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Before and After
Houzz Tour: A Dark Modern Mews House Gets an Inspired Makeover
A limited colour palette and boosted natural light have transformed this three-storey house into a serene home
As soon as interior architect Kate Whitfield of An Artful Life saw her clients’ new London home, she started to feel inspired and visualise how she’d approach a renovation.
“I knew it could be amazing, because the house itself is really nicely built in terms of the windows, light and ceiling height,” she says. However, although it was all pretty recently done, the décor wasn’t to the new owners’ taste and parts of the layout felt dark and uninspiring. Check out the before and after photos below and discover how Kate created an airy, coherent home.
“I knew it could be amazing, because the house itself is really nicely built in terms of the windows, light and ceiling height,” she says. However, although it was all pretty recently done, the décor wasn’t to the new owners’ taste and parts of the layout felt dark and uninspiring. Check out the before and after photos below and discover how Kate created an airy, coherent home.
The original hallway felt dark and closed in.
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Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
The open-plan living and dining room needed careful consideration, as it extended into a split-level area, with the kitchen on the lower level and a further living space above.
“It was a really dark and poky little kitchen,” Kate says. “The homeowners are keen cooks, so they decided to move the kitchen onto the upper mezzanine and create a snug below.”
“It was a really dark and poky little kitchen,” Kate says. “The homeowners are keen cooks, so they decided to move the kitchen onto the upper mezzanine and create a snug below.”
Here you can see the newly elevated kitchen and the extra glazing through to the hallway.
A key element of the brief involved taking the couple’s two cats into account. “We had to think practically about cat hair and scratching,” Kate says. “For example, the couple really liked bouclé fabric, but we couldn’t go for that because the cats would have had a field day, so we stuck with plainer fabrics and leather.”
The atmosphere of the house was also a key part of the brief. “There isn’t much colour, because they wanted everything to be really calming and serene.”
A key element of the brief involved taking the couple’s two cats into account. “We had to think practically about cat hair and scratching,” Kate says. “For example, the couple really liked bouclé fabric, but we couldn’t go for that because the cats would have had a field day, so we stuck with plainer fabrics and leather.”
The atmosphere of the house was also a key part of the brief. “There isn’t much colour, because they wanted everything to be really calming and serene.”
To ensure the pale and neutral colour palette felt calming rather than cold, Kate was careful to bring in a lot of different textures. “They wanted it to be welcoming for guests and a great place to throw parties, but also cosy to chill out in,” she says.
A trio of delicate pendant lights at different heights emphasises the ceiling height, but also brings the level down a bit, so it feels cosier when the couple are sitting on the sofa.
Vertigo pendant lights, Petite Friture. Suita sofa, Vitra. Leather chairs, Made In Design.
A trio of delicate pendant lights at different heights emphasises the ceiling height, but also brings the level down a bit, so it feels cosier when the couple are sitting on the sofa.
Vertigo pendant lights, Petite Friture. Suita sofa, Vitra. Leather chairs, Made In Design.
As the couple wanted to be able to watch TV in this area, Kate devised a bespoke cabinet where it could be hidden. The design mimics a fireplace and chimney breast and is constructed from fluted wood panels, so it doubles as a feature wall when closed.
“The TV is concealed within the bottom part of the cabinet. The lower bifold doors hinge back on themselves 180 degrees, so that, when the TV’s on, they don’t swing out into the middle of the space,” Kate explains.
Joinery throughout, designed by Kate Whitfield; made by Luxe Projects London.
“The TV is concealed within the bottom part of the cabinet. The lower bifold doors hinge back on themselves 180 degrees, so that, when the TV’s on, they don’t swing out into the middle of the space,” Kate explains.
Joinery throughout, designed by Kate Whitfield; made by Luxe Projects London.
The unit is positioned above a cast concrete plinth that stretches across the room, with a recess giving the impression of there being a fireplace.
“I do a lot of bespoke joinery in my projects, and I’m into modernist design,” Kate says, adding that sustainability is always in mind. “If you design something well, using good-quality materials, and you pick a timeless design that someone is always going to love, then they’re not going to need to change it,” she says.
“I do a lot of bespoke joinery in my projects, and I’m into modernist design,” Kate says, adding that sustainability is always in mind. “If you design something well, using good-quality materials, and you pick a timeless design that someone is always going to love, then they’re not going to need to change it,” she says.
In the dining area, artwork in the form of a Perspex box with 3D cubes inside adds to the modernist feel, while a linear pendant over the table casts a warm glow at mealtimes.
Dining chairs, Made In Design. Artwork, HKliving. Linear pendant, Monologue.
Dining chairs, Made In Design. Artwork, HKliving. Linear pendant, Monologue.
Down in the snug, Kate worked in some more rich textures using oak and walnut, and added a squashy leather sofa for the couple to relax on. She devised a way to conceal all the wiring for the TV within a bespoke walnut unit to keep everything neat and tidy.
Leather sofa, Aram Store.
Leather sofa, Aram Store.
“I also designed the walnut wine rack,” Kate says.
More: When Does it Make Sense to Build in Bespoke Storage?
More: When Does it Make Sense to Build in Bespoke Storage?
For the kitchen on the mezzanine level, Kate went for a Scandi vibe, continuing the same neutral colour palette with clean door fronts, a polished concrete splashback, a quartzite worktop and large-format floor tiles. A transparent peninsula helps to keep the space looking airy.
Kitchen, Sola Kitchens. Bar stools, &Tradition. Porcelain floor tiles in Arctic Siberian, Solus Ceramics.
Kitchen, Sola Kitchens. Bar stools, &Tradition. Porcelain floor tiles in Arctic Siberian, Solus Ceramics.
Although garden design isn’t something Kate usually gets involved with, in this instance it made sense for her to play a part in it, as the inside and outside areas are so connected.
Garden construction and joinery, Luxe Projects London.
Garden construction and joinery, Luxe Projects London.
Kate continued the pared-back look of the interior. She also made sure all the plants she chose were safe for cats.
She added a built-in concrete bench that extends into a herb planter for some simple seating.
For the cloakroom, which is in its original space off the hallway, the couple were after something completely different. “They wanted it to be a bit of a gem,” Kate says. She repeated the fluted wood of the TV cabinet and added dark tiles and polished concrete, with some interesting lighting to add a bit of luxury.
Mirror, Heal’s. Basin and taps, Lusso Stone. Yubi wall tiles, Domus. Pendant light, Holloways of Ludlow.
Mirror, Heal’s. Basin and taps, Lusso Stone. Yubi wall tiles, Domus. Pendant light, Holloways of Ludlow.
A floor plan of the original layout shows what Kate had to work with.
Kate’s proposed plans for the ground floor.
Kate’s proposed plans for the first and second floors.
On the first floor, two of the bedrooms were converted into offices, as the couple frequently work from home. So this office could double as a project room, Kate chose an adjustable-height desk for the centre of the space.
Another desk in the window has a screen next to it that can be pulled right across to create a backdrop for Zoom calls.
Adjustable-height desk, Utility Design.
Another desk in the window has a screen next to it that can be pulled right across to create a backdrop for Zoom calls.
Adjustable-height desk, Utility Design.
For a bit of contrast, the office en suite features a moody look with dark concrete and tiles. “We loved these tiles so much we chose them for both bathrooms,” Kate says. “These are dark with a white stripe, while the other bathroom has white tiles with a black stripe.”
Tiles, Bert & May.
Tiles, Bert & May.
The paler colour palette in the home’s main bathroom is a reverse of the darker scheme.
Mirror; basin, both West One Bathrooms.
Mirror; basin, both West One Bathrooms.
In the second office, cork panelling can be used as a pinboard, but also has acoustic properties to reduce the echoey feel created by the wooden floor and high ceiling.
The steel rod shelving unit creates an interesting Zoom backdrop from the desk, which is on the opposite wall by the room’s window.
Steel rod unit, Mogg, available at Made In Design.
The steel rod shelving unit creates an interesting Zoom backdrop from the desk, which is on the opposite wall by the room’s window.
Steel rod unit, Mogg, available at Made In Design.
At the top of the house is the couple’s bedroom and en suite, and it’s turned out to be their favourite space in the house. “They wanted the bedroom to be a real retreat – somewhere they could just shut the door and forget about the day,” Kate says.
“We had long discussions about whether to have glass doors to the bedroom or not, but then went for it, as we realised there’s no reason for anyone else ever to come up here,” she says.
Artwork, Saatchi Art.
“We had long discussions about whether to have glass doors to the bedroom or not, but then went for it, as we realised there’s no reason for anyone else ever to come up here,” she says.
Artwork, Saatchi Art.
“It’s a really big bedroom and we thought about closing off a dressing area,” Kate says. “In the end, we created a half-height wall with a wardrobe and dressing space behind.” The half wall is finished in polished concrete and topped with concrete tiles.
Arlo throw, Soho Home. Bedside wall lamp, Ferm Living.
Arlo throw, Soho Home. Bedside wall lamp, Ferm Living.
A low chair and some hanging planters create a reading nook in the corner.
Lounge chair, HKliving.
Lounge chair, HKliving.
In the bedroom’s en suite, an elegant freestanding bath, walk-in shower and bespoke double vanity unit complete the luxury feel.
Over the course of a year, Kate and her team took the house from bare bones through to choosing plants and bed linen. Her advice to anyone embarking on a similar project? “If you’re going to get an interior designer on board, do it early,” she says. “And to get all the details right to this level, you must give the project time.”
Freestanding bath, Lusso Stone.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite part of Kate’s transformation of this home? Let us know in the Comments.
Over the course of a year, Kate and her team took the house from bare bones through to choosing plants and bed linen. Her advice to anyone embarking on a similar project? “If you’re going to get an interior designer on board, do it early,” she says. “And to get all the details right to this level, you must give the project time.”
Freestanding bath, Lusso Stone.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite part of Kate’s transformation of this home? Let us know in the Comments.
Who lives here? A professional couple and their two cats
Location Stoke Newington, north-east London
Property A modern mews house
Size Four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Interior architect Kate Whitfield of An Artful Life
The original hallway was starved of natural light, so Kate’s first priority was to open it up and create more connectivity between the spaces. Replacing solid wooden doors with glazed ones lets in light and allows a view out to the garden.
The inspired idea of fitting glazing above and to the side of the door has further boosted the light and sense of space. Pale walls and engineered oak flooring throughout, meanwhile, have enhanced the flow and created a cohesive aesthetic.
Pendant lights, Lampsy.