Houzz Tour: A Welcoming Victorian Home With Luxurious Touches
A neutral palette provided an elegant backdrop to enable a couple to add their own personality to their home
When the owners of this Victorian property decided to renovate their tired-looking house, they were keen to add the same things many of us would like. Good storage was key, as well as plenty of light, a sociable layout and a cosy, inviting feel – somewhere they could feel at home, but with an added luxurious element.
They found Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs on Houzz and liked their previous work, so they contacted them through a direct message on the website. The team set about designing a side-return extension with an inside-outside feel, refurbishing the whole house and rejigging the first-floor layout to incorporate an incredibly useful walk-in wardrobe.
They found Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs on Houzz and liked their previous work, so they contacted them through a direct message on the website. The team set about designing a side-return extension with an inside-outside feel, refurbishing the whole house and rejigging the first-floor layout to incorporate an incredibly useful walk-in wardrobe.
The black accents continue into the living room, where Amit’s carpenter built bespoke storage into the alcoves. A black border adds a strong frame to the joinery and matches the black hem of the curtains.
The team also fitted warm white LED lighting into recesses in the shelves, which sets off the owners’ ornaments and creates a cosy glow.
Frame TV, Samsung. Walls painted in Slate II, Paint & Paper Library.
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The team also fitted warm white LED lighting into recesses in the shelves, which sets off the owners’ ornaments and creates a cosy glow.
Frame TV, Samsung. Walls painted in Slate II, Paint & Paper Library.
Find reviewed design and build companies in your area on Houzz.
The owners’ sofa sits opposite the fireplace and joinery. A wall light has been placed above an artwork that was painted by the female member of the couple.
The original kitchen was extended into the side return to the right to create a light and sociable space. “The ceiling was quite low, so we dug down slightly to lower the floor,” Amit says.
The new space can be seen directly from the front door and features plenty of glazing to help connect it to the garden. An island sits in between two rows of cabinets to enhance the flow of the space.
“The couple like to socialise, so it’s good that people can access both sides of the island easily,” Amit says.
Walls painted in Strong White, Farrow & Ball. Ceiling and skirting board painted in Loft White, Little Greene. Kitchen cabinets; worktop; sink; tap, all deVOL. Appliances, Fisher & Paykel. Odin chandelier, Pooky.
The new space can be seen directly from the front door and features plenty of glazing to help connect it to the garden. An island sits in between two rows of cabinets to enhance the flow of the space.
“The couple like to socialise, so it’s good that people can access both sides of the island easily,” Amit says.
Walls painted in Strong White, Farrow & Ball. Ceiling and skirting board painted in Loft White, Little Greene. Kitchen cabinets; worktop; sink; tap, all deVOL. Appliances, Fisher & Paykel. Odin chandelier, Pooky.
The Shaker-style kitchen has a traditional feel with a modern touch. Brass wall lamps, door knobs and tap bring a warm, luxurious feel to the space. “The owner loves green, so there are touches of this colour around the house,” Amit says.
Wall lights, Graham & Greene.
Wall lights, Graham & Greene.
An induction hob with a built-in extractor sits flush within the marble-effect quartz worktop on the island. “It has good suction, and the lack of an overhead extractor adds to the open feel,” Amit says.
On the opposite wall to the sink is a bank of tall units. A glass-fronted dresser is positioned alongside integrated ovens, a larder and an integrated fridge-freezer.
Pendant lights, Fritz Fryer. Induction hob, Bora.
On the opposite wall to the sink is a bank of tall units. A glass-fronted dresser is positioned alongside integrated ovens, a larder and an integrated fridge-freezer.
Pendant lights, Fritz Fryer. Induction hob, Bora.
Inside the larder, there’s a breakfast area with plugged-in small appliances for making toast and hot drinks.
The couple’s washing machine, tumble dryer and hot water tank are tucked out of the way in the handy utility area behind the kitchen.
Dark green tiles, brass fittings and an unusual marble basin add drama to the downstairs cloakroom. “There are no windows in here, so we decided to embrace the dark space,” Amit says.
“We found the smallest sink we could get, with a 300mm diameter. The round shape adds a nice contrast to the straight lines elsewhere, and the marble surface ties in with the kitchen worktops,” he says.
LED strip lighting has been installed within a shadow gap between the ceiling and wall.
Walls and ceiling painted in Studio Green, Farrow & Ball. Tap, VADO. Basin, Mandarin Stone. Tiles, Topps Tiles. Mirror, William Wood.
“We found the smallest sink we could get, with a 300mm diameter. The round shape adds a nice contrast to the straight lines elsewhere, and the marble surface ties in with the kitchen worktops,” he says.
LED strip lighting has been installed within a shadow gap between the ceiling and wall.
Walls and ceiling painted in Studio Green, Farrow & Ball. Tap, VADO. Basin, Mandarin Stone. Tiles, Topps Tiles. Mirror, William Wood.
Two bedrooms on the first floor were combined into one larger space incorporating a bedroom, bathroom and walk-in dressing area. The dressing area is located between the bathroom and bedroom and features floor-to-ceiling wardrobes with integrated lighting.
Skirting boards, coving and ceiling painted in Loft White, Little Greene. Cupboards, Neatsmith.
Skirting boards, coving and ceiling painted in Loft White, Little Greene. Cupboards, Neatsmith.
Amit positioned the bed in front of the chimney breast. He built the wall out slightly to ensure it was symmetrical and added a couple of recessed shelving areas to make the best use of the space.
The clients already owned the bed, but the Aflux team commissioned their upholsterer to make a bespoke wall-to-wall headboard, which adds a luxurious feel to the room.
Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball. Pendants, Tala.
More: 28 Stylish Ideas for Bedside Lights
The clients already owned the bed, but the Aflux team commissioned their upholsterer to make a bespoke wall-to-wall headboard, which adds a luxurious feel to the room.
Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball. Pendants, Tala.
More: 28 Stylish Ideas for Bedside Lights
Opposite the bed, two custom-made cupboards flank a small vanity area.
The en suite features a double basin and large walk-in shower.
“We wanted the bathroom to have a wow factor, so chose mosaic tiles to add a feature wall behind the sink,” Amit says.
Two mirrors open up to reveal storage behind, which helps maintain an uncluttered look in the room.
Mosaic tiles, Mandarin Stone. Large format tiles; basin, all Porcelain Tiles. Taps, Porter. Wall lights, Astro. Walls painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball.
Two mirrors open up to reveal storage behind, which helps maintain an uncluttered look in the room.
Mosaic tiles, Mandarin Stone. Large format tiles; basin, all Porcelain Tiles. Taps, Porter. Wall lights, Astro. Walls painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball.
Within the spacious walk-in shower are a couple of useful recessed shelves. Waterproof LED lighting has been fitted into routed grooves above each shelf.
The rest of the house didn’t need a redesign, so the team gave it a lick of paint. As for the refurbished part of the home, Amit says the couple love it. “They have everything they asked for,” he says, “so I think we ticked all their boxes.”
Tell us…
What do you like about Aflux Design’s refresh of this Victorian home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The rest of the house didn’t need a redesign, so the team gave it a lick of paint. As for the refurbished part of the home, Amit says the couple love it. “They have everything they asked for,” he says, “so I think we ticked all their boxes.”
Tell us…
What do you like about Aflux Design’s refresh of this Victorian home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple
Location West London
Property A Victorian house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs
Photos by Vigo Jansons
The owners of this beautiful property wanted their home to be comfortable and welcoming, while also having a luxurious feel. To achieve this balance, Amit went for a scheme that combined subtle layers of tone and texture with high quality details.
“They love panelling, so we installed some in the hallway,” Amit says. “They also saw a project we’d done with a brass border around the floor, so we added that detail around the chevron flooring.
“They had a lot of ornaments and artworks that showed off their personalities, so it was our job to create a neutral and warm backdrop for their pieces,” he adds. The muted palette in the hallway is lifted by a black stair runner and balustrade.
Flooring, Havwoods. Front door and walls above dado rail painted in Slate I; walls below dado rail painted in Slate III, both Paint & Paper Library. Ceiling and coving painted in Loft White, Little Greene.