Houzz Tour: A Double-fronted Victorian House Filled with Light
Salvage, plants, art and a new, light-boosting layout turned a grand old house into an airy, characterful family home
Matt Giles, of Matthew Giles Architecture, and his wife, Liza, have lived in their south London home since 2010, finished renovating in 2018, and love the property so much they don’t plan to move any time soon.
Over the years, this double-fronted house had been used as a social club and administrative centre for the local Catholic Church, and a school for children excluded from mainstream education. “When we bought it, it was habitable, but it hadn’t been cared for in some time,” Matt says. “After all the different uses, it had been chopped up and had partitions put in and windows blocked up, and it generally had quite a weird arrangement of rooms.”
Most significantly, Matt and Liza reorganised the ground floor. “We couldn’t afford to do major work,” Matt says, “so we tried to do fairly minimal structural alterations to open up the space, make it flow better and increase natural light.” They also upgraded the building’s insulation, double-glazed the windows and filled the place with salvaged treasures and art.
Over the years, this double-fronted house had been used as a social club and administrative centre for the local Catholic Church, and a school for children excluded from mainstream education. “When we bought it, it was habitable, but it hadn’t been cared for in some time,” Matt says. “After all the different uses, it had been chopped up and had partitions put in and windows blocked up, and it generally had quite a weird arrangement of rooms.”
Most significantly, Matt and Liza reorganised the ground floor. “We couldn’t afford to do major work,” Matt says, “so we tried to do fairly minimal structural alterations to open up the space, make it flow better and increase natural light.” They also upgraded the building’s insulation, double-glazed the windows and filled the place with salvaged treasures and art.
The hallway is also now airy and light. These doors are just to the left of the ones in the first photo and are at the far end of the entrance hall.
When Matt and Liza bought the house, there was a wall blocking this view and closing off what was then the kitchen, at the back of the house. “The walls were only partitions, so removing them was simple and brought masses of light into the space,” Matt says.
Floor tiles, Bert & May. Antique mirror, reclaimed. Slim-legged metal console, made by a friend.
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When Matt and Liza bought the house, there was a wall blocking this view and closing off what was then the kitchen, at the back of the house. “The walls were only partitions, so removing them was simple and brought masses of light into the space,” Matt says.
Floor tiles, Bert & May. Antique mirror, reclaimed. Slim-legged metal console, made by a friend.
Find reviewed architects and building designers in your area on Houzz.
The view towards the front door is equally beautiful. The palette is largely a mix of greens and the plants everywhere take the lead. The art in the house is mainly a mix of vintage finds and Liza’s own work.
The curtain by the restored original front door is set back to create a little vestibule at the entrance. “A vestibule is a nice thing to have,” Matt says. “It helps to keep the cool air out and provide a break between the main house and the front door.”
Matt also restored the dark wood handrail for the staircase, but the balustrade is new, with turned spindles replaced by skinny ones. “I don’t think the ones we had were original and, personally, I prefer these simpler ones,” he says. “It’s an inexpensive thing to do and makes a subtle difference.”
Canvas stair runner, vintage fabric from Ardingly Antiques Fair.
The curtain by the restored original front door is set back to create a little vestibule at the entrance. “A vestibule is a nice thing to have,” Matt says. “It helps to keep the cool air out and provide a break between the main house and the front door.”
Matt also restored the dark wood handrail for the staircase, but the balustrade is new, with turned spindles replaced by skinny ones. “I don’t think the ones we had were original and, personally, I prefer these simpler ones,” he says. “It’s an inexpensive thing to do and makes a subtle difference.”
Canvas stair runner, vintage fabric from Ardingly Antiques Fair.
Matt had all the cornicing and ceiling roses reinstated, as most were missing or damaged. He also did some modernising – this doorway into the dining room and another one into the new kitchen, directly opposite, were enlarged.
“The openings are 1.5m wide and 3m high,” he says. “The idea is that you get a sense of the width of the house and get that lateral view. They also connect the living/dining room and the kitchen, because they’re usually open. It’s a great space for parties.” On chilly winter evenings, the family light the fire and close off this room to the hallway.
The doors are detailed carefully so they fold back fully and don’t have architraves or visible door openings. They’re painted in a warm, pale grey, while the walls throughout are matt white.
Note the shadow gap detailing, too, where skirting boards would have been. “It creates a bit of an art gallery feel,” Matt says. Indeed, the house has hosted lots of private views.
Oak chevron parquet flooring, Turgon.
“The openings are 1.5m wide and 3m high,” he says. “The idea is that you get a sense of the width of the house and get that lateral view. They also connect the living/dining room and the kitchen, because they’re usually open. It’s a great space for parties.” On chilly winter evenings, the family light the fire and close off this room to the hallway.
The doors are detailed carefully so they fold back fully and don’t have architraves or visible door openings. They’re painted in a warm, pale grey, while the walls throughout are matt white.
Note the shadow gap detailing, too, where skirting boards would have been. “It creates a bit of an art gallery feel,” Matt says. Indeed, the house has hosted lots of private views.
Oak chevron parquet flooring, Turgon.
Matt also created a skinny doorway at the rear of the hall and loves this slice of a view into the living area.
In this shot, the dining table has been moved, but the trio of pendants usually hangs above it.
Full-length linen curtains hang from a slender untreated steel rod.
Bertoia Diamond chairs, available at Heal’s. Saarinen side table, vintage. Rug, Golran.
Full-length linen curtains hang from a slender untreated steel rod.
Bertoia Diamond chairs, available at Heal’s. Saarinen side table, vintage. Rug, Golran.
The seating end of the room has the same low-level, floating shelving that pops up elsewhere in the house. Matt had the shelves made from door blanks, cut in half lengthways, painted and dowelled into the walls.
The doors replaced a large window that had been in the same spot. They’re the original width, but Matt had the brickwork at the window base knocked out to make way for them.
These open onto a 3m-deep veranda that stretches the full width of the house, which is – at this level – one metre above the garden.
Matt and Liza reopened both chimneys in the room. The marble surrounds were picked up at a reclamation yard.
Bespoke steel glazed doors, Maxlight. Rugs, Golran.
The doors replaced a large window that had been in the same spot. They’re the original width, but Matt had the brickwork at the window base knocked out to make way for them.
These open onto a 3m-deep veranda that stretches the full width of the house, which is – at this level – one metre above the garden.
Matt and Liza reopened both chimneys in the room. The marble surrounds were picked up at a reclamation yard.
Bespoke steel glazed doors, Maxlight. Rugs, Golran.
Matt moved the kitchen to the front of the house. It’s now directly opposite the dining/living room, with an identical door off the hallway. “We spent money on this room,” Matt says, “but everything happens here – and, 10 years later, it’s still going strong.”
The worktops are statuary marble. The same stone clads the 3m-long island and was used to make the cantilevered shelf that displays glasses. “People worry about using marble in a kitchen, but as long as you look after it, it will look good for a long time,” Matt says.
Kitchen, Daulby and Tickle. Stools, Hay. Chandelier, antique.
The worktops are statuary marble. The same stone clads the 3m-long island and was used to make the cantilevered shelf that displays glasses. “People worry about using marble in a kitchen, but as long as you look after it, it will look good for a long time,” Matt says.
Kitchen, Daulby and Tickle. Stools, Hay. Chandelier, antique.
Matt and Liza bought the parts to make the simple pendants over the worktop – bulb holders, bare filament bulbs and fabric cable, plus small, black, powder-coated steel discs made to order by a local metal workshop.
Opposite, there are steel shelves – L-shaped panels screwed to the wall. “They won’t take anything too heavy, but are perfect for glasses,” Matt says.
More: Wall Units, Shelves or Nothing: Which is Best for Your Kitchen?
More: Wall Units, Shelves or Nothing: Which is Best for Your Kitchen?
The opening to the right takes you round the back of the staircase and into the room that used to be the kitchen at the back of the house. “I just wanted to create a bit of circulation,” Matt explains.
The opening also conceals an extractor, as Matt wanted to keep the wall above the worktop open. “You don’t have to have one of these above your hob; it’s very effective here,” he says.
The opening also conceals an extractor, as Matt wanted to keep the wall above the worktop open. “You don’t have to have one of these above your hob; it’s very effective here,” he says.
Here’s the other side of the opening from the kitchen, emerging from behind the stairs. Opposite, behind the wall of plants, is a cloakroom.
The former kitchen is now a spot for sitting with a coffee or a cocktail or reading. The doors open onto the veranda.
Table, Designer’s Guild. Wicker chairs, reclaimed and repainted. Lampshades, reclaimed.
The former kitchen is now a spot for sitting with a coffee or a cocktail or reading. The doors open onto the veranda.
Table, Designer’s Guild. Wicker chairs, reclaimed and repainted. Lampshades, reclaimed.
Upstairs, there used to be a wall cutting across this view, towards the front of the house. Along with demolishing that, Matt increased the height of the door openings from around 2m to 2.7m. “We do this quite a lot. It’s not very expensive to do and is just quite elegant,” he says
The first floor bathroom features zingy back-painted glass. “It’s really good and practical for showers – simple and clean,” Matt says. The screen is a fixed piece of frosted glass.
Corian double basin, CP Hart. Brass taps, Bolas.
Corian double basin, CP Hart. Brass taps, Bolas.
The main bedroom has a bespoke, low bed made from steel.
Artwork, Victor Pasmore. Tab lamp, Flos.
Artwork, Victor Pasmore. Tab lamp, Flos.
At the end of the bed is a seating area by the large sash window overlooking the street. “The chaise longue is a turn-of-the-century Scandinavian design, bought second-hand for hardly anything and reupholstered,” Matt says. The chandelier is also an antique.
Across the landing from the main bedroom is a guest room.
The loft already existed, but Matt refurbished it and put this pretty bathroom in. The boys’ bedrooms are also on this floor.
“We feel very lucky to be here; it’s a lovely house to live in and it’s on a lovely road,” Matt says. “We’ve been here for 12 years and we’ll probably be here for at least another 12.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite detail from this elegant renovation? Let us know in the Comments.
“We feel very lucky to be here; it’s a lovely house to live in and it’s on a lovely road,” Matt says. “We’ve been here for 12 years and we’ll probably be here for at least another 12.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite detail from this elegant renovation? Let us know in the Comments.
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Who lives here? Architect Matthew Giles, his wife, artist Liza Giles, and their two teenage sons
Location Peckham, south London
Property A double-fronted Victorian house, built in the 1880s
Size Six bedrooms (one used as a studio), three bathrooms and an original basement (not photographed)
Designer Matthew Giles at Matthew Giles Architects
Photos by Rei Moon of MoonRay Studio
Many of the alterations to the building before Matt and Liza’s renovation had reduced the flow of light and closed spaces off. In the living room, a partition had cut the room in two. This view is taken from what is now the dining room, with windows onto the street behind and a view across the seating area towards the new steel doors onto the garden. Now that this is one space, the expanses of glazing at either end flood the large room with light.
Serge Mouille Lampadaire 3 Floor Lamp, available from AndLight.