plenty of kerb appeal
This grand Surrey property had been left largely untouched since it was built in the 1920s when architect Leigh Bowen was commissioned to give it a 21st century makeover by new owner Dawn Smith. Dawn wanted to retain the original 1920s facade, but was keen to maximise the grounds of the corner property by extending around the sides and to the rear, as well as opening up the ground floor into an airy, open-plan family space. ‘It was quite a substantial renovation that took around 10 months to complete. We replaced the entire roof and back of the house,’ explains Leigh.
Ultimately, however, Leigh puts the success of the build down to Dawn’s excellent brief. ‘She knew exactly what she wanted and was quite adventurous – which made my job a lot easier,’ he explains.
Ultimately, however, Leigh puts the success of the build down to Dawn’s excellent brief. ‘She knew exactly what she wanted and was quite adventurous – which made my job a lot easier,’ he explains.
A long, double-width island with plentiful seating is the focal point in the serene, open-plan kitchen. ‘Once we’d adjusted the old layout, we were able to create a generous kitchen-diner that’s perfect for relaxed family living,’ explains Leigh.
Despite the scale of the build, however, Leigh was always mindful of the budget. ‘We’ve created a lovely open-plan space here, but details such as the drainage are in the same place, which helped save some money,’ he explains.
Browse 10 reasons to work a kitchen island into your scheme
Despite the scale of the build, however, Leigh was always mindful of the budget. ‘We’ve created a lovely open-plan space here, but details such as the drainage are in the same place, which helped save some money,’ he explains.
Browse 10 reasons to work a kitchen island into your scheme
Leigh decided to keep the original staircase in the same location. ‘There was no reason to move it,’ he reveals. ‘By opening up the hallway, you can see straight through to the garden from the front door, so it made sense to leave the stairwell as it was. It was repainted, but otherwise it’s in its original state.’
The flowers on the table are artificial, as are the others around the house. They’re all available from Dawn’s company RTfact.
The flowers on the table are artificial, as are the others around the house. They’re all available from Dawn’s company RTfact.
The notion of a grand entrance hall is a little old fashioned in many ways, says Leigh, but the sense of flow that’s been achieved makes it worthwhile.
‘We stole a bit of the open-plan kitchen back to create this space, but the light is wonderful, and you can access all the rooms on the ground floor from here – it’s a fantastic spot.’
For a similar chair, try the Parker Knoll Oberon armchair, John Lewis. For a similar chandelier, try the Lullaby 3 Light Crystal chandelier, Endon Lighting at Wayfair.
See 10 more ways to enhance your hallway
‘We stole a bit of the open-plan kitchen back to create this space, but the light is wonderful, and you can access all the rooms on the ground floor from here – it’s a fantastic spot.’
For a similar chair, try the Parker Knoll Oberon armchair, John Lewis. For a similar chandelier, try the Lullaby 3 Light Crystal chandelier, Endon Lighting at Wayfair.
See 10 more ways to enhance your hallway
When it came to the decoration, Dawn chose different shades of grey and white for a contemporary look with enduring appeal. ‘She used a blend of paints to get the colour balance just right,’ says Leigh.
With plenty of furniture from her old house to incorporate into the scheme, Dawn’s pared-back palette has proved incredibly versatile. She also decided to embrace a slightly more traditional kitchen than she was used to for a warmer, friendlier feel.
Kitchen and tall mirrored cabinetry, Richard Baker Furniture. For similar paint, try Fossil Grey, Dulux.
With plenty of furniture from her old house to incorporate into the scheme, Dawn’s pared-back palette has proved incredibly versatile. She also decided to embrace a slightly more traditional kitchen than she was used to for a warmer, friendlier feel.
Kitchen and tall mirrored cabinetry, Richard Baker Furniture. For similar paint, try Fossil Grey, Dulux.
Antique pendants above the island lend a rustic feel to the kitchen, while a mirrored cabinet on the far wall adds a touch of elegance to the room.
‘The mirrored cabinet is by Richard Baker,’ says Dawn. ‘He creates some really funky pieces and it has transformed the kitchen into something very special.’
The footstool is another piece from the past. ‘I love the texture: it adds a lot of depth to the scheme, but it’s quite unusual,’ explains Dawn. ‘It’s made from string and sacking and has pebbles in it.’
For similar lights, try the Quay pendant, Original BTC. Find Lem bar stools at John Lewis.
‘The mirrored cabinet is by Richard Baker,’ says Dawn. ‘He creates some really funky pieces and it has transformed the kitchen into something very special.’
The footstool is another piece from the past. ‘I love the texture: it adds a lot of depth to the scheme, but it’s quite unusual,’ explains Dawn. ‘It’s made from string and sacking and has pebbles in it.’
For similar lights, try the Quay pendant, Original BTC. Find Lem bar stools at John Lewis.
Dawn wanted to include a second dining area in this corner to accommodate more formal family gatherings. ‘It’s a very versatile space, though,’ insists Leigh. ‘It could be used for anything.’
The antique table, which Dawn brought from her previous home, has been sanded down and given a pale finish to echo the grey hues elsewhere in the scheme, while old dining chairs have been reupholstered for a new lease of life.
‘I really enjoy reusing old bits and pieces where I can,’ reveals Dawn. ‘I don’t like everything to look too new as there’s no character.’
For similar dining chairs, try the Long Island chair, Neptune.
Read expert advice on creating an elegant dining area
The antique table, which Dawn brought from her previous home, has been sanded down and given a pale finish to echo the grey hues elsewhere in the scheme, while old dining chairs have been reupholstered for a new lease of life.
‘I really enjoy reusing old bits and pieces where I can,’ reveals Dawn. ‘I don’t like everything to look too new as there’s no character.’
For similar dining chairs, try the Long Island chair, Neptune.
Read expert advice on creating an elegant dining area
The comfy sofa is another old piece, dyed chocolate brown to enhance its antique look. ‘There’s a TV opposite, so we spend a lot of time in this room,’ says Dawn. ‘Above all else, it’s a very comfortable space
For a similar sofa, try the Urbanite rustic leather three-seater, Old Boot.
For a similar sofa, try the Urbanite rustic leather three-seater, Old Boot.
The grey walls in the home office tie this room in with the rest of the house, although the small space has a cosier feel. Warm parquet flooring adds to the effect.
The generous master bedroom was previously very small, and has been extended to create a dual-aspect room with an elegant en-suite bathroom that benefits from plentiful natural light.
As with the other rooms in her home, Dawn opted for a restful grey and white scheme when it came to the decoration, and chose a simple voile for the window treatment. ‘I’ve introduced internal shutters for security at the front of the house, but kept the window treatments to a minimum to let in as much sunlight as possible.’
As with the other rooms in her home, Dawn opted for a restful grey and white scheme when it came to the decoration, and chose a simple voile for the window treatment. ‘I’ve introduced internal shutters for security at the front of the house, but kept the window treatments to a minimum to let in as much sunlight as possible.’
The entrance to the en-suite bathroom is a simple opening, as Dawn didn’t want to obscure the light filtering through from the front of the house.
‘It’s like a hotel suite in many ways,’ explains Leigh. ‘The loo and the shower are positioned to either side of the entrance, so there’s still a degree of privacy. It’s a very elegant solution.’
Bespoke wardrobe, The English Wardrobe Company. Bed linen, The White Company.
Be inspired by these supersized headboards
‘It’s like a hotel suite in many ways,’ explains Leigh. ‘The loo and the shower are positioned to either side of the entrance, so there’s still a degree of privacy. It’s a very elegant solution.’
Bespoke wardrobe, The English Wardrobe Company. Bed linen, The White Company.
Be inspired by these supersized headboards
Split-face stone tiles have been used to create a textural feature wall in the glamorous en-suite bathroom. ‘It definitely has the wow factor, but it’s a gentle approach,’ explains Leigh.
Split-face stone tiles, Mandarin Stone. Maderno freestanding bath, Bathrooms.com.
Split-face stone tiles, Mandarin Stone. Maderno freestanding bath, Bathrooms.com.
A striking four-poster bed adds a touch of drama to one of the daughters’ bedrooms, which is otherwise decorated in the home’s signature grey palette.
‘It’s such an easy colour to live with and accessorise,’ explains Dawn. ‘I work a lot with flowers, so that’s how I introduce colour into a scheme. It also means I can do it in a seasonal way.’
Black Brooklyn Oak 4-Poster bed, Coach House.
‘It’s such an easy colour to live with and accessorise,’ explains Dawn. ‘I work a lot with flowers, so that’s how I introduce colour into a scheme. It also means I can do it in a seasonal way.’
Black Brooklyn Oak 4-Poster bed, Coach House.
More split-face tiles create a warm mood in the guest en suite. ‘The bathrooms aren’t huge compared to the rest of the house,’ says Dawn, ‘but we planned them well and they make the most of the available space.’
Vanity unit, Bathstore.
Vanity unit, Bathstore.
‘Apart from the new extension over the garage, the features and elevation at the front of the house are as you’d expect from a property of this age,’ explains Leigh.
New rendering, tile hangings and windows enhance the appearance of the property while respecting its heritage. ‘It actually looks as if we’ve cleaned the house, rather than updated it. It retains a very traditional feel,’ says Leigh.
Building work, Building Living Space
New rendering, tile hangings and windows enhance the appearance of the property while respecting its heritage. ‘It actually looks as if we’ve cleaned the house, rather than updated it. It retains a very traditional feel,’ says Leigh.
Building work, Building Living Space
The generous garden at the rear of the house is not overlooked, so Dawn had more creative freedom with the design here than at the front of the property.
‘The ground floor is much deeper than the first floor, as we wanted to allow space to create balconies for the bedrooms,’ explains Leigh.
‘The ground floor is much deeper than the first floor, as we wanted to allow space to create balconies for the bedrooms,’ explains Leigh.
‘We’ve also introduced a number of different aspects,’ says Leigh, ‘and added interest by fitting bifold doors in all of the different rooms on the ground floor, so they all open out on to the garden.’
TELL US…
What do you think of this elegant family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you think of this elegant family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here Dawn Smith and her teenage daughters
Location South of Guildford, Surrey
Year built 1928
Year renovated 2013
Architect Leigh Bowen at 50 Degrees North Architects
Interiors Dawn Smith at RTfact
Size 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
‘Structurally, the house was in fairly good shape, but a warren of rooms downstairs needed some adjustment,’ recalls Leigh. ‘The layout made the house quite dark, so the brief was to create a lovely family home with lots of bright, open spaces.’