Houzz Tour: A Quietly Elegant Georgian Family Home
This Georgian house was extended and completely refurbished to create a family home that’s all about easy-to-live-with luxury
Jo Simmons
27 December 2014
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
After buying this beautiful Georgian home in a Bedfordshire village, Joe Burns, his wife Sharon and their young son actually moved into its adjoining barn. The house was in livable condition, but the family wanted to extend and refurbish it, and needed time to plan the space and mull over ideas. Once their thoughts had crystallised a little, they knew just who to call. ‘Joe is our managing director,’ laughs Katia Perez, head of design at luxury interior design & property development practice Oliver Burns, ‘so of course we would work on this project with him!’
The couple wanted to extend the living room to the west and the kitchen to the east, to create two large, key rooms on the ground floor. They sacrificed a formal dining space in order to create a playroom for their son between these two spaces, and extended up to create a spare bedroom with en suite in the loft.
When it came to the look and feel of the newly extended home, the brief was clear. ‘They wanted it to be in keeping with the age of the property,’ explains Katia. ‘So there are classic elements, such as the chequerboard flooring in the hallway and the elegant staircase.’
In addition, the house has many bespoke touches for an overall feeling of understated luxury that belies the family-friendly nature of the house. ‘There are practical touches, too, such as the industrial-grade fabric on the kitchen bench,’ says Katia. ‘Sharon also added pieces from the high street, so the house feels really easy to live in and everyone can relax and enjoy it.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Joe Burns, managing director of luxury interior design & property development practice Oliver Burns, his wife, Sharon Lillywhite, their son and their dog
Property A three-storey detached Georgian home with its own barn
Location A village in Bedfordshire
Size 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Designer Katia Perez, head of design at Oliver Burns
Duration of project About one year
The couple wanted to extend the living room to the west and the kitchen to the east, to create two large, key rooms on the ground floor. They sacrificed a formal dining space in order to create a playroom for their son between these two spaces, and extended up to create a spare bedroom with en suite in the loft.
When it came to the look and feel of the newly extended home, the brief was clear. ‘They wanted it to be in keeping with the age of the property,’ explains Katia. ‘So there are classic elements, such as the chequerboard flooring in the hallway and the elegant staircase.’
In addition, the house has many bespoke touches for an overall feeling of understated luxury that belies the family-friendly nature of the house. ‘There are practical touches, too, such as the industrial-grade fabric on the kitchen bench,’ says Katia. ‘Sharon also added pieces from the high street, so the house feels really easy to live in and everyone can relax and enjoy it.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Joe Burns, managing director of luxury interior design & property development practice Oliver Burns, his wife, Sharon Lillywhite, their son and their dog
Property A three-storey detached Georgian home with its own barn
Location A village in Bedfordshire
Size 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Designer Katia Perez, head of design at Oliver Burns
Duration of project About one year
Formal meets family in the beautiful hallway, where a bespoke staircase begins its snaking journey up to the top floor. ‘We had it made in wrought iron with a mahogany handrail, made from a single piece of wood,’ says Katia.
The lanterns were also made bespoke. ‘This space is in keeping with the grand, Georgian feel of the house,’ adds Katia, ‘but there are family photos lining the walls, which make it personal, too.’
Check out 10 ways to make a stylish entrance
The lanterns were also made bespoke. ‘This space is in keeping with the grand, Georgian feel of the house,’ adds Katia, ‘but there are family photos lining the walls, which make it personal, too.’
Check out 10 ways to make a stylish entrance
Extended to become a spacious, comfortable hub, the main living space has been decorated in a deep blue, with touches of gold. ‘It reminds the owners of their travels around the Amalfi coast in Italy,’ says Katia. ‘The rich indigo walls make a nice contrast to the dark wooden flooring, creating a cosy feel.’
The chandelier was made for the room and contains 1,800 hand-hung crystal droplets within a bronze frame.
SET160 Indigo wallcovering, Seltex Wallcoverings.
The chandelier was made for the room and contains 1,800 hand-hung crystal droplets within a bronze frame.
SET160 Indigo wallcovering, Seltex Wallcoverings.
The panelled doors are traditional in appearance, to suit this Georgian house, but Katia tweaked the size. ‘We took them up to the ceiling,’ she explains. ‘It lets more light flow through the house and also gives the illusion of height.’
The kitchen was made bespoke and hand-painted. ‘It’s luxurious, but the decision to include so much bespoke furniture was also about making the best use of space,’ says Katia.
Bench seating was designed in to provide space to eat here, as the dining room was converted into a playroom. ‘It’s upholstered in industrial-grade fabric, so it’s dog and child friendly,’ says Katia.
Cabinets painted in Silver eggshell, Zoffany. Worktops, Corian. Capitonné upholstery fabric, Aldeco from Avorez.
Bench seating was designed in to provide space to eat here, as the dining room was converted into a playroom. ‘It’s upholstered in industrial-grade fabric, so it’s dog and child friendly,’ says Katia.
Cabinets painted in Silver eggshell, Zoffany. Worktops, Corian. Capitonné upholstery fabric, Aldeco from Avorez.
‘Sharon wanted the grand factor in the kitchen,’ says Katia. ‘She specified including an Aga, too.’ Katia chose what she calls a ‘compromise between old and new’, which is an Aga that runs on electricity.
The island unit opposite contains all kinds of clever hidden features, including a breakfast cupboard with small appliances, and an oven for baking. The splashback is made from toughened distressed mirror glass. ‘It was cut on site to fit the space,’ says Katia.
The island unit opposite contains all kinds of clever hidden features, including a breakfast cupboard with small appliances, and an oven for baking. The splashback is made from toughened distressed mirror glass. ‘It was cut on site to fit the space,’ says Katia.
The playroom continues some of the elements of the other ground floor rooms, for cohesion, while also looking fun and youthful. ‘We carried over the blue on the sofa, and had the storage made bespoke,’ explains Katia, ‘but then we also added fun art and accents of red to create a contrast.’
Freddie Stars rug in Grey, Little Rug Company.
Freddie Stars rug in Grey, Little Rug Company.
A framed Hermès scarf hangs on the first floor landing. It depicts the island of Capri, a place much loved by the owners, and is another personal artwork to complement the family photos that line the stair wall.
‘Sharon and Joe wanted the same relaxed palette of greys and blues for the master bedroom,’ says Katia, ‘and a really big bed, too!’ The bespoke bed is upholstered in deep blue fabric and layered with sumptuous textiles. Classic pinstripe wallpaper creates a smart backdrop.
Wallpaper and bed linen, Ralph Lauren. Throw, Evitavonni.
Wallpaper and bed linen, Ralph Lauren. Throw, Evitavonni.
In the master en suite, a freestanding bath sits between two tall windows for a symmetrical feel. ‘The ceiling is quite low, so we had to choose a waterproof chandelier, for safety,’ says Katia. ‘This one is actually designed for use outdoors.’
Paris bath, The Water Monopoly. Drylight chandelier, Masiero.
Paris bath, The Water Monopoly. Drylight chandelier, Masiero.
Bespoke cabinetry has been used throughout the house, including in the master en suite bathroom. This beautiful unit has a eucalyptus veneer in a high-gloss finish with a chrome inlay. ‘The top is Carrara marble, which was cut to house the two under-mounted basins,’ says Katia. Mirrors extending up to the ceiling increase the feeling of space.
Eucalyptus veneer, Mundy Veneer.
Eucalyptus veneer, Mundy Veneer.
This bathroom was designed for the owners’ son. ‘It had to be fun, but also something he could grow up with,’ explains Katia. The pendant lights and mirror introduce a nautical theme and help give this space its own unique identity. ‘The lights are cast aluminium and steel industrial pendants, salvaged from communist-era factories across East Germany,’ she adds.
Lights, Trainspotters Industrial Lighting & Salvage. Rope mirror, Coach House.
Lights, Trainspotters Industrial Lighting & Salvage. Rope mirror, Coach House.
A freestanding bath with quirky portholes in the side brings more nautical fun to this bathroom. ‘The bath is actually an original French double-ended design, with portholes cut into it,’ says Katia. The blue and grey theme of the house is referenced here, but the blue on the walls is a lighter, less intense shade than the dark blues used on the ground floor.
Bath, The Water Monopoly.
See more fabulous freestanding baths
Bath, The Water Monopoly.
See more fabulous freestanding baths
The red used in the downstairs playroom is picked up in the owners’ son’s bedroom. ‘It’s his colour,’ says Katia, ‘and looks more lively for him.’
Blinds in Warwick Red Sky fabric, Lorna Syson. About A Chair AAC 23 upholstered chair, Hay at Innes
Blinds in Warwick Red Sky fabric, Lorna Syson. About A Chair AAC 23 upholstered chair, Hay at Innes
Beautiful balloon lights are a playful addition to the room and are teamed with wallpaper with a balloon design. The fresh palette of grey, red and white marks the space out as belonging to a child, but is nevertheless sophisticated enough to suit him as he grows up.
Memory Balloon lights, John Moncrieff.
Memory Balloon lights, John Moncrieff.
‘Sharon and Joe wanted the new loft space to be really tranquil with no colour,’ says Katia. A scheme of soft greys creates a relaxed and sophisticated feel up here, but the bulldog lamp adds a witty touch, to softly tweak all the calm elegance.
Bulldog lamp, Abigail Ahern.
Bulldog lamp, Abigail Ahern.
The en-suite bathroom in the loft also contains bespoke storage for the washing machine and tumble dryer. But there is no scrimping on luxury touches in here – the floor is Carrara marble.
Walls painted in Silver-double eggshell, Zoffany.
TELL US…
Inspired by this beautiful home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Walls painted in Silver-double eggshell, Zoffany.
TELL US…
Inspired by this beautiful home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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This house is magnificent! It seems cosy and friendly and aristocratic at the same time! And I really liked an idea about a bench attached to the back side of the kitchen island!
Отлично! на супер-5!!!
Отметил красивые шкафы с полками. Особенно приметна кухонная мебель с порталом. Интересное решение — остров с диванчиком. Жаль, что остров полностью не попал в кадр.