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Houzz Tour: Natural Colours and Textures Warm a ‘Soulless’ Home
Before and after photos show how this once generic house was transformed thanks to natural materials and elegant details
Slick modern style has its place, but the owner of this property loves a rustic look and characterful details, so the generic style of his new home wasn’t ideal. In addition, he’s a keen cook, but the kitchen was in a dark basement. So, having worked with them before to help sell a property, he asked designers Shirin Arefi and Natascia Fileppi of Interia Design to create a warm, inviting home for himself and his four teenage children.
Key to the transformation was moving the kitchen up to the airy ground floor and turning the windowless basement into a snug TV room, giving the family plenty of spaces to hang out, entertain and relax. Then Shirin and Natascia brought in natural materials – think wood, rattan, linen and stone – for texture and warmth. What elevates the renovation, though, are the many beautiful details, from the double bullnose worktop edge to sawn oak cabinet door trims to bespoke wardrobes in the bedroom.
Key to the transformation was moving the kitchen up to the airy ground floor and turning the windowless basement into a snug TV room, giving the family plenty of spaces to hang out, entertain and relax. Then Shirin and Natascia brought in natural materials – think wood, rattan, linen and stone – for texture and warmth. What elevates the renovation, though, are the many beautiful details, from the double bullnose worktop edge to sawn oak cabinet door trims to bespoke wardrobes in the bedroom.
This photo of the original kitchen shows the modern style the owner wasn’t keen on. “It was missing the warmth,” Natascia says.
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Now, timber has brought in the earthy colour and texture the owner likes, both in the units and the flooring. “Everything’s very calm and there’s an inviting atmosphere,” Shirin says.
There’s masses of storage. The run of bespoke oak cabinetry, designed by Natascia and Shirin and made by Richard Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers, includes an integrated dishwasher, bins, a fridge-freezer and a drinks cabinet.
The peninsula, meanwhile, is 3m long and has drawers on both sides. And there are plenty of spots for the owner’s many cookery books, from shelving at the far end of the peninsula and a console table near the doorway to bookcases in the TV room downstairs.
Wall lights, Visual Comfort.
There’s masses of storage. The run of bespoke oak cabinetry, designed by Natascia and Shirin and made by Richard Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers, includes an integrated dishwasher, bins, a fridge-freezer and a drinks cabinet.
The peninsula, meanwhile, is 3m long and has drawers on both sides. And there are plenty of spots for the owner’s many cookery books, from shelving at the far end of the peninsula and a console table near the doorway to bookcases in the TV room downstairs.
Wall lights, Visual Comfort.
Natascia and Shirin have included elegant details throughout the home. “[The owner] is quite a quirky individual and he loves quality and having something he doesn’t see everywhere else,” Natascia says.
Several of those details are in evidence in this photo. The edge trim on each drawer and door is hand-sawn oak, while the custom-made sink is patinated brass. The Crema Marfil marble worktop, meanwhile, has a double bullnose edge, which chimes with the fluted doors on the drinks cabinet and curved edges of the peninsula unit.
For the owner, it’s touches like these that really make the design. “He’s all about little details and he really notices, so it’s about giving him delightful little moments when he sees them,” Natascia says.
Several of those details are in evidence in this photo. The edge trim on each drawer and door is hand-sawn oak, while the custom-made sink is patinated brass. The Crema Marfil marble worktop, meanwhile, has a double bullnose edge, which chimes with the fluted doors on the drinks cabinet and curved edges of the peninsula unit.
For the owner, it’s touches like these that really make the design. “He’s all about little details and he really notices, so it’s about giving him delightful little moments when he sees them,” Natascia says.
The fluted doors on the drinks cabinet fold back neatly into pockets at the side, so they can easily remain open for making hot or cold drinks.
The unit is backed with mottled mirror, which works nicely with the sawn oak and helps to reflect light from the inlaid LED strips into the room.
The unit is backed with mottled mirror, which works nicely with the sawn oak and helps to reflect light from the inlaid LED strips into the room.
Here’s a view of the old atrium in the area where the dining table now sits.
A new floor was created across the atrium. “There’s actually a glass floor under the table if more light is needed downstairs, but the owner likes the rug,” Natascia says.
The duo designed the banquette seating, which contains storage and has heating within it for a cosy dining experience. It’s also fitted with double USB sockets, so the owner can easily work here and the teenagers can do their homework.
The square oak dining table was made to measure to maximise the space. The legs are cleverly set back to allow easy access to the benches. “When Richard [Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers] was trying to explain how a leg would look, he said, it’s like a high heel, and we said, we get you!” Natascia says.
Bespoke dining table, Weald Kitchen Makers.
The duo designed the banquette seating, which contains storage and has heating within it for a cosy dining experience. It’s also fitted with double USB sockets, so the owner can easily work here and the teenagers can do their homework.
The square oak dining table was made to measure to maximise the space. The legs are cleverly set back to allow easy access to the benches. “When Richard [Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers] was trying to explain how a leg would look, he said, it’s like a high heel, and we said, we get you!” Natascia says.
Bespoke dining table, Weald Kitchen Makers.
The sofa at the other end of the room faces a wood-burning stove and a TV. Sheer curtains at the window help to reduce glare on the screen.
The designers have continued the natural colours and textures in this area, with a linen sofa, fluffy pouffe and woven lamp base and plant pot.
The windows into the basement, seen at the sides of the rug, were already in place.
The designers have continued the natural colours and textures in this area, with a linen sofa, fluffy pouffe and woven lamp base and plant pot.
The windows into the basement, seen at the sides of the rug, were already in place.
Back when this was the living room, the wallpaper was a snakeskin design, which wasn’t to the owner’s taste.
The fireplace has now been redesigned and seating added. “Changing the gas fireplace to a wood-burner gave it a lot of character,” Shirin says.
Some fixtures in the house, such as the staircase, would have been too costly to change, so Natascia and Shirin were keen to combine rustic charm with a modern aesthetic so the two styles don’t jar.
“We wanted the house to flow, so when you come out of the kitchen to go to a different floor, you don’t suddenly feel as if you’re in a different home,” Shirin says.
As such, the black steel double doors were chosen as a link between the floating stairs and the more rustic kitchen-diner.
“We wanted the house to flow, so when you come out of the kitchen to go to a different floor, you don’t suddenly feel as if you’re in a different home,” Shirin says.
As such, the black steel double doors were chosen as a link between the floating stairs and the more rustic kitchen-diner.
The cloakroom down in the basement doesn’t have any natural light, so Shirin and Natascia chose pale colours, including marble herringbone floor tiles and off-white kit kat wall tiles, while a vintage wood mirror adds warmth.
The original utility room, also in the basement.
The new utility design contains a laundry area, linen cupboards and a walk-in corner pantry for extra kitchen equipment and ingredients.
It’s been fitted out on more of a budget, as the owner didn’t want to spend too much in here. Shirin and Natascia have used off-the-shelf units with the original quartz worktop, and have cleverly given the room a lift with glittering mother-of-pearl mosaics laid in a herringbone pattern.
Cabinets in Sandstone, Howdens.
It’s been fitted out on more of a budget, as the owner didn’t want to spend too much in here. Shirin and Natascia have used off-the-shelf units with the original quartz worktop, and have cleverly given the room a lift with glittering mother-of-pearl mosaics laid in a herringbone pattern.
Cabinets in Sandstone, Howdens.
What was once the gloomy basement kitchen is now a cosy TV snug, perfect for gathering in the evenings. The natural textures and earthy colour palette continue in here, apart from on the sofa.
“We love the blue of the sofa, because it’s an unexpected colour, as everything’s natural, but it still ties in because it’s linen,” Natascia says. “The soft blue makes the room feel lighter.”
The owner already had the wicker ottoman, which has yet more useful storage inside.
“We love the blue of the sofa, because it’s an unexpected colour, as everything’s natural, but it still ties in because it’s linen,” Natascia says. “The soft blue makes the room feel lighter.”
The owner already had the wicker ottoman, which has yet more useful storage inside.
The original atrium seen from the basement.
The atrium area now houses cupboards and shelves. Again, there’s attention to detail, with the grain on the doors repeated perfectly. “It’s beautiful,” Natascia says. “We asked for them to be handleless with a push-click mechanism, because you don’t want to interrupt that pattern.”
“All the shelves also have the sawn edge detail,” Shirin adds. “They’re not solid oak, because Richard [Edmondson] said it twists, and oak is stronger than plaster and will bring down the wall with it, so it’s a high-quality oak veneer.”
Bespoke cabinetry and shelving, Weald Kitchen Makers.
“All the shelves also have the sawn edge detail,” Shirin adds. “They’re not solid oak, because Richard [Edmondson] said it twists, and oak is stronger than plaster and will bring down the wall with it, so it’s a high-quality oak veneer.”
Bespoke cabinetry and shelving, Weald Kitchen Makers.
The home originally had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but the owner asked Shirin and Natascia to rework the floor plans to create five bedrooms, each with an en suite, to accommodate the whole family.
This is a before shot of the principal bedroom on the second floor.
Lovely details sing out yet again in the owner’s redesigned bedroom. The linen curtains, for instance, have an elegant double pinch pleat and are hung from a curved French iron pole.
The carved bed also adds just the right amount of detail. “[The owner] just loved it, [especially] the fact it had carving around the head as well as on the sides,” Natascia says.
The process of showing so many products and materials to the owner and getting quick approvals was made much easier with the help of Houzz Pro tools. “We use the Product Clipper and Selections all the time,” Shirin says.
“Yes, we clipped everything and put them onto Selections boards, so he could approve the things he liked,” Natascia agrees.
“[Houzz Pro] is also really useful for all our invoicing – we use it solely,” Shirin adds.
Bed, Graham & Green. Bespoke wardrobes, Weald Kitchen Makers.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The carved bed also adds just the right amount of detail. “[The owner] just loved it, [especially] the fact it had carving around the head as well as on the sides,” Natascia says.
The process of showing so many products and materials to the owner and getting quick approvals was made much easier with the help of Houzz Pro tools. “We use the Product Clipper and Selections all the time,” Shirin says.
“Yes, we clipped everything and put them onto Selections boards, so he could approve the things he liked,” Natascia agrees.
“[Houzz Pro] is also really useful for all our invoicing – we use it solely,” Shirin adds.
Bed, Graham & Green. Bespoke wardrobes, Weald Kitchen Makers.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The rattan webbing, which brings in more natural texture, is stuck to panels, both to be more robust and to prevent moths getting in.
The wardrobe interior is beautifully crafted from oak and tailored to the owner’s needs.
The wardrobe interior is beautifully crafted from oak and tailored to the owner’s needs.
This is the original principal bathroom, decorated in the home’s former signature glossy monochrome.
The designers brought in antique brass, oak and marble for a mix of a modern industrial look and a rustic feel, with a view to creating a slightly masculine look.
“Sometimes, when you go down the typical rustic route, some things are softer,” Natascia says. “By putting in the industrial tapware, it not only gave it modernity, it also made it feel more masculine.”
Marble mosaics in a herringbone pattern in the shower give way to simpler marble tiles on the floor. “They’re two classic styles, but you need a break from the herringbone texture, so we laid something plainer on the floor,” Natascia says.
Tapwear, Samuel Heath. Vanity unit, Neptune.
“Sometimes, when you go down the typical rustic route, some things are softer,” Natascia says. “By putting in the industrial tapware, it not only gave it modernity, it also made it feel more masculine.”
Marble mosaics in a herringbone pattern in the shower give way to simpler marble tiles on the floor. “They’re two classic styles, but you need a break from the herringbone texture, so we laid something plainer on the floor,” Natascia says.
Tapwear, Samuel Heath. Vanity unit, Neptune.
Natascia and Shirin have transformed this once generic house into a warm and personal home. And the owner couldn’t be happier. “They made the whole process enjoyable and stress-free, which is no small feat when it comes to the entire renovation of a family house!” he says. “They took my scattered thoughts and turned them into a beautifully designed space that feels both stylish and totally me. Their eye for detail is incredible, and their passion for what they do really shines through.”
Heated towel rail, The Sterlingham Company.
Tell us…
What do you think of Natascia and Shirin’s redesign of this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Heated towel rail, The Sterlingham Company.
Tell us…
What do you think of Natascia and Shirin’s redesign of this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A dad with four teenage children
Location Battersea, south-west London
Property A five-storey house that’s part of a converted Victorian school
Size Five bedrooms plus a study/bedroom and five bathrooms
Designers Shirin Arefi and Natascia Fileppi of Interia Design
Kitchen cabinet-maker Weald Kitchen Makers
Photos by Francine Kay
The dining area, seen in the corner here, was originally a two-storey atrium designed to share some light with the gloomy kitchen below, while this space was a living room.
Knowing the owner loves cooking, Natascia and Shirin suggested swapping the rooms. “For us, it was a no-brainer,” Shirin says. “He would have been miserable cooking in a windowless basement, then he’d come upstairs at night-time, but have to close all the blinds [for privacy], as this is the ground floor.”
Swapping the rooms also unlocked more usable space up here. This is now a lovely communal room, with lots of places to perch. “It’s the perfect set-up, with the kitchen, dining area, sofa, fireplace seats and bar stools,” Shirin says.