Houzz Tours
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A 1920s House Subtly Zoned for a Family of Five
This elegant home, untouched for 50 years, has been sensitively updated and designed to suit everyone in the household
The phrase “worth the wait” is probably an understatement when it comes to this gorgeous home, as the owners did have to exercise quite a bit of patience. Covid restrictions meant renovations to the tired 1920s property spanned two years and the work had to be divided into three phases.
“The owners saw the house in early 2020,” designer Natalie McHugh of N&K Interiors says. “They were keen to get going on extending it for their family and found us on Houzz when they searched local design and build companies, but Covid delayed everything.”
In September 2020, the team tackled the first floor – a bathroom and four bedrooms, one of which was turned into a playroom – as well as changing all the windows, and, with the use of the old kitchen, got the family in for Christmas. “In the January, we started the two-storey side extension – utility, boot room, cloakroom, living room and bedroom suite,” Natalie says. The remaining work was completed in 2022, resulting in a home that’s both highly functional and full of warmth and character.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
“The owners saw the house in early 2020,” designer Natalie McHugh of N&K Interiors says. “They were keen to get going on extending it for their family and found us on Houzz when they searched local design and build companies, but Covid delayed everything.”
In September 2020, the team tackled the first floor – a bathroom and four bedrooms, one of which was turned into a playroom – as well as changing all the windows, and, with the use of the old kitchen, got the family in for Christmas. “In the January, we started the two-storey side extension – utility, boot room, cloakroom, living room and bedroom suite,” Natalie says. The remaining work was completed in 2022, resulting in a home that’s both highly functional and full of warmth and character.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
The couple were keen on a Shaker-style kitchen. “That’s very much what we do, so that’s what they liked when they saw our previous projects on Houzz,” Natalie says. They also like wood and wanted it throughout their home.
The cabinets have been painted in a rich blue, tones of which Natalie has used in all the rooms. “The [owners] do like blue and we thought it was a good theme colour to run throughout the house,” she says. Teamed with white and wood, it makes for a calm palette.
The copper worktop on the island brings warmth into the room. “I was slightly concerned about it, because it’s obviously a natural material and it tarnishes and scratches really easily and I knew they were a busy family,” Natalie says, “but in fact, they’re not precious and it’s a beautiful piece of furniture.”
Kitchen in Pantry Blue, DeVOL. Tapware, Perrin & Rowe. Pendant and wall lights, Nkuku.
The cabinets have been painted in a rich blue, tones of which Natalie has used in all the rooms. “The [owners] do like blue and we thought it was a good theme colour to run throughout the house,” she says. Teamed with white and wood, it makes for a calm palette.
The copper worktop on the island brings warmth into the room. “I was slightly concerned about it, because it’s obviously a natural material and it tarnishes and scratches really easily and I knew they were a busy family,” Natalie says, “but in fact, they’re not precious and it’s a beautiful piece of furniture.”
Kitchen in Pantry Blue, DeVOL. Tapware, Perrin & Rowe. Pendant and wall lights, Nkuku.
The breakfast cabinet, which sits apart from the other units, is a good example of the way Natalie thought about how the family would use the various spaces.
“The owner was quite specific on zones in here,” Natalie says. “She wanted a breakfast cupboard so she could, for instance, be prepping while the kids went to the breakfast cupboard to make their toast, so they weren’t all on top of each other.”
Find architects and interior designers in your area on Houzz.
“The owner was quite specific on zones in here,” Natalie says. “She wanted a breakfast cupboard so she could, for instance, be prepping while the kids went to the breakfast cupboard to make their toast, so they weren’t all on top of each other.”
Find architects and interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The pot filler above the hob is another zoning trick, making it easy to pop on some veg or leave a pan to soak without having to bother anyone using the sink.
The white zellige splashback tiles are subtle, but they add depth and catch the light beautifully. The Alaska Bianca quartz worktops also lighten the scheme.
Zellige splashback tiles, Mosaic Factory.
The white zellige splashback tiles are subtle, but they add depth and catch the light beautifully. The Alaska Bianca quartz worktops also lighten the scheme.
Zellige splashback tiles, Mosaic Factory.
The ceiling is covered in pale timber strips. “I love doing something on the ceiling – it is the fifth wall and it often gets overlooked,” Natalie says. “I often paint the ceiling in a colour or do a timber finish. The [owner] had seen another project of mine with this and thought it really finished off that room.
“When we started the extension, we found there were no foundations on the outside wall, so we had to underpin it,” she continues. “Between these two rooms we had to fit a picture frame steel, so we thought if we did something with timber [on the ceiling], it would detract from the bulkhead.”
Much of the timber, including the ceiling here, is lime-waxed, which prevents too ‘woody’ a look while still showing the grain.
From here you can see the extent of the side extension, comprising the utility and cloakroom behind the range cooker, a boot room, and the library / living room just glimpsed through the fireplace to the left.
“When we started the extension, we found there were no foundations on the outside wall, so we had to underpin it,” she continues. “Between these two rooms we had to fit a picture frame steel, so we thought if we did something with timber [on the ceiling], it would detract from the bulkhead.”
Much of the timber, including the ceiling here, is lime-waxed, which prevents too ‘woody’ a look while still showing the grain.
From here you can see the extent of the side extension, comprising the utility and cloakroom behind the range cooker, a boot room, and the library / living room just glimpsed through the fireplace to the left.
The ground floor plan shows the extension on the right.
Fitting out the utility room with plenty of storage, made by Natalie’s joiners, meant the kitchen could remain free of wall units.
This is also a good space to prep food and store produce, as it’s cooler in here. “It’s heated, but on a different circuit, so the temperature can be kept lower,” Natalie says.
This is also a good space to prep food and store produce, as it’s cooler in here. “It’s heated, but on a different circuit, so the temperature can be kept lower,” Natalie says.
A big, deep sink, robust worktop and hanging airer, as well as the washing machine and dryer, make this a well-functioning laundry area and, again, the arrangement zones the task in this one space.
The window frames throughout the house have been replaced with dark aluminium ones.
You can just see the cloakroom behind the pocket door.
The window frames throughout the house have been replaced with dark aluminium ones.
You can just see the cloakroom behind the pocket door.
Inside the cloakroom, a pretty Moroccan basin adds a decorative note. A mirror helps to spread the light in the dark-painted space, while fish-scale tiles add texture and chime with the Moroccan feel.
The side door is used a lot by the family. They’re outdoorsy, so this is somewhere they can come in and drop muddy boots and clothes and wash dog paraphernalia if necessary.
The flooring is hard-wearing limestone.
Limestone flags, Artisans of Devizes.
The flooring is hard-wearing limestone.
Limestone flags, Artisans of Devizes.
The boot room has five sections, so each person has their own zone where shoes, coats and bags for school are all kept. “Each child has to make sure their bags are ready in here for the next day, so they can grab and go,” Natalie says.
This keeps the clutter contained and the entrance hall free. “The kids are very much drop your coat and rush off, and [the parents] didn’t want the hall to be used for that,” she says.
This keeps the clutter contained and the entrance hall free. “The kids are very much drop your coat and rush off, and [the parents] didn’t want the hall to be used for that,” she says.
In the dining area at the back of the house, Natalie designed in bifold doors, which pull in lots of light and give easy access to the garden. “They can open the big bifolds and walk straight out onto the new decking area,” she says.
Having an indoor-outdoor space is perfect for the family, as they’re very sociable. The dining table extends to accommodate a crowd.
Dining table, The Rustic Table Company.
Having an indoor-outdoor space is perfect for the family, as they’re very sociable. The dining table extends to accommodate a crowd.
Dining table, The Rustic Table Company.
The couple’s global travels have led to them collecting some interesting objects and artworks, which they were keen to have on show.
“They wanted some clear wall space to display artwork and pieces of furniture from their travels around the world,” Natalie says.
“They wanted some clear wall space to display artwork and pieces of furniture from their travels around the world,” Natalie says.
This is the original living room, which is now the dining room and open to the kitchen.
The original wide window has been replaced by bifold doors and the fireplace modified to be double-sided.
Here you can just see the modified fireplace (behind the dining chair), which now contains a bioethanol fire, opening into the new extension.
The rooms are very much connected while providing separate areas for the family to enjoy.
The rooms are very much connected while providing separate areas for the family to enjoy.
The family call this area on the other side of the fireplace the library. “They’re heavily into reading, so the bookcase and chairs around the fire mean this can be a quiet reading zone,” Natalie says.
The flooring throughout the ground floor is engineered oak.
Walls painted in Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball. Armchairs, Nkuku. Bookcase, Muji.
The flooring throughout the ground floor is engineered oak.
Walls painted in Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball. Armchairs, Nkuku. Bookcase, Muji.
At the garden end of the extension – and open to the library – is the living area, which has a lovely big oriel window complete with window seat.
“You actually feel as if you’re sitting in the garden,” Natalie says. “It was also a way to get in more daylight, and we illuminated it with little spots in the oak surround, so it adds a glow at night.”
“You actually feel as if you’re sitting in the garden,” Natalie says. “It was also a way to get in more daylight, and we illuminated it with little spots in the oak surround, so it adds a glow at night.”
Natalie turned one of the bedrooms on the first floor into a playroom, fitting a reading nook under the stairs to the loft.
The dark ceiling gives the room a cosy feel, while bespoke cabinetry is designed to work as the children get older, too.
Coffee table, clients’ own from their travels. Wallpaper, Milton & King. Pendant light shade, La Redoute. Bespoke cabinetry, N&K Interiors. Ceiling and reading nook painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball.
Coffee table, clients’ own from their travels. Wallpaper, Milton & King. Pendant light shade, La Redoute. Bespoke cabinetry, N&K Interiors. Ceiling and reading nook painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball.
The two-storey extension allowed the creation of a bedroom suite for the couple.
The couple’s en suite is soothingly neutral, with a pleasingly tactile pebble shower area.
Pebbles, Marblemosaics. Tiles, Mandarin Stone. Vanity unit, Tikamoon. Bath, Lusso Stone.
Pebbles, Marblemosaics. Tiles, Mandarin Stone. Vanity unit, Tikamoon. Bath, Lusso Stone.
The oldest daughter wanted wallpaper on her ceiling and chose this pretty birds design. Natalie then colour-matched paint with the birds to create a feature wall.
Wallpaper, Hygge & West. Pendant light, Dunelm. Bed, Get Laid Beds.
Wallpaper, Hygge & West. Pendant light, Dunelm. Bed, Get Laid Beds.
The middle child has the smallest bedroom, so Natalie wanted to do something a bit different to make it special. The ceiling is pretty high, so this platform was the perfect solution. “It gives her the option to go up there and read, or a friend could stay for a sleepover,” Natalie says.
Wallpaper, Hovia. Grace daybed, Bed Kings. Bespoke platform bed with ladder, N&K Interiors.
Wallpaper, Hovia. Grace daybed, Bed Kings. Bespoke platform bed with ladder, N&K Interiors.
The daughters chose turquoise for a bright, fresh feel in their bathroom. Natalie had the tiles laid in a vertical stack bond for a neat, on-trend look. Double basins avoid squabbles.
More: 16 Bathrooms With Vertically Stacked Tiles
More: 16 Bathrooms With Vertically Stacked Tiles
The couple were keen that the children could bring their choices into their bedrooms. The son chose this New York scene and the superhero light.
Superhero pendant light, Litfad. Wallpaper mural, Hovia.
Superhero pendant light, Litfad. Wallpaper mural, Hovia.
A raised bed makes the most of the space, while the dark-painted wall continues the blue thread running through the house.
Bed, beds4less.net. Wall painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
Bed, beds4less.net. Wall painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
The son’s en suite has the same vertical stack bond tiles, this time in a dark blue that works with his bedroom.
Despite having to be so patient navigating the pandemic, the family are unsurprising thrilled with their finished home, especially the opened up ground floor. “They were delighted with the result and started having parties straightaway,” Natalie says. “It’s such a sociable space.”
Tell us…
What do you like best about this elegant renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Despite having to be so patient navigating the pandemic, the family are unsurprising thrilled with their finished home, especially the opened up ground floor. “They were delighted with the result and started having parties straightaway,” Natalie says. “It’s such a sociable space.”
Tell us…
What do you like best about this elegant renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Sponsored
Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore
Who lives here? A young family of five and their dog
Location Surrey
Property A detached 1920s house with a loft extension
Size Seven bedrooms and four bathrooms
Designer Natalie McHugh of N&K Interiors
Project years 2020 to 2022 (due to Covid delays)
Photos by Chris Snook
Life for the family of five is hectic and they wanted a home that helped life run smoothly, with a layout that was connected, but had areas where they could all find a space for themselves.
So among other clever ideas, Natalie designed a zoned kitchen, a separate playroom, a quiet library area, and a sectioned boot room with muddy-feet-friendly flooring.