Houzz Tour: A Two-storey Extension Transforms a Victorian Home
Smart space planning and thoughtful use of texture have created a beautiful home that’s full of personality
Renovating a period property isn’t always straightforward, but, fortunately, interior designer Stephen Nash could draw on his experience when it came to the revamp of the 1890s red-brick cottage he’d bought with his wife, Miranda.
Their rear extension required more work than would have been the case with a newer property, but the hard graft paid off, resulting in a spacious, light-filled home that’s full of texture and character.
Their rear extension required more work than would have been the case with a newer property, but the hard graft paid off, resulting in a spacious, light-filled home that’s full of texture and character.
The fact that the couple were keen to have no columns in the open-plan space was an added factor in the decision, but it’s enabled them to create a light, airy living space that’s easy to move around.
“We wanted the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area to be the main hub for entertaining and everyday use,” Stephen says.
The kitchen itself is in the rear left-hand corner of the room. “There’s a long wall here, so it meant we could put a run of units along it,” he explains.
To the right of the range cooker and base units is a cupboard that houses the boiler, fuse box and plumbing controls, and to the left is an integrated fridge-freezer.
At the end of the kitchen, Stephen designed an oriel window, where people can sit while someone’s cooking.
“We wanted the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area to be the main hub for entertaining and everyday use,” Stephen says.
The kitchen itself is in the rear left-hand corner of the room. “There’s a long wall here, so it meant we could put a run of units along it,” he explains.
To the right of the range cooker and base units is a cupboard that houses the boiler, fuse box and plumbing controls, and to the left is an integrated fridge-freezer.
At the end of the kitchen, Stephen designed an oriel window, where people can sit while someone’s cooking.
The kitchen units are bespoke, with all the doors and panels made by Stephen’s carpenter, Gregos.
“It’s quite a minimal design, with very narrow beading around the edge, and handles the same size as the trim,” Stephen says. “The exposed brick and steel supports elsewhere are quite busy, so this offers a nice balance.”
Units painted in Black Blue, Farrow & Ball.
“It’s quite a minimal design, with very narrow beading around the edge, and handles the same size as the trim,” Stephen says. “The exposed brick and steel supports elsewhere are quite busy, so this offers a nice balance.”
Units painted in Black Blue, Farrow & Ball.
The chunky worktops either side of the cooker are made from a solid terrazzo concrete, while the 3.3m long island is covered with reclaimed parquet flooring.
“This was the first thing I’d decided on before we planned the renovation,” Stephen says. “It was a nightmare to do, but well worth it.”
Stephen and Gregos spent hours scraping bitumen off the bottom of the wood. Then Gregos glued each piece individually, finally sealing it all with raw oil to make it water-resistant.
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“This was the first thing I’d decided on before we planned the renovation,” Stephen says. “It was a nightmare to do, but well worth it.”
Stephen and Gregos spent hours scraping bitumen off the bottom of the wood. Then Gregos glued each piece individually, finally sealing it all with raw oil to make it water-resistant.
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The sink area is framed with the terrazzo to keep it waterproof. “I chose a terrazzo with brownish flecks to take into account the oak it was sitting next to,” Stephen says.
Evo brass kitchen tap, Tapwell.
Evo brass kitchen tap, Tapwell.
Above the island is a hanging shelf made from Carrara marble. “We had to drill through the steels to support it with brass chain fixings,” Stephen says. “It’s a nice place to display bits and bobs and have plants hanging down.”
Stephen found the 1950s German pendant lights at an antiques market. “The industrial Bakelite finish adds another texture to the room,” he says. “As the whole space is white and grey, I’ve added interest with texture.”
Find a range of shelves, including a hanging brass and marble one, in the Houzz Shop
Stephen found the 1950s German pendant lights at an antiques market. “The industrial Bakelite finish adds another texture to the room,” he says. “As the whole space is white and grey, I’ve added interest with texture.”
Find a range of shelves, including a hanging brass and marble one, in the Houzz Shop
The couple fitted heating beneath the microcement flooring. “The concrete works incredibly well with the underfloor heating,” says Stephen. “It’s cool in summer and nice and warm in winter.”
The back wall is lined with steel-framed French windows and side panels. “They’re beautiful and let in so much light,” Stephen enthuses.
Microcement flooring, Kote London. Steel doors, IDF Aluminium Doors.
The back wall is lined with steel-framed French windows and side panels. “They’re beautiful and let in so much light,” Stephen enthuses.
Microcement flooring, Kote London. Steel doors, IDF Aluminium Doors.
“In this big room, we wanted to make a chill-out area where you can whack the telly on while someone’s cooking dinner,” Stephen says. A modular sofa sits in front of a cosy wood-burning stove and stylish TV. The microcement runs up the chimney breast to match the floor.
The TV is a particular favourite of Stephen’s. “It took me a while to convince Miranda to buy it, but it’s the only TV I’ve seen that’s beautiful enough to have on show,” he says.
Wood-burning stove, The London Stove Company. Mags modular sofa, Hay. Serif TV, Samsung.
The TV is a particular favourite of Stephen’s. “It took me a while to convince Miranda to buy it, but it’s the only TV I’ve seen that’s beautiful enough to have on show,” he says.
Wood-burning stove, The London Stove Company. Mags modular sofa, Hay. Serif TV, Samsung.
The Ercol dining table and chairs are second-hand finds. At the back of the space, a G Plan sideboard, which belonged to Stephen’s grandmother, provides useful storage for crockery.
Dining table and chairs, Everything But The Dog.
Dining table and chairs, Everything But The Dog.
Adjacent to the large open-plan kitchen-diner is a smaller, more formal living room. “We wanted this room to have a softer feel, so we went for a grey chevron floor,” Stephen says.
Deep blue-green walls surround a terracotta velvet sofa, two midcentury chairs, and a coffee table from Stephen’s grandmother.
Sofa, The Conran Shop. Chevron floor, Kährs. Midcentury chairs, Everything But The Dog. Walls painted in Livid, Little Greene.
Deep blue-green walls surround a terracotta velvet sofa, two midcentury chairs, and a coffee table from Stephen’s grandmother.
Sofa, The Conran Shop. Chevron floor, Kährs. Midcentury chairs, Everything But The Dog. Walls painted in Livid, Little Greene.
Opposite, Stephens’ carpenter built shelving and cupboards in the alcoves, with LED strips positioned along the shelves. The cupboards are identical to the kitchen cabinets, but painted to match the living room walls.
“We decided to expose the brickwork around the fire opening, which worked out well,” Stephen says. “We chose a gas fire in here, as we wanted to be able to walk in and turn it on easily.”
“We decided to expose the brickwork around the fire opening, which worked out well,” Stephen says. “We chose a gas fire in here, as we wanted to be able to walk in and turn it on easily.”
In the cloakroom, Stephen chose a vibrant wallpaper. A 1960s luggage rack with coat hooks and hat storage is ideal for stowing away any overspill of outerwear from the hallway.
Spotted Plum wall treatment, Martyn Thompson Studio.
Spotted Plum wall treatment, Martyn Thompson Studio.
The hallway has a traditional feel, with panelling and dark blue walls. “The front of the house is the original part, as opposed to the newer section at the back,” says Stephen. “I wanted the design of each area to be in keeping with its exterior.”
“The stairs were a happy accident,” he adds. “Once we’d taken the carpet off, we just couldn’t think of anything we liked the look of more than this exposed wood, so we left it as it was.”
Walls painted in Squid Ink, Paint & Paper Library.
“The stairs were a happy accident,” he adds. “Once we’d taken the carpet off, we just couldn’t think of anything we liked the look of more than this exposed wood, so we left it as it was.”
Walls painted in Squid Ink, Paint & Paper Library.
The property has a few different types of roof – gable, pitched and flat – so the mismatched ceilings presented a challenge when it came to painting the landing. The couple had chosen this nude plaster colour for the walls, which they really loved. However, it would have looked quite confusing to paint up to the different angles and heights of the ceiling.
“By keeping the top section white, we could unify the different ceilings and make it feel as one,” Stephen explains.
The vintage desk at the top of the stairs is handy for evening work. “This is my 9pm to 11pm desk,” Stephen laughs, “and it’s also the cats’ favourite perch.”
Walls painted in Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Floorboards waxed with Snow White, Osmo.
“By keeping the top section white, we could unify the different ceilings and make it feel as one,” Stephen explains.
The vintage desk at the top of the stairs is handy for evening work. “This is my 9pm to 11pm desk,” Stephen laughs, “and it’s also the cats’ favourite perch.”
Walls painted in Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Floorboards waxed with Snow White, Osmo.
There wasn’t a bathroom in the house when the couple bought it, so the extension enabled Stephen to fit one in.
There wasn’t a bathroom in the house when the couple bought it, so the extension enabled Stephen to fit one in.
“It was quite hard to plan,” he says. “We had to cut a portion off another room, take out the chimney, vault the ceiling and add steel bars to support the chimney above.”
“It was quite hard to plan,” he says. “We had to cut a portion off another room, take out the chimney, vault the ceiling and add steel bars to support the chimney above.”
The couple also fitted a skylight, which helps to fill this lofty room with plenty of daylight.
“It’s quite a small room, but we wanted a separate shower,” Stephen says. “So we tanked the whole space to turn it into a watertight wetroom.”
A screen protects the toilet, but the rest of the room contains water-resistant materials that can get wet.
Exposed brick on the left and on the chimney contrasts with two walls of microcement in a slightly darker colour than that used downstairs. A concrete basin sits above a hardwood vanity unit, which is painted in a high gloss.
On the floor, honed Carrara marble tiles add another layer of interest, while brass fittings and a copper pipe towel radiator bring warmth to the space.
“It’s quite a small room, but we wanted a separate shower,” Stephen says. “So we tanked the whole space to turn it into a watertight wetroom.”
A screen protects the toilet, but the rest of the room contains water-resistant materials that can get wet.
Exposed brick on the left and on the chimney contrasts with two walls of microcement in a slightly darker colour than that used downstairs. A concrete basin sits above a hardwood vanity unit, which is painted in a high gloss.
On the floor, honed Carrara marble tiles add another layer of interest, while brass fittings and a copper pipe towel radiator bring warmth to the space.
The split colour idea continues into the master bedroom. Here, a light grey shade finishes in line with the top of the door frame.
The picture propped on the midcentury sideboard is a vintage poster. “My wife thought the people in it looked like us, so we just had to get it,” Stephen laughs.
A pale orange throw, brought home from a holiday in Paxos, adds colour to the bed.
Pale grey alpaca throw, The Conran Shop. Walls painted in Cotton V, Paint & Paper Library.
The picture propped on the midcentury sideboard is a vintage poster. “My wife thought the people in it looked like us, so we just had to get it,” Stephen laughs.
A pale orange throw, brought home from a holiday in Paxos, adds colour to the bed.
Pale grey alpaca throw, The Conran Shop. Walls painted in Cotton V, Paint & Paper Library.
Bespoke wardrobes are fitted either side of a chimney breast, and Stephen made use of the shallow central area to design a vanity area for Miranda.
“She can do her make-up here, then close the doors to hide everything away,” he says.
“She can do her make-up here, then close the doors to hide everything away,” he says.
In the second bedroom, the area to the right of the exposed wall is part of the extension. The room is full of vintage finds and midcentury furniture.
In the third bedroom, Stephen removed five layers to expose an original fireplace. The picture above the bed is an oil painting by Stephen’s wife. “She hates that I framed it, but I genuinely love it,” he says.
Bedding, Habitat. Fireplace painted in Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball.
Bedding, Habitat. Fireplace painted in Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball.
At the rear of the house, part of the new extension is clad in black cedar, which ties in with the black window frames. “We tried to keep as many of the original sash windows and box frames as possible,” says Stephen.
The original front of the house contrasts with the new area at the back, but the dark woodwork gives a cohesive look.
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What do you think of this renovated Victorian red-brick cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you think of this renovated Victorian red-brick cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Who lives here Interior designer Stephen Nash and his wife, Miranda, with their two cats
Location Northeast London
Property A Victorian, red-brick, semi-detached cottage
Size Three bedrooms, one bathroom and a cloakroom
Designer Stephen Nash of ALL & NXTHING
Builder and carpenter Gregos Builders and Contractors
Photos by Ben Waterhouse and Emma Lewis
When Stephen Nash and his wife bought their Victorian home, the property was split into lots of rooms. “We wanted to open up the majority of the downstairs as one big space to give it more flow,” he says.
They were also keen to extend the back of the house, which presented its own challenges.
“The engineer was concerned that, with the age of the building and foundations, we needed more structural support,” Stephen explains. “We had to take off the entire rear of the house, which was more work than we’d envisioned – but these things happen.”