Houzz Tour: A Family Home That’s Both Luxurious and Relaxed
High-end features combine with fun, cosy elements to create a home that feels both chic and comfortable
What does your dream home look like? If it contains practical and luxurious features while still retaining an informal and relaxed feel, this house could provide some inspiration.
Interior designer Henrietta Hogan had worked with members of the owners’ extended family in the past, so she came well recommended. She set about designing a home that centred on a sociable kitchen with easy access to the garden and included plenty of spots for relaxation and fun family life, as well as some clever features such as pop-up TVs, smart controls and even a steam shower with Bluetooth access.
Interior designer Henrietta Hogan had worked with members of the owners’ extended family in the past, so she came well recommended. She set about designing a home that centred on a sociable kitchen with easy access to the garden and included plenty of spots for relaxation and fun family life, as well as some clever features such as pop-up TVs, smart controls and even a steam shower with Bluetooth access.
The kitchen was extended by a metre and the back is fully glazed, so it can be opened up completely to the garden. The patio flooring has a similar look to the limestone used indoors to allow a seamless transition from inside to out.
Even more light spills into the space through pitched lantern-style rooflights above the cooking area.
Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
Even more light spills into the space through pitched lantern-style rooflights above the cooking area.
Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
Practical storage was built along one wall, with a pantry/breakfast cupboard on the left and an integrated fridge-freezer on the right flanking a range cooker.
“We also fitted an opening over the range cooker with recessed shelves either side for utensils and spices,” Henrietta says.
Range cooker, Wolf.
“We also fitted an opening over the range cooker with recessed shelves either side for utensils and spices,” Henrietta says.
Range cooker, Wolf.
Henrietta located an informal dining area in the side return extension and installed glazing above to give the space a bright feel. Casing around each glazed panel conceals automated blinds, which can be closed at night or when it gets too hot.
The wall is covered with brick slips to give the space a cosier look, and banquette seating with storage below adds to the relaxed feel.
The wall is covered with brick slips to give the space a cosier look, and banquette seating with storage below adds to the relaxed feel.
A door from the kitchen leads directly into a snug, where the family can spread out on a wide, comfy sofa and watch TV or films.
The room also links to the formal living room, so Henrietta was free to block the hallway door to fit in the sofa. “We worked with a company to have the sofa made,” she says. “As the couple wanted an ottoman, we were a bit limited on where we could put a table, so I thought it would be nice to add a surface in the middle of the sofa.”
Existing shutters on the glazed kitchen doorway were stained a dark colour, and these can be shut when the family want more privacy in this room.
Walls and joinery painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
The room also links to the formal living room, so Henrietta was free to block the hallway door to fit in the sofa. “We worked with a company to have the sofa made,” she says. “As the couple wanted an ottoman, we were a bit limited on where we could put a table, so I thought it would be nice to add a surface in the middle of the sofa.”
Existing shutters on the glazed kitchen doorway were stained a dark colour, and these can be shut when the family want more privacy in this room.
Walls and joinery painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
The dark scheme in the snug gives it a cosy, cinema feel. Bespoke storage either side of the fireplace has enough cupboard space for toys, while integrated LED strip lighting casts an ambient glow in the evening.
The striking fireplace surround in the living room helped to inform the colour palette. The clients really like blue, and this was toned with the earthier hues from the fireplace.
“The sofas were the clients’ own, so we re-covered them in a pale blue velvet with contrasting cushions,” Henrietta says.
The textured wallpaper also has a hint of blue in it, while plain blinds were hung at the window so as not to deflect from the architectural details.
Wharf Way wallpaper, Phillip Jeffries. Tray tables, Andrew Martin. Lighting, Baccarat. Sofas, George Smith; upholstered in fabric from Donghia. Cushion fabric, Romo.
“The sofas were the clients’ own, so we re-covered them in a pale blue velvet with contrasting cushions,” Henrietta says.
The textured wallpaper also has a hint of blue in it, while plain blinds were hung at the window so as not to deflect from the architectural details.
Wharf Way wallpaper, Phillip Jeffries. Tray tables, Andrew Martin. Lighting, Baccarat. Sofas, George Smith; upholstered in fabric from Donghia. Cushion fabric, Romo.
A dark scheme with brass fittings and a bold, patterned wallpaper helps to elevate the downstairs loo.
Limerence wallpaper in Ink, House of Hackney. Panelling painted in Woad, Little Greene. Basin and fittings, CP Hart.
Limerence wallpaper in Ink, House of Hackney. Panelling painted in Woad, Little Greene. Basin and fittings, CP Hart.
In such a small space, it was tricky to find somewhere to store the toilet paper, so Henrietta came up with a clever idea. Below the shelf unit is a small cupboard just large enough for a few loo rolls. Henrietta covered the cupboard in wallpaper so it merges with the walls and added a discreet brass handle.
Joinery, Arctos Works. Brass handle, Joseph Giles.
Joinery, Arctos Works. Brass handle, Joseph Giles.
As part of the renovation, the cellar was refurbished. The same firm who made the kitchen built a run of cabinetry for extra shoes and outerwear.
A wall of brick slips forms a corridor, and the services from the kitchen were moved to a cupboard at the end of the passageway.
Cabinetry, Hetherington Newman.
More: How to Choose a Cabinet-maker
A wall of brick slips forms a corridor, and the services from the kitchen were moved to a cupboard at the end of the passageway.
Cabinetry, Hetherington Newman.
More: How to Choose a Cabinet-maker
A split-level first floor, with a bathroom on the lower level and a drawing room on the upper level, was converted into one large suite where the couple can relax away from the bustle of the rest of the house.
Henrietta chose a calming neutral scheme for the bedroom, with plush layers of satin and velvet. She designed a luxurious padded headboard with a pair of antique mirrors either side.
From the bed, the couple can remotely control the curtains and blinds, as well as a TV that pops up and rotates from the fabric-lined panel at the base of the bed.
All joinery throughout the suite, Dalbergia. Pendant light, Porta Romana. Walls throughout the suite painted in Slaked Lime Mid, Little Greene.
From the bed, the couple can remotely control the curtains and blinds, as well as a TV that pops up and rotates from the fabric-lined panel at the base of the bed.
All joinery throughout the suite, Dalbergia. Pendant light, Porta Romana. Walls throughout the suite painted in Slaked Lime Mid, Little Greene.
A dressing room separates the bedroom and en suite bathroom. Henrietta added plenty of storage in this space.
A space-saving pocket door leads into the bathroom, with a bespoke vanity unit on the left and a bath on the right.
Mirrors above the vanity unit open up to reveal recessed storage.
Sanitaryware, CP Hart. Flume wall light, J Adams & Co.
Mirrors above the vanity unit open up to reveal recessed storage.
Sanitaryware, CP Hart. Flume wall light, J Adams & Co.
The bathroom walls and floor are covered with marble tiles, which contrast with warm brass fittings.
A step at the end of the bathing area leads to a steam shower with a seat and Bluetooth controls for listening to music. The shower walls are covered with stunning bookmatched marble.
A step at the end of the bathing area leads to a steam shower with a seat and Bluetooth controls for listening to music. The shower walls are covered with stunning bookmatched marble.
The couple’s two sons share a room on the second floor and Henrietta wanted to make this a fun space that would grow with them. She chose a blue and orange space-themed wallpaper and combined this with blue and natural wood on the joinery.
“The boys’ cousins come to stay often, so we wanted to give them enough space for sleepovers,” Henrietta says. She designed two bunk beds with storage below and a large bottom bunk, so each boy has their own area with room for a guest above.
Alcoves either side of the chimney breast were the perfect spot for some shallow cabinets (next to the bed seen here, and at the head of the bed out of shot). “The boys can place a book on the surface and lift the lid to reveal fun secret storage,” Henrietta says.
It’s thoughtful details like this that have turned the property into a practical and comfortable home for the family to enjoy. The owner’s review sums up how pleased they are. “We have ended up with the home we wanted that is not only beautiful but practical, which has made settling in a very quick process!”
Wallpaper, Harlequin. Joinery, Arctos Works.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite room in this comfortable family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
“The boys’ cousins come to stay often, so we wanted to give them enough space for sleepovers,” Henrietta says. She designed two bunk beds with storage below and a large bottom bunk, so each boy has their own area with room for a guest above.
Alcoves either side of the chimney breast were the perfect spot for some shallow cabinets (next to the bed seen here, and at the head of the bed out of shot). “The boys can place a book on the surface and lift the lid to reveal fun secret storage,” Henrietta says.
It’s thoughtful details like this that have turned the property into a practical and comfortable home for the family to enjoy. The owner’s review sums up how pleased they are. “We have ended up with the home we wanted that is not only beautiful but practical, which has made settling in a very quick process!”
Wallpaper, Harlequin. Joinery, Arctos Works.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite room in this comfortable family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A family of four with another child on the way
Location West London
Property A Victorian house
Size Four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Henrietta Hogan of Henrietta Hogan Interiors
Building contractors GH Contractors
The family who live in this Victorian house wanted the kitchen to be the heart of their home – a place to cook, relax and socialise with friends.
To unlock the layout, designer Henrietta Hogan needed to remove a services cupboard adjacent to the door, which was jutting into the space. The bulky services were relocated to the cellar, and the large cupboard was replaced with a shallow dresser-style cabinet in dark oak. An air conditioning unit and TV screen are housed discreetly within it.
A large island with plenty of worktop space and a sink is positioned in the centre of the room. The curved end, which is clad in the same dark oak as the cabinet, allows people to sit comfortably around the island while someone cooks.
Bespoke kitchen, Hetherington Newman. Walls painted in Strong White, Farrow & Ball.