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Houzz Tour: A Boutique Hotel Vibe in a Restored Victorian House
The brief for this property was a designer’s dream – to create a home that was “comfortable, luxurious and fun”
When the new owners found it, this Victorian house was very pared-back, which wasn’t to their taste at all, so they set about finding a company with a bolder vision. As they browsed Houzz for ideas, Golden Design caught their eye and they got in touch, aiming to revamp the ground, first and second floors, leaving the kitchen-diner on the lower-ground floor until a later date.
The owners were keen to give the house some colour and warmth. “They love having parties and entertaining, so they wanted a really fab space,” Golden Design founder Ellen Cumber says. “They wanted it to feel almost like a boutique hotel, but a really comfortable one.”
The owners were keen to give the house some colour and warmth. “They love having parties and entertaining, so they wanted a really fab space,” Golden Design founder Ellen Cumber says. “They wanted it to feel almost like a boutique hotel, but a really comfortable one.”
When the couple bought the house, it had a minimalist vibe, which wasn’t to their taste, and many of the original features had been stripped out.
The alcoves had simple white shelves.
The team designed glass-fronted cabinets to replace the shelves – one here and one on the left of the fireplace in the rear reception room. “They feel more late Georgian/early Victorian, and that was the vibe we were trying to bring back to the house,” Ellen says. “The glass is museum grade, so it doesn’t reflect.”
The artwork has been carefully positioned. “There were about 50 pieces of art, so we did a big session all together where we worked out where everything was going to go,” Ellen says.
Curtain fabric, Pierre Frey. Chair, Julian Chichester; upholstered in pink velvet, Métaphores at Abbott & Boyd.
The artwork has been carefully positioned. “There were about 50 pieces of art, so we did a big session all together where we worked out where everything was going to go,” Ellen says.
Curtain fabric, Pierre Frey. Chair, Julian Chichester; upholstered in pink velvet, Métaphores at Abbott & Boyd.
Apart from the fireplaces, lots of the features had been stripped out, so the team reinstated several traditional radiators and all of the plasterwork to make it feel more appropriate for the period of the house.
This room has a work desk opposite the fireplace, but the chaise longue signals it’s a quiet space. “The owner said he wanted somewhere to lie and read or have a nap and it needed to be really comfortable, so we went shopping and took it in turns to lie on it,” Ellen laughs.
Walls painted in Smoked Trout, Farrow & Ball. Chaise longue, Trove. Large paintings in here and the front room, Sophie Bayntun.
This room has a work desk opposite the fireplace, but the chaise longue signals it’s a quiet space. “The owner said he wanted somewhere to lie and read or have a nap and it needed to be really comfortable, so we went shopping and took it in turns to lie on it,” Ellen laughs.
Walls painted in Smoked Trout, Farrow & Ball. Chaise longue, Trove. Large paintings in here and the front room, Sophie Bayntun.
Structurally, nothing was changed on the ground floor.
Thinking of giving your home a refresh? Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
Thinking of giving your home a refresh? Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The old hallway was too plain for the couple.
The hall now features warmer shades. The team swapped the white panel radiator for a traditional column one and added a console-style shelf with a mirror above. The stairs have been painted and carpeted in sisal. You can see the slim window into the front reception room on the right.
In here and both reception rooms, the previous blond boards were repaired and stained. “The owner had neither the appetite nor the money to have the flooring ripped up,” Ellen says.
The original skirting boards needed repairing. “They were very battered in places, so we had to get them all tidied up and replace some bits,” she says.
Walls and skirting boards painted in Hardwick White; staircase painted in Off-Black, both Farrow & Ball.
In here and both reception rooms, the previous blond boards were repaired and stained. “The owner had neither the appetite nor the money to have the flooring ripped up,” Ellen says.
The original skirting boards needed repairing. “They were very battered in places, so we had to get them all tidied up and replace some bits,” she says.
Walls and skirting boards painted in Hardwick White; staircase painted in Off-Black, both Farrow & Ball.
The turn of the stairs down to the lower-ground floor felt underused.
By losing the smaller window, the team managed to fit a coat cupboard, a little shoe cupboard and a seat in the space.
“There were so many limitations sizewise that we had to have hooks instead of hangers and a bifold door, otherwise it would have bashed the stairs when it was opened,” Ellen says. “It’s a beautiful little vignette now rather than an afterthought.”
On the first floor there were two bedrooms, as this original floorplan shows. Ellen and Alice slotted a bathroom between them (see next image).
Removing the wall between them was a real challenge. “The way the existing walls had been constructed was bizarre – they’d been messed around with so many times that the joists weren’t being properly supported,” Ellen says. “Worst case scenario was we’d have a socking great steel beam running through the middle of the new bathroom, but luckily, with the help of a structural engineer, it all worked out.”
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Removing the wall between them was a real challenge. “The way the existing walls had been constructed was bizarre – they’d been messed around with so many times that the joists weren’t being properly supported,” Ellen says. “Worst case scenario was we’d have a socking great steel beam running through the middle of the new bathroom, but luckily, with the help of a structural engineer, it all worked out.”
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The bathroom hasn’t stolen too much space, but has made a huge difference to the home. “Adding this second bathroom was a game-changer,” Ellen says. “The owners still have two really good-sized bedrooms, and the bathroom feels generous. We put in a lot of work to make sure every space still felt useable and comfortable.”
Richly coloured zellige tiles, glossy reeded panelling, brass fittings and leafy wallpaper give the new bathroom a luxurious mood. “The brief was, ‘Do whatever you want, I want it to be really wild.’ So we went for it,” Ellen says.
The wallpaper is bathroom-friendly. “House of Hackney has an option where the paper can be treated for use in bathrooms, but it was also key to make sure there was excellent extraction, as there’s no window,” Ellen explains.
The brass also adds depth. “Unlacquered, living brass – scuffed brass – has an amazing patina and keeps changing colour as you touch it,” she says.
Zellige tiles, Mosaic del Sur. Wallpaper, House of Hackney. Scuffed brass fittings; sanitaryware, all Aston Matthews.
The wallpaper is bathroom-friendly. “House of Hackney has an option where the paper can be treated for use in bathrooms, but it was also key to make sure there was excellent extraction, as there’s no window,” Ellen explains.
The brass also adds depth. “Unlacquered, living brass – scuffed brass – has an amazing patina and keeps changing colour as you touch it,” she says.
Zellige tiles, Mosaic del Sur. Wallpaper, House of Hackney. Scuffed brass fittings; sanitaryware, all Aston Matthews.
Behind the basin, there’s a beautiful dark green marble splashback with a useful shelf. “We went down to our marble fabricators to look through their offcuts, because we knew we were only going to need the tiniest bit, and we found this amazing piece,” Ellen says.
This shelf and the shower niche provide sufficient storage. “It’s a guest bathroom, so you don’t need loads of storage, but you do need somewhere for people to put their facewash and so on when they come to stay,” Ellen says.
“We didn’t want to do a whole vanity unit, as it would have taken up so much space,” she adds, “plus we wanted to do that beautiful reeded gloss panelling, which the joiner made for us.” The panelling is sprayed in paint with a 95% sheen, so it’s gorgeously glossy.
Woodwork painted in Studio Green, Farrow & Ball.
This shelf and the shower niche provide sufficient storage. “It’s a guest bathroom, so you don’t need loads of storage, but you do need somewhere for people to put their facewash and so on when they come to stay,” Ellen says.
“We didn’t want to do a whole vanity unit, as it would have taken up so much space,” she adds, “plus we wanted to do that beautiful reeded gloss panelling, which the joiner made for us.” The panelling is sprayed in paint with a 95% sheen, so it’s gorgeously glossy.
Woodwork painted in Studio Green, Farrow & Ball.
Two guest bedrooms flank the new bathroom. There were some existing wardrobes in the front room that were perfectly functional, so Ellen suggested fitting new doors to smarten them up. “We designed them and our joiner made them up, then they were spray-painted and fitted onto the existing carcasses. It’s transformed the wardrobes,” she says.
Wardrobes painted in Red Earth, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Portland Stone Pale; woodwork painted in Portland Stone Deep, both Little Greene.
Wardrobes painted in Red Earth, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Portland Stone Pale; woodwork painted in Portland Stone Deep, both Little Greene.
The rear guest bedroom just needed refreshing. “We made a new hearth for the fireplace and painted it to smarten it up,” Ellen says.
Artworks, Emily Forgot. Walls painted in Oval Room Blue; woodwork painted in Inchyra, both Farrow & Ball.
Artworks, Emily Forgot. Walls painted in Oval Room Blue; woodwork painted in Inchyra, both Farrow & Ball.
The second floor originally had two bedrooms and a separate bathroom.
Ellen and Alice opened up the space to create a bedroom and dressing room, and fitted a new entrance to the bathroom to turn it into an en suite.
One of the couple’s key asks was for a luxurious master suite, and they were willing to sacrifice a bedroom to achieve it.
Having the bath in the room adds to the luxe feel. “We couldn’t create a satisfactorily sized bathroom that would fit a bath and shower in it without making what we felt were major concessions in the bedroom,” Ellen says. “So we suggested putting it in here and [the couple] leapt at the idea, as it creates that boutique hotel feel.”
The walls are painted in a calming pinky taupe, while the bed, with a headboard designed by Ellen and Alice, is covered in rich mustard velvet.
Walls painted in Hammock, Little Greene. Bed, Trove. Bedside lights, Felix Lighting Specialists. Vintage Indian cinema chair, antiques dealer.
Having the bath in the room adds to the luxe feel. “We couldn’t create a satisfactorily sized bathroom that would fit a bath and shower in it without making what we felt were major concessions in the bedroom,” Ellen says. “So we suggested putting it in here and [the couple] leapt at the idea, as it creates that boutique hotel feel.”
The walls are painted in a calming pinky taupe, while the bed, with a headboard designed by Ellen and Alice, is covered in rich mustard velvet.
Walls painted in Hammock, Little Greene. Bed, Trove. Bedside lights, Felix Lighting Specialists. Vintage Indian cinema chair, antiques dealer.
Designing the room was quite a challenge, as it’s so tall. “We went round the houses trying to work out how to do the wardrobes – whether they should reach to the ceiling or whether that would be too much – but we were really happy with the result,” Ellen says.
“On this side, everything soars up into the ceiling space, but on the bedroom side, we’ve kept everything at eye level, even the artwork, which is hung quite low over the bed, just to make it feel more intimate,” she says.
The console table neatly divides the space without blocking the sightline. “It’s nice to have that point where the dressing room ends and the bedroom begins,” Ellen says. “It’s also an opportunity to have a nice candle, books and photo frames, and the upholstered bench to sit on to put socks on.”
Wall lights, Hector Finch. Table lamp, The Socialite Family. Bench, David Seyfried. Wardrobes painted in Sage Green, Little Greene.
“On this side, everything soars up into the ceiling space, but on the bedroom side, we’ve kept everything at eye level, even the artwork, which is hung quite low over the bed, just to make it feel more intimate,” she says.
The console table neatly divides the space without blocking the sightline. “It’s nice to have that point where the dressing room ends and the bedroom begins,” Ellen says. “It’s also an opportunity to have a nice candle, books and photo frames, and the upholstered bench to sit on to put socks on.”
Wall lights, Hector Finch. Table lamp, The Socialite Family. Bench, David Seyfried. Wardrobes painted in Sage Green, Little Greene.
The oak drawers and wardrobes are made to measure and configured for the couple’s needs. The paint has a 40% sheen to give them some depth. The drawer on the right is lined with the same velvet as was used on the bed, so it links back.
The floor is carpeted in sisal. “Because it was a loft conversion, it never had original floorboards, and it’s nice to have softness underfoot in the bedroom,” Ellen says.
The floor is carpeted in sisal. “Because it was a loft conversion, it never had original floorboards, and it’s nice to have softness underfoot in the bedroom,” Ellen says.
Next to the new opening into the bathroom there’s a shelf in the same pink-tinged marble as on the vanity unit.
The old bathroom.
There are lots of circular pieces in the bathroom to soften the hard lines. Ellen and Alice designed the vanity unit in oiled oak. “It’s the one thing that stands out and creates a bit of drama in what is a very calm room,” Ellen says.
Wall lights, Douglas & Bec.
Wall lights, Douglas & Bec.
The interior of the drawers has been custom-designed.
The underheated floor is covered in limestone tiles.
The underheated floor is covered in limestone tiles.
Zellige tiles add texture to the shower enclosure. “The bathroom had terrible water pressure before,” Ellen says, “but our plumbers created a plant room on the lower-ground floor from what was the old coal hole, and the feedback from the owners when they moved back in was, “The water pressure is incredible!”
Scuffed brassware, Aston Matthews.
Scuffed brassware, Aston Matthews.
On the landing outside the bedroom, Ellen slotted in a chest of drawers. “It was to create a nice corner, somewhere to put a photo frame or lamp, something to bring the area to life, otherwise it would have ended up as a dead space, probably with a gym bag chucked there,” she laughs.
And the owners’ verdict on the renovation? “We’ve ended up with a stunningly beautiful home,” they say, “a comfortable and luxurious space, something far superior to what we’d have been able to achieve ourselves.”
Tell us…
What do you think of this redesigned home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
And the owners’ verdict on the renovation? “We’ve ended up with a stunningly beautiful home,” they say, “a comfortable and luxurious space, something far superior to what we’d have been able to achieve ourselves.”
Tell us…
What do you think of this redesigned home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A young professional couple
Location Victoria Park, east London
Property A four-storey Victorian townhouse
Size Three bedrooms (previously four) and two bathrooms
Designers Ellen Cumber and Alice Bettington of Golden Design
Photos by Jonathan Bond Photography
Ellen and her design partner, Alice Bettington, aimed to bring back an early Victorian vibe and suggested rich colours and luxurious fabrics. “After the first round of moodboards, we knew we were moving in a fairly luxurious direction and the couple were open to strong, dark colours and luxe fabrics and antiques,” Ellen says.
The two reception rooms on the ground floor were already open to each other, so the work was mostly decorative. The curtains were the starting point for the design. “That fabric was the first thing we found and we built the whole scheme around it,” Ellen says.
“We covered the sofa in a dark green corduroy,” she continues. “It has that feeling of velvet, but it’s a bit more exciting. It felt like a fresh option while still being incredibly comfortable and soft.”
The tinted glass pendant shade is an antique shipped over from Europe. “We had fingers and toes crossed that, when it arrived, it would look as nice as it did in the photos,” Ellen recalls.
The slim window behind the sofa had been created by the previous owners when the reception rooms were joined and the door was filled in. The team decided to keep it, as it allows light through into the hallway. “It also adds a bit of interest,” Ellen says, “a glimpse through to the living room as you walk into the house.”
Cushions made from a selection of fabric from Pierre Frey, Colefax and Fowler, and Turnell & Gigon.