Houzz Tour: A 1960s Modernist Home is Sympathetically Refurbished
This light, midcentury property has been reconfigured and decorated in a way that celebrates its modernist heritage
When the owners of this airy, 1960s modernist home wanted to reconfigure the internal space, it was important the original character and ambience of the design and architecture were retained. The house is part of the Southwood House Estate in Highgate, north London, a triangle of residences built in the 1960s to a design by architects Andrews, Emerson, Sherlock and Keable on the site of the 18th century Southwood House.
“The interior was in need of modernisation and was quite dark,” explains James Holt, director and partner at Holt Construction. “The owners wanted to create a house full of space and light.”
“The interior was in need of modernisation and was quite dark,” explains James Holt, director and partner at Holt Construction. “The owners wanted to create a house full of space and light.”
The house is furnished with an eclectic mix of midcentury modern finds and pieces picked up on the owners’ travels. Bespoke fitted joinery, such as the timber door frames and media unit, enhance the clean-lined, slightly retro look.
Eero Saarinen Womb chair and ottoman, The Conran Shop.
Eero Saarinen Womb chair and ottoman, The Conran Shop.
New, timber-framed glazed doors and a large picture window allow masses of natural light to filter in from the garden.
“All the windows were replaced throughout the house with oak frames, including the doors from the living room to the garden,” says Holt. “This was probably the biggest challenge, as the double-glazed windows were bespoke, made to be in keeping with the modernist style and to match the other houses on the estate.”
The house has oak floors throughout to maintain the streamlined, modern vibe.
Grey sofa, BoConcept. European Oak Prime floors, Naturally Wood Floors.
Discover how to choose the perfect windows for your home
“All the windows were replaced throughout the house with oak frames, including the doors from the living room to the garden,” says Holt. “This was probably the biggest challenge, as the double-glazed windows were bespoke, made to be in keeping with the modernist style and to match the other houses on the estate.”
The house has oak floors throughout to maintain the streamlined, modern vibe.
Grey sofa, BoConcept. European Oak Prime floors, Naturally Wood Floors.
Discover how to choose the perfect windows for your home
The simple, neutral space is brought to life with vintage treasures and artwork.
The sideboard is a vintage Danish piece picked up in New York and the large, green-toned painting was bought in Vietnam.
The sideboard is a vintage Danish piece picked up in New York and the large, green-toned painting was bought in Vietnam.
On the ground floor at the front of the house, the kitchen and dining room were knocked into a single, open-plan, fluid living space, ideal for entertaining.
“The front door originally opened into a hallway, with the kitchen to the right and a reception room to the left,” explains Holt. “We moved the stairs from a central position in the house to a side wall and removed a cupboard under the stairs.”
The table was made for the owners when they lived in New York and the teak and string pendant lights were bought at a midcentury modern show in Dulwich, London.
Bespoke oak front door, The London Door Company.
“The front door originally opened into a hallway, with the kitchen to the right and a reception room to the left,” explains Holt. “We moved the stairs from a central position in the house to a side wall and removed a cupboard under the stairs.”
The table was made for the owners when they lived in New York and the teak and string pendant lights were bought at a midcentury modern show in Dulwich, London.
Bespoke oak front door, The London Door Company.
Slick and modern to echo the architecture of the house, the kitchen is a handleless design in satin lacquer with contrasting finger pulls.
The clean lines of the hard-wearing engineered quartz worktops are maintained with a stainless-steel, undermounted sink and flat ceramic hob.
The high-spec appliances ensure the house is kitted out with up-to-the-minute technology for the keen cook.
Kitchen, Mowlem & Co. Clamshell worktops, Caesarstone. Hob, Siemens. Extractor, Westin. Ovens, Gaggenau. Stainless-steel undermount Icerock sink, Kohler. Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
The clean lines of the hard-wearing engineered quartz worktops are maintained with a stainless-steel, undermounted sink and flat ceramic hob.
The high-spec appliances ensure the house is kitted out with up-to-the-minute technology for the keen cook.
Kitchen, Mowlem & Co. Clamshell worktops, Caesarstone. Hob, Siemens. Extractor, Westin. Ovens, Gaggenau. Stainless-steel undermount Icerock sink, Kohler. Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
The compact downstairs cloakroom is a combined WC and utility in one.
All-white surfaces and a clever use of bespoke, handle-free storage maximises every last inch of space.
“There’s a hanging area for drying clothes, while the washing machine and drier are hidden in the cupboards on the left-hand side of the room,” says Holt. “The panelling at the back opens up to extra storage for items such as the ironing board.”
A wall-hung toilet and basin enhance the sense of more floor space.
Fitted joinery, Five Furniture.
All-white surfaces and a clever use of bespoke, handle-free storage maximises every last inch of space.
“There’s a hanging area for drying clothes, while the washing machine and drier are hidden in the cupboards on the left-hand side of the room,” says Holt. “The panelling at the back opens up to extra storage for items such as the ironing board.”
A wall-hung toilet and basin enhance the sense of more floor space.
Fitted joinery, Five Furniture.
The original staircase was moved to create more space for the cloakroom/utility. It’s now to the side of the house and is a handsome architectural piece made from oak and blackened steel set against a striking, industrial backdrop of polished plaster. Three fibreglass pendant lights hang elegantly over the stairwell.
“This is our favourite part of the house,” says Holt. “It has an acoustic wall, plastered with a special concrete finish on top. It was tricky to do, as we had to erect an internal scaffold tower above the staircase.”
Staircase, Woodside Joinery. Balustrade, Flight Design. Polished concrete wall, Armourcoat. Random lights by Bertjan Pot, Made in Design.
Find ideas to make more of your staircase
“This is our favourite part of the house,” says Holt. “It has an acoustic wall, plastered with a special concrete finish on top. It was tricky to do, as we had to erect an internal scaffold tower above the staircase.”
Staircase, Woodside Joinery. Balustrade, Flight Design. Polished concrete wall, Armourcoat. Random lights by Bertjan Pot, Made in Design.
Find ideas to make more of your staircase
The house was originally a four-bedroom property, but the layout was completely altered to suit the owners’ needs.
“The owners are a professional couple who sometimes work from home, so they wanted to reduce the number of bedrooms and create a home office upstairs,” says Holt.
The first floor now consists of a large master suite (bedroom, en suite bathroom and dressing room), a guest bedroom and bathroom, and a large study.
The clean and minimal master bedroom suite is at the back of the house with views out to the garden.
“The owners are a professional couple who sometimes work from home, so they wanted to reduce the number of bedrooms and create a home office upstairs,” says Holt.
The first floor now consists of a large master suite (bedroom, en suite bathroom and dressing room), a guest bedroom and bathroom, and a large study.
The clean and minimal master bedroom suite is at the back of the house with views out to the garden.
A smart grey and white scheme in the en suite bathroom is crisp and modern.
The grey porcelain tiles are designed to look like quarried stone, creating a natural and hard-wearing scheme.
Burlington tiles, Domus Tiles.
The grey porcelain tiles are designed to look like quarried stone, creating a natural and hard-wearing scheme.
Burlington tiles, Domus Tiles.
The large study, upstairs at the front of the house, has space for both owners to work comfortably, as well as an easy chair for quiet contemplation.
What do you think of this 1960s modernist home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this 1960s modernist home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A professional couple
Location Highgate, north London
Property A 1960s modernist house
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms plus a cloakroom
Architect James Wells Architects
Builders James Holt and the team at Holt Construction
The 1960s property needed reshaping for the owners’ lifestyle, so Holt Construction was tasked with the job of a sympathetic internal refurbishment of the entire house, to plans by James Wells Architects.
The main living space remains in the same spot, at the back of the house, to take advantage of the natural light from the garden.
“The house is decorated in a smart, contemporary style throughout, with a clean and functional but relaxed feel,” says James Holt.
The coffee table is vintage Gio Ponti, bought in New York, while the two matching chairs are an eBay find.
Walls painted in Ivory 4, Dulux.