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Houzz Tour: A Rundown Victorian House Revived for a Large Family
Period features, rich colours and clever space-planning have reinvented this tired house for a couple, teens and a tot
The needs of this family were broad. Having come together a little later in life, the couple had two teens and a toddler between them and were seeking a home where they could all settle and enjoy life as one household. Pooling resources from their previous properties, they found this Victorian terrace.
To say they took on a project would be an understatement. “There was a family living upstairs, but the ground floor was uninhabited – there were floorboards missing and holes in the walls,” recalls designer Chi-Chi Baber of Lomax & Chi, who took over from the architect once the basic drawings had been done. Her challenge was to design a space that worked for all five of them, and her clever rejigging of the layout, use of rich colour, and restoration of period features has resulted in spaces that are individual but hang together as one cohesive home.
To say they took on a project would be an understatement. “There was a family living upstairs, but the ground floor was uninhabited – there were floorboards missing and holes in the walls,” recalls designer Chi-Chi Baber of Lomax & Chi, who took over from the architect once the basic drawings had been done. Her challenge was to design a space that worked for all five of them, and her clever rejigging of the layout, use of rich colour, and restoration of period features has resulted in spaces that are individual but hang together as one cohesive home.
The ground floor was extended into the side return and slightly at the back and now houses a sociable kitchen-diner. “The husband doesn’t like islands, so we had to think what worked for the space without making it feel cavernous,” Chi-Chi says. “The large bespoke table sits in the middle and is the hub of family life.” The table is made from scaffolding planks stained pale grey on a base made by a local company.
The glazing runs right across the back, but not all as doors. “The full expanse is so wide, you don’t need doors right across,” Chi-Chi says. “Having the two windows means you can ventilate the space in winter without having to have the doors open. The window on the seat side is much lower, so they can sit and see out without looking at the sill.”
The flooring is reclaimed Victorian wide oak boards.
Garden design, Hoss. Pendant lights, Industville.
The glazing runs right across the back, but not all as doors. “The full expanse is so wide, you don’t need doors right across,” Chi-Chi says. “Having the two windows means you can ventilate the space in winter without having to have the doors open. The window on the seat side is much lower, so they can sit and see out without looking at the sill.”
The flooring is reclaimed Victorian wide oak boards.
Garden design, Hoss. Pendant lights, Industville.
The couple had their hearts set on a handmade Shaker kitchen. “I designed it and the kitchen company made it,” Chi-Chi says. The wall cabinets are fronted with reeded glass. “The couple wanted some glass cabinets, but they didn’t want to see too clearly inside them,” she says.
The tap is copper, which is echoed in the cabinet handles and wall lights.
Kitchen cabinets, Olive & Barr; painted in Dock Blue, Little Greene. Handles, DeVOL. Worktop in Fresh Concrete, Caesarstone.
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The tap is copper, which is echoed in the cabinet handles and wall lights.
Kitchen cabinets, Olive & Barr; painted in Dock Blue, Little Greene. Handles, DeVOL. Worktop in Fresh Concrete, Caesarstone.
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Opposite the sink and cooker there’s a bank of floor-to-ceiling cabinets providing loads of storage. “The first cupboard [at the hall end] is full of the little girl’s toys. Then there’s an American-style fridge-freezer, then two 1400mm-wide larder units, one of which contains an integrated microwave,” Chi-Chi says. She didn’t need to make room for a washing machine, as there’s a small basement that accommodates a utility area.
At the garden end of the cabinets, there was room for a bench seat. “They didn’t want underfloor heating in here, so there’s a radiator under the seat, plus a couple at the other end of the room,” Chi-Chi says.
On the wall next to the cooker there are two rails holding pans. “[The man] loves cooking, and originally wanted to have lots of copper pans hanging on here, but they’ve not got round to getting those yet,” she says.
Upholstery fabric, Christopher Farr. Pan rails, Etsy. Tiles above bench, Bamboo Crema d’Orcia Select, Domus. Wall light above bench, Cox & Cox.
At the garden end of the cabinets, there was room for a bench seat. “They didn’t want underfloor heating in here, so there’s a radiator under the seat, plus a couple at the other end of the room,” Chi-Chi says.
On the wall next to the cooker there are two rails holding pans. “[The man] loves cooking, and originally wanted to have lots of copper pans hanging on here, but they’ve not got round to getting those yet,” she says.
Upholstery fabric, Christopher Farr. Pan rails, Etsy. Tiles above bench, Bamboo Crema d’Orcia Select, Domus. Wall light above bench, Cox & Cox.
The second reception room behind the former side return was disused.
Now it’s been turned into a snug that’s open to the kitchen, which is great for family life. “The younger child is at that age where she wants to see her parents, and she can play in here without them tripping over her,” Chi-Chi says.
She added the coving, picture rails and ceiling rose, as none remained, and laid tiles that match the blue paint on the walls, which is richly dark.
“At night-time it’s lovely,” she says. “It was leap of faith for the couple, but I kept saying the kitchen is so light and this area should feel cosy.”
Fireplace tiles, London Encaustic. Walls painted in Dock Blue, Little Greene.
She added the coving, picture rails and ceiling rose, as none remained, and laid tiles that match the blue paint on the walls, which is richly dark.
“At night-time it’s lovely,” she says. “It was leap of faith for the couple, but I kept saying the kitchen is so light and this area should feel cosy.”
Fireplace tiles, London Encaustic. Walls painted in Dock Blue, Little Greene.
Chi-Chi stole a little space from the snug to create storage for shoes, coats and hats in the hall.
More: 8 Clever Ideas for Designing a Hallway Cupboard
More: 8 Clever Ideas for Designing a Hallway Cupboard
The cornicing in the hallway is original and deliberately not fully restored. “There were a few bits missing and we thought, ‘Do we make good?’” Chi-Chi says. “But the couple are quite happy that it retains its original state and there are bits in the house that aren’t perfect.”
The front door is also original, just reconditioned. “They want to put stained glass in eventually, but bits like that got budgeted out,” Chi-Chi says. She has inset a large coir doormat (just seen). “We always try to make these as generous as possible, so you’re not treading dirt over your nice flooring,” she says.
The walls in here are very pale pink. “In the daytime it looks white, but in the evening it creates a really soft light,” Chi-Chi says.
The team moved the reception room doorway nearer to the front door to create space for a corner sofa in the living room.
Walls painted in China Clay, Little Greene. Front door painted in India Yellow, Farrow & Ball.
The front door is also original, just reconditioned. “They want to put stained glass in eventually, but bits like that got budgeted out,” Chi-Chi says. She has inset a large coir doormat (just seen). “We always try to make these as generous as possible, so you’re not treading dirt over your nice flooring,” she says.
The walls in here are very pale pink. “In the daytime it looks white, but in the evening it creates a really soft light,” Chi-Chi says.
The team moved the reception room doorway nearer to the front door to create space for a corner sofa in the living room.
Walls painted in China Clay, Little Greene. Front door painted in India Yellow, Farrow & Ball.
The front reception room was also disused and in a pretty dire state, but it did have original shutters.
Chi-Chi had the shutters reconditioned and joinery built into the alcoves, with woodwork and walls all painted in a sophisticated deep green.
The chairs were from eBay. “They were terrifyingly hideously upholstered,” Chi-Chi laughs, “so we got them re-covered. That original cane is very beautiful. The couple like that eclectic feel and having different stuff around.”
Upholstery fabric, Christopher Farr. Oak parquet flooring thoughout, Havwoods. Walls and woodwork painted in Ho Ho Green, Little Greene.
The chairs were from eBay. “They were terrifyingly hideously upholstered,” Chi-Chi laughs, “so we got them re-covered. That original cane is very beautiful. The couple like that eclectic feel and having different stuff around.”
Upholstery fabric, Christopher Farr. Oak parquet flooring thoughout, Havwoods. Walls and woodwork painted in Ho Ho Green, Little Greene.
The couple wanted this to be a relaxing hang-out space, so as well as a fabulously squishy sofa, plenty of books and a large TV, there are speakers in here connected to the main sound system in the snug.
The coving was replaced. “We tried to keep as much as we could, but it was so damp and gone, we had to replaster everything,” Chi-Chi says. The chimney is lined, so the fire can be lit if desired.
Sofa, Loaf.
The coving was replaced. “We tried to keep as much as we could, but it was so damp and gone, we had to replaster everything,” Chi-Chi says. The chimney is lined, so the fire can be lit if desired.
Sofa, Loaf.
The previous owners had their kitchen on the first floor. Even though the whole house had to be rewired and re-plumbed, turning this into a bathroom made sense, with so much plumbing in place.
In the now family bathroom, the window has been replaced with a more-in-keeping sash, and the team opened up the ceiling and put in reclaimed oak beams to give it some character.
The bath is in the middle of the room, rather than everything being round the edges. “We wanted to create a layout that would make it feel a bit different,” Chi-Chi says. “The owner knew she wanted a roll-top bath in there, but also a decent shower.”
Luna Rose encaustic tiles, Bert & May. Wall panelling painted in China Clay, Little Greene.
The bath is in the middle of the room, rather than everything being round the edges. “We wanted to create a layout that would make it feel a bit different,” Chi-Chi says. “The owner knew she wanted a roll-top bath in there, but also a decent shower.”
Luna Rose encaustic tiles, Bert & May. Wall panelling painted in China Clay, Little Greene.
Chi-Chi also incorporated a separate loo next to the bathroom, as there isn’t one on the ground floor.
Fornasetti Acquario wallpaper in Ink, Cole & Son.
Fornasetti Acquario wallpaper in Ink, Cole & Son.
The teenage daughters both have a big front bedroom – one on the second floor and this one on the first. A wall of bespoke joinery provides lots of storage and a desk area for homework.
In all the bedrooms, the walls have been re-lined with insulation, so the cornices had to be removed. “But we found as like-for-like as we could,” Chi-Chi says.
Palma curtain fabric in Grass, Christopher Farr. Woodwork painted in Breakfast Room Green, Farrow & Ball.
In all the bedrooms, the walls have been re-lined with insulation, so the cornices had to be removed. “But we found as like-for-like as we could,” Chi-Chi says.
Palma curtain fabric in Grass, Christopher Farr. Woodwork painted in Breakfast Room Green, Farrow & Ball.
The little girl’s room on the second floor is fresh and welcoming in white and pale pink. “It’s such a soft pink, so it’s not too much,” Chi-Chi says. The team fitted shelves in the alcove to create a lovely reading corner.
Explorer wallpaper, Hovia. Floor painted in Hicks’ Blue, Little Greene. Fireplace painted in Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball.
Explorer wallpaper, Hovia. Floor painted in Hicks’ Blue, Little Greene. Fireplace painted in Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball.
There was an attic conversion of sorts in place, but not with a dormer, and the original stairs took a chunk of the room, which affected both the layout and the light.
So Chi-Chi stole some space from the large front room downstairs, which is now the youngest teen daughter’s bedroom, to reposition the staircase. This also allowed room to fit a double-height sash window in the stairwell, which helps to flood light down through the house.
So Chi-Chi stole some space from the large front room downstairs, which is now the youngest teen daughter’s bedroom, to reposition the staircase. This also allowed room to fit a double-height sash window in the stairwell, which helps to flood light down through the house.
The loft is now a cosy space where the couple can relax. Fitting a dormer created the opportunity to incorporate a wall of glazing, from where they can enjoy the amazing view – “all the way to Hackney Downs when the trees aren’t in leaf”, Chi-Chi says.
The huge window opens fully at the top. “Because the space is so wide, you couldn’t have had a Juliet balcony, otherwise you would have needed some kind of brick detail breaking up the window,” she says. “This way, you can have the full expanse open, but with the safety of the fixed lower section.”
Because of the height of where the separation goes, Chi-Chi chose a low bed, so when the couple are sitting in it, their eye isn’t hitting that bar.
The huge window opens fully at the top. “Because the space is so wide, you couldn’t have had a Juliet balcony, otherwise you would have needed some kind of brick detail breaking up the window,” she says. “This way, you can have the full expanse open, but with the safety of the fixed lower section.”
Because of the height of where the separation goes, Chi-Chi chose a low bed, so when the couple are sitting in it, their eye isn’t hitting that bar.
The owner had seen the wallpaper and loved it, and the colours in the room led from there, with the deep green paint and dark wood furniture. “The owner wanted to feel as if she was in the trees,” Chi-Chi says.
There are lots of natural materials up here – wood, brick, sisal – to reinforce the connection to nature.
Forest wallpaper, Cole & Son. Walls painted in Woodbine, Bauwerk.
There are lots of natural materials up here – wood, brick, sisal – to reinforce the connection to nature.
Forest wallpaper, Cole & Son. Walls painted in Woodbine, Bauwerk.
The wardrobes, built by the joiner, are walnut veneer.
In the en suite, a large mirror visually doubles the space and reflects the two roof windows, boosting the light. Heat pads are fitted behind it to stop it steaming up.
The dark wood continues in here, complemented by brushed brass fittings.
Floor tiles, Claybrook.
The dark wood continues in here, complemented by brushed brass fittings.
Floor tiles, Claybrook.
The ‘before’ floorplan.
The ‘after’ floorplan. Notice the section stolen from the snug for coat storage; the relocated living room door, which has created space for the large corner sofa, and the repositioned stairs from the second floor to the loft room, which opened it up so successfully.
Unsurprisingly, the family all love their new home. “It’s that amazing feeling of space, and the children having their own rooms where they can hang out and friends can come round,” Chi-Chi says. “They’re all very happy.”
Tell us…
What do you like best about Chi-Chi’s transformation of this rundown house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like best about Chi-Chi’s transformation of this rundown house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A family with two teenagers and a four-year-old child
Location Hackney, north-east London
Property A Victorian terrace with four storeys plus a small basement area
Size Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Chi-Chi Baber of Lomax & Chi
Photos by Chris Snook
The couple like to entertain, but they also wanted areas where they could relax, while the teens and younger daughter needed spaces designed for them, too. “There was a lot of chat about the layout, about whether they wanted full open-plan or to close it off so the older kids could watch telly and be noisy while the others were in the kitchen,” Chi-Chi says.
The solution was to create a large kitchen-diner with a snug attached, plus a separate family living room, a big bedroom each for the teenagers, and a calm and cosy master suite for the parents.
Chi-Chi’s skill, though, was to tie the disparate areas together, so the house feels cohesive. “Clients often have a few things they want, but it’s important to explain there has to be some cohesion throughout the house,” she says. “Spaces, especially if open-plan to each other, need to flow, otherwise it’s just too much for the senses to take in.”