Houzz Tour: A Victorian Terrace With a Calm, Minimalist Interior
Clean, elegant styling allows statement pieces and original features to shine in this period townhouse
Emma Hedges
11 March 2022
I'm a journalist and editor, specialising in architecture, design and interiors, with a particular interest in kitchens and bathrooms.
I'm a journalist and editor, specialising in architecture, design and interiors,... More
“It’s very rare we get a brief like this one. Usually, clients want tons of storage, but with this project, they were both so minimalist, they just didn’t need it,” says designer Céline Erlam of design duo Indie & Co, who were brought in to reinvigorate the tired interior.
While the couple both have hectic professional lives, their priority at home is to live as calmly as possible, so Céline and her team set about working up a plan that was stylish and impactful, but that gave their clients the soothing space they longed for.
While the couple both have hectic professional lives, their priority at home is to live as calmly as possible, so Céline and her team set about working up a plan that was stylish and impactful, but that gave their clients the soothing space they longed for.
House at a Glance
Who lives here? A couple and their teenage daughter
Location Battersea, south-west London
Property A Victorian terraced townhouse
Size Four bedrooms (one used as an office) and two bathrooms
Designers Céline Erlam and Caroline Sacreste of Indie & Co
While the layout didn’t need too much tweaking, Céline could see that enlarging the opening for the garden doors would make the space feel much bigger. She suggested installing simple but elegant steel-framed doors, and maximised the extra natural light with white microcement flooring, white walls and ceiling, and marble-effect quartz worktops.
Quartz worktop, Caesarstone. Bar stools, deVOL.
Who lives here? A couple and their teenage daughter
Location Battersea, south-west London
Property A Victorian terraced townhouse
Size Four bedrooms (one used as an office) and two bathrooms
Designers Céline Erlam and Caroline Sacreste of Indie & Co
While the layout didn’t need too much tweaking, Céline could see that enlarging the opening for the garden doors would make the space feel much bigger. She suggested installing simple but elegant steel-framed doors, and maximised the extra natural light with white microcement flooring, white walls and ceiling, and marble-effect quartz worktops.
Quartz worktop, Caesarstone. Bar stools, deVOL.
Inspiration for the colour palette came in the form of a painting by landscape artist Gill Rocca, which the couple instantly fell in love with and chose as the focal point above the dining table. Céline used the tranquil scene as the basis for the kitchen’s bold but simple tones of deep blue and clean white.
Dining table; chairs, all Pinch.
Dining table; chairs, all Pinch.
“We chose clear glass pendants above the island, as we didn’t want anything distracting that would obstruct the view of the painting,” Céline says.
The boiling-water tap has a brass finish with a patina that changes with age. “This space is quite still and pristine, so the ‘live’ finish is a nice way of waking it up a little,” Céline explains.
Bolle Sola pendant lights, Chaplins. Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
The boiling-water tap has a brass finish with a patina that changes with age. “This space is quite still and pristine, so the ‘live’ finish is a nice way of waking it up a little,” Céline explains.
Bolle Sola pendant lights, Chaplins. Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
Bespoke kitchen company Roundhouse came on board to lend their expertise for the functional areas of the room. Shaker-style cabinetry chimes with the Victorian style of the house. The island houses a dishwasher and bins, as well as some open shelving and a breakfast bar.
Kitchen, Roundhouse. Cupboards painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
Kitchen, Roundhouse. Cupboards painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball.
Warm wood tones were introduced to work with the brass to soften the dark paint colour. “The larder is lined with beautiful walnut,” Céline says. “It’s super high quality and a real treat.”
With hardworking storage such as the bespoke pantry, the couple can reserve the open shelving for a few favourite items and keep the space just how they like it – completely clutter-free.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
In the corner of the kitchen, Céline was able to allocate space for a little cloakroom. For continuity, she used the same dark blue on the walls and the same marble-effect quartz as the kitchen worktop on the ledge.
“We tend to push our clients to be a little bolder with this room and go for something like some fun wallpaper,” she says.
Wallpaper, House of Hackney.
“We tend to push our clients to be a little bolder with this room and go for something like some fun wallpaper,” she says.
Wallpaper, House of Hackney.
The living room is rich in Victorian features, including an original fireplace. “The ceiling rose and coving were all there and we didn’t have to restore them. Even the original flooring was in a really good state and we didn’t have to replace any floorboards,” Céline says.
They treated the floor with lye and soap to lighten the tone in keeping with the rest of the ground floor, and this enables pieces such as the velvet chair to stand out.
Walls painted in School House White, Farrow & Ball.
They treated the floor with lye and soap to lighten the tone in keeping with the rest of the ground floor, and this enables pieces such as the velvet chair to stand out.
Walls painted in School House White, Farrow & Ball.
The couple, who both love to entertain, were keen to create a slightly more formal vibe in the sitting room area at the front of the house.
“It needed to be warm, but because they’re both so minimalist, they worried about bringing too much into the space.” Keeping the colour scheme restrained, Céline chose a statement brass pendant light. “It’s really beautiful, and the brass is so thin that if there’s a breeze, it moves.”
Pendant light, Paola Navone for Gervasoni. Sofa; floor lamp, both Caravane.
“It needed to be warm, but because they’re both so minimalist, they worried about bringing too much into the space.” Keeping the colour scheme restrained, Céline chose a statement brass pendant light. “It’s really beautiful, and the brass is so thin that if there’s a breeze, it moves.”
Pendant light, Paola Navone for Gervasoni. Sofa; floor lamp, both Caravane.
Upstairs in the office, the designers kept the style pared back. “The owners wanted something simple, so we went for a peaceful and calming feel. [The woman] likes to blog about beautiful hotels, so we wanted to give her a space where she could concentrate and really get creative.”
Desk; chair, both The Conran Shop.
Desk; chair, both The Conran Shop.
“We saw this beautiful Sebastian Cox sideboard, which also gave [the woman] all the storage she needed,” Céline says. The pale wood picks up the rest of the soft tones in the office, and is a statement piece without being overbearing.
Shake sideboard, Sebastian Cox, available at Benchmark Furniture.
Shake sideboard, Sebastian Cox, available at Benchmark Furniture.
Another painting by Gill Rocca takes centre stage in the master bedroom. “The owners love blue and find water really calming, and this is just a neutral space. They both have busy lives, so we didn’t want anything too crazy in here,” Céline says.
Bed and bedside tables, Caravane.
Bed and bedside tables, Caravane.
White microcement dominates in the bathroom, creating a serene mood. The soft grey and beige in the veining of the Carrara marble around the bath and basin is echoed in the floor tiles, gently adding depth to the scheme.
As the couple needed little storage space, Céline was able to get away with fitting a single drawer. She gave it a slatted white oiled oak front to introduce subtle texture.
Puzzle porcelain tiles, Domus.
As the couple needed little storage space, Céline was able to get away with fitting a single drawer. She gave it a slatted white oiled oak front to introduce subtle texture.
Puzzle porcelain tiles, Domus.
To enhance the feeling of space, the countertop stretches right across the room. Céline designed and commissioned a wide mirror to go above it. “We do a lot of mirrors, although we usually use them as hidden storage sites. This one’s divided into five pieces stuck closely together,” she says.
Céline is particularly pleased with how the bathroom turned out, with the end result proving to be the biggest transformation compared to what was there before.
Piet Boon gunmetal taps, CP Hart.
Piet Boon gunmetal taps, CP Hart.
For the guest bedroom at the top of the house, Céline felt it was time to encourage her clients to take a step out of their comfort zone again.
“They were worried about the green wall colour, but, in the end, they trusted us and I think it’s turned out really well. It’s in keeping with the period of the house, too,” she says.
Walls painted in Vert De Terre, Farrow & Ball.
“They were worried about the green wall colour, but, in the end, they trusted us and I think it’s turned out really well. It’s in keeping with the period of the house, too,” she says.
Walls painted in Vert De Terre, Farrow & Ball.
Floor runner, H&M Home.
The owners are delighted with the finished project, especially their new kitchen, but for Céline and the team, what was most gratifying was the fact the couple listened to their advice.
“It’s lovely when you explain to clients that certain things are worth spending on, as they’ll make all the difference,” she says. “The great thing about this project is the level of finish – you know as soon as you walk in that this is special.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite thing about this calm, minimal home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
“It’s lovely when you explain to clients that certain things are worth spending on, as they’ll make all the difference,” she says. “The great thing about this project is the level of finish – you know as soon as you walk in that this is special.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite thing about this calm, minimal home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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How I would love to be minimalist but can’t seem to manage it! This is all very beautiful but I seem to have so many panic spaces and drawers! There was, however, no photos of the teenager’s room with possible clutter and floordrobe with no need for any wardrobe!
Beautiful home. Everything is simple but stunning
Beautiful especially the bathroom - love to know where the cabinetry in bathroom came from?? or was it a custom build??