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Houzz Tour: More Space and a Fresh New Look for a Victorian House
Extending at the rear created a generous kitchen-diner, while a top-to-toe redesign gave this home a light, bright look
Bigger, brighter, better could have been the brief, in a nutshell, for this south London home. Of course, it was a bit more detailed than that! But extending the kitchen, drawing in more light, and improving its ceiling height was a priority, as was creating a principal bedroom suite on the first floor. The owner also wanted to refresh all the decor to reflect her taste.
With this in mind, she browsed Houzz and found Zenico, an interior design and project management firm, and reached out to its co-founder, Tim Slorick. They worked together to transform the entire house in what became a rich collaboration, culminating in a five-month build.
“The owner was very involved in the creative process and really enjoyed it,” he says. “It gave her a greater sense of ownership. Having professional support from us was really useful for her, and her being so hands-on was really nice for us.” Read on to see what they achieved.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
With this in mind, she browsed Houzz and found Zenico, an interior design and project management firm, and reached out to its co-founder, Tim Slorick. They worked together to transform the entire house in what became a rich collaboration, culminating in a five-month build.
“The owner was very involved in the creative process and really enjoyed it,” he says. “It gave her a greater sense of ownership. Having professional support from us was really useful for her, and her being so hands-on was really nice for us.” Read on to see what they achieved.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
The owner was very keen to improve head height in the kitchen, which was achieved by digging into the void under the floor. Steps now lead down into the newly extended space, which is approximately 5.5m wide x 9m long.
“We widened the room and elongated it,” Tim says. “It changed the proportions enough for us to put in a run of cabinets on either side, an island, and a dining area and bar in the space at the back.”
The kitchen was extended into the side return and out at the rear by 2.5m. “This enabled us to install a nice frameless lantern on the flat roof [just visible in the previous photo] to bring in light,” Tim says.
Tap, Quooker. Light switch, Corston.
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“We widened the room and elongated it,” Tim says. “It changed the proportions enough for us to put in a run of cabinets on either side, an island, and a dining area and bar in the space at the back.”
The kitchen was extended into the side return and out at the rear by 2.5m. “This enabled us to install a nice frameless lantern on the flat roof [just visible in the previous photo] to bring in light,” Tim says.
Tap, Quooker. Light switch, Corston.
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This before shot of the exterior shows the house with the side return still in place.
The original kitchen space, after strip-out, but before the rear and side extensions were constructed.
More: What Happens When You Work With a Design and Build Company?
More: What Happens When You Work With a Design and Build Company?
The kitchen and dining area now extends across the rear of the house, with aluminium sliding doors and an oriel window at the back to draw in lots of natural light.
Aluminium three panel slider door; oriel window, both Maxlight.
Aluminium three panel slider door; oriel window, both Maxlight.
Glass panelled doors break up the run of ceiling-height wall units opposite the sink run and lighten the look.
The kitchen cabinets were manufactured in Sweden. “They took forever to arrive,” Tim says. The owner invested in beautiful Arabescato marble for the worktops and splashbacks.
Kitchen, Sola Kitchens.
The kitchen cabinets were manufactured in Sweden. “They took forever to arrive,” Tim says. The owner invested in beautiful Arabescato marble for the worktops and splashbacks.
Kitchen, Sola Kitchens.
The island measures 2.4m x 1.2m and has seating in an L-shape around it. “It’s perfect for informal entertaining, or a coffee or drink with friends, because you’re not all sitting in a row,” Tim says.
The island has soft corners and is clad with brass in a burnished finish.
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Ready to hire? Browse design and build firms in your area, see examples of their previous projects and read client reviews.
At the rear of the kitchen, overlooking the garden, a table that seats eight provides space for more formal dining or a bigger crowd.
Tim and his team designed the bar and had it made by a joinery company, then found the neon sign to hang above. On the wall, glass shelves in a metal frame provide additional storage.
Joinery and shelving, 3ZC Furniture.
Tim and his team designed the bar and had it made by a joinery company, then found the neon sign to hang above. On the wall, glass shelves in a metal frame provide additional storage.
Joinery and shelving, 3ZC Furniture.
The oriel window is partially lined with an oak veneer, finished to be a very close match to the oak parquet flooring.
The side walls at the rear of the extension are clad with brick slips. “They soften up the look a bit, rather than simply having stark walls there,” Tim says.
Light oak parquet, The Natural Wood Floor Company.
The side walls at the rear of the extension are clad with brick slips. “They soften up the look a bit, rather than simply having stark walls there,” Tim says.
Light oak parquet, The Natural Wood Floor Company.
In the entrance hall, Tim created a random pattern with the floor tiles, which the tiler then followed. “We wanted to go for something a little bit different to the typical Victorian hall,” he says.
Semaphore porcelain tiles in Bounty, Celeste and Victory, Claybrook. Banisters painted in Pitch Black, Farrow & Ball.
Semaphore porcelain tiles in Bounty, Celeste and Victory, Claybrook. Banisters painted in Pitch Black, Farrow & Ball.
A wall of glazing, made of steel and Pyro Glass, separates the hall from the living room to help light flow through and boost the sense of space.
“Technically, this part of the design was quite involved,” Tim says. As this space was part of the stairwell, everything here needed to be fire-rated.
“If you don’t think about that kind of thing up front, it can lead to lots of cost and pain later,” he says. “We worked closely with building control and the manufacturer before we committed to that glazed wall.”
Laurent 2-Piece Wedge chaise sofa, West Elm.
“Technically, this part of the design was quite involved,” Tim says. As this space was part of the stairwell, everything here needed to be fire-rated.
“If you don’t think about that kind of thing up front, it can lead to lots of cost and pain later,” he says. “We worked closely with building control and the manufacturer before we committed to that glazed wall.”
Laurent 2-Piece Wedge chaise sofa, West Elm.
Deep blue picks out the alcoves either side of the fireplace. Tim designed the cabinets and had them made. “We added burnished brass doors, which were made separately, in the same finish as the kitchen island,” he says.
Brass lighting, switches and handles feature throughout the house, too, creating a sense of continuity. “There are similar themes echoing through the space,” Tim says.
The fireplace is original, but was repainted.
Fireplace painted in Pitch Black, Farrow & Ball. Alcoves painted in Mockingbird, Paint & Paper Library. Seed chandelier and wall lights, Soho Home. Joinery, 3ZC Furniture.
Brass lighting, switches and handles feature throughout the house, too, creating a sense of continuity. “There are similar themes echoing through the space,” Tim says.
The fireplace is original, but was repainted.
Fireplace painted in Pitch Black, Farrow & Ball. Alcoves painted in Mockingbird, Paint & Paper Library. Seed chandelier and wall lights, Soho Home. Joinery, 3ZC Furniture.
The space in the centre of the ground floor is now a snug where the owner relaxes and watches TV.
“She’s gone for a fairly contemporary look throughout the house, with a nod to natural materials, such as the wood flooring,” Tim says.
The light oak parquet is the same as the flooring in the kitchen. Tim designed shelves for the alcoves and had them made.
Kori modular sofa, Anthropologie. Caracas 6-Light Chandelier by Jonathan Adler, Sweetpea & Willow. Joinery, 3ZC Furniture.
“She’s gone for a fairly contemporary look throughout the house, with a nod to natural materials, such as the wood flooring,” Tim says.
The light oak parquet is the same as the flooring in the kitchen. Tim designed shelves for the alcoves and had them made.
Kori modular sofa, Anthropologie. Caracas 6-Light Chandelier by Jonathan Adler, Sweetpea & Willow. Joinery, 3ZC Furniture.
Tim fitted underfloor heating in the kitchen and the main bedroom suite on the first floor, but elsewhere went with radiators. “Underfloor is more expensive to install,” he says, “and the owner wanted to be able to spend on things such as the worktops.”
Milano radiators, BestHeating.
Milano radiators, BestHeating.
The owner converted a bedroom at the rear of the first floor into a dedicated office space. Rather than the light, airy tones used elsewhere, she picked a rich green for the walls in here.
Walls painted in Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball.
Upstairs, Tim created a suite by converting the middle bedroom into a walk-in wardrobe that leads through to this bedroom at the front. The walls are painted in a pink limewash that has a soft, textured finish.
Walls painted in Almond Flower, Bauwerk Colour. Quinn 2-Drawer bedside table, West Elm.
Walls painted in Almond Flower, Bauwerk Colour. Quinn 2-Drawer bedside table, West Elm.
The walk-in wardrobe contains this bank of floor-to-ceiling cupboards with brass handles.
The principal suite includes a spacious bathroom with a freestanding bath and separate shower. Again, a softly textured limewash has been used on the walls. The concrete basin sits on a Silestone worktop with matching splashback.
Walls painted in Charlottenburg, Bauwerk Colour. Bath, Lusso Stone. Brassware, Crosswater. Concrete basin, Kast.
Walls painted in Charlottenburg, Bauwerk Colour. Bath, Lusso Stone. Brassware, Crosswater. Concrete basin, Kast.
For the shower and floor, Tim chose a large format concrete-style tile, measuring 1200mm x 1200mm.
Brassware, Crosswater.
Brassware, Crosswater.
This guest room was designed for the owner’s nieces to enjoy when they come to stay. It features soft pink and a luxe band of gold on the walls.
Reflecting on her finished house, the owner is delighted with the results and the journey to achieving them. “She really enjoyed the whole process,” Tim says. “She put her mark on the whole house, every room.”
Walls painted in Nancy’s Blushes (below gold band), and Middleton Pink (above gold band), both Farrow & Ball. Band painted in Pale Gold, Mylands. Romy four-poster bed, Made.com.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this beautifully renovated and extended home? Let us know in the Comments.
Reflecting on her finished house, the owner is delighted with the results and the journey to achieving them. “She really enjoyed the whole process,” Tim says. “She put her mark on the whole house, every room.”
Walls painted in Nancy’s Blushes (below gold band), and Middleton Pink (above gold band), both Farrow & Ball. Band painted in Pale Gold, Mylands. Romy four-poster bed, Made.com.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this beautifully renovated and extended home? Let us know in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A woman with family who often come to stay
Location Clapham, south-west London
Property A three-storey, late Victorian mid-terrace house
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Tim Slorick of Zenico
Architect PD Design Consulting
Project year 2024
When Tim first saw the house, it was in fairly good condition. “It had been maintained pretty well by its previous owners,” he says, “but the bathrooms were a bit tired.” The colours, also, weren’t to the new owner’s taste.
The layout was typical of this period of terraced house. “Nothing had been done in terms of the outrigger, though,” Tim says, “so ceiling levels were pretty low there relative to the rest of the house.”
Vincent wall lights, Pooky.