Houzz Tour: Vintage Meets Modern in this Elegant Victorian Home
Family heirlooms and dashes of modern colour merge to create a house that’s packed with character
When interior designer Liz Chesculescu was approached to oversee the refurbishment of this family home, the greatest challenge wasn’t that the house looked like a building site, but how to blend the owners’ differing interiors styles.
“The house hadn’t been refurbished for several decades – and it was a building site when I got involved. Everything was stripped back and a large extension had been built on the back,” explains Chesculescu of Space Interior Design Ltd. “Style-wise, the wife likes a more traditional look and the husband is very modern and minimalist, so it was an interesting challenge to merge the two.”
“The house hadn’t been refurbished for several decades – and it was a building site when I got involved. Everything was stripped back and a large extension had been built on the back,” explains Chesculescu of Space Interior Design Ltd. “Style-wise, the wife likes a more traditional look and the husband is very modern and minimalist, so it was an interesting challenge to merge the two.”
The starting point for the design of the living room, at the front of the house, was a large rug, which was to be passed on to the owners by relatives. There was a snag, however…
“This family heirloom was in Switzerland, and the couple didn’t have a photo of it, let alone colour references,” recalls Chesculescu.
The designer took the challenge in her stride, and the antique rug is indeed the star piece of the design – a hint of pattern and colour against a backdrop of whispery greys and classic, understated furniture.
“The coffee table was bought for £20 from Gumtree and refinished by a local French polisher to get a deeper colour,” she says. “The chairs are from a stately home via a reseller who bought all the contents. They were re-covered by a local upholsterer.”
Bespoke built-in storage units flanking the fireplace add a pleasing symmetry to the space, as well as providing masses of storage.
Walls painted in French Grey, Little Greene.
“This family heirloom was in Switzerland, and the couple didn’t have a photo of it, let alone colour references,” recalls Chesculescu.
The designer took the challenge in her stride, and the antique rug is indeed the star piece of the design – a hint of pattern and colour against a backdrop of whispery greys and classic, understated furniture.
“The coffee table was bought for £20 from Gumtree and refinished by a local French polisher to get a deeper colour,” she says. “The chairs are from a stately home via a reseller who bought all the contents. They were re-covered by a local upholsterer.”
Bespoke built-in storage units flanking the fireplace add a pleasing symmetry to the space, as well as providing masses of storage.
Walls painted in French Grey, Little Greene.
Fresh and classic, the entrance has a crisp palette of grey, white and charcoal.
“The stair runner is just from a local carpet supplier edged with a dark border, to my design,” says Chesculescu.
Oxford floor tiles, Original Style. Walls painted in Slaked Lime – Mid, Little Greene.
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“The stair runner is just from a local carpet supplier edged with a dark border, to my design,” says Chesculescu.
Oxford floor tiles, Original Style. Walls painted in Slaked Lime – Mid, Little Greene.
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The hallway leads through to the modern family room (the existing part of the house with an original fireplace) and links seamlessly to the new kitchen-diner extension to create a big, all-in-one, L-shaped space.
“To tie the contemporary kitchen in with the original features of the family room, we kept the rest of this space modern,” says the designer. “Also, the husband’s style is very minimalistic, so this room was the one to showcase his style.”
Martina 5 light fixture, Astro Lighting.
“To tie the contemporary kitchen in with the original features of the family room, we kept the rest of this space modern,” says the designer. “Also, the husband’s style is very minimalistic, so this room was the one to showcase his style.”
Martina 5 light fixture, Astro Lighting.
A light-filled extension that stretches the length of the house offers a pleasing marriage of contrasts: the clean-lined Shaker kitchen on one side, offset with colourful, carved, Asian-style cabinets on the other.
The flooring was replaced throughout with lengths of richly hued engineered wood.
Find out how to try the pretty chinoiserie look at home
The flooring was replaced throughout with lengths of richly hued engineered wood.
Find out how to try the pretty chinoiserie look at home
Simple white Shaker-style cupboards stretch up to the ceiling to maximise every inch of space. The island unit is fitted with a dishwasher, sink and bookshelves, which face the dining area.
Piatra Grey worktops by Caesarstone. Endon Colman ceiling pendants, Lighting Direct.
Piatra Grey worktops by Caesarstone. Endon Colman ceiling pendants, Lighting Direct.
Quirky artefacts help to give the home character. “The Wayang puppets from Indonesia were brought back from the owners’ travels,” says Chesculescu.
Blackboard paint covers every surface of the downstairs cloakroom, producing a creative space for the family to jot down their musings.
Bathroom fixtures, all Acqua Bathrooms.
Bathroom fixtures, all Acqua Bathrooms.
The owners wanted a peaceful but interesting master bedroom – a retreat from busy family life.
“They had to use their existing bed until they could upgrade,” explains the designer, “and so needed a scheme that looks good now, but is also flexible enough to suit a future bed.
“The ceiling pendant was chosen to fit in with the existing rug, which has a similar pattern on it.”
Pimlico armchair, Atkin & Thyme. Kichler Silver Coral pendant, Elstead Lighting.
“They had to use their existing bed until they could upgrade,” explains the designer, “and so needed a scheme that looks good now, but is also flexible enough to suit a future bed.
“The ceiling pendant was chosen to fit in with the existing rug, which has a similar pattern on it.”
Pimlico armchair, Atkin & Thyme. Kichler Silver Coral pendant, Elstead Lighting.
Orange is the owner’s favourite colour, so bold tangerine cushions add a spirited lift to the blue and grey décor.
Walls painted in French Grey, Little Greene.
Walls painted in French Grey, Little Greene.
The pared-back bathroom is offset with a sumptuous printed blind.
“I didn’t design the bathrooms,” adds Chesculescu, “but the husband’s wish for minimalism played a large part here.”
Blind, made from Canopy cotton satin by Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild. Sontuoso bath, Clearwater Baths.
“I didn’t design the bathrooms,” adds Chesculescu, “but the husband’s wish for minimalism played a large part here.”
Blind, made from Canopy cotton satin by Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild. Sontuoso bath, Clearwater Baths.
The son’s bedroom is at the back of the house on the first floor.
The nursery has pretty mirrored and stencilled furniture and chintzy blind fabric (now discontinued).
Walls painted in Echo, Little Greene.
Walls painted in Echo, Little Greene.
The guest room in the loft has a simple, classic look with floral accents.
Walls painted in Slaked Lime – Mid, Little Greene.
What do you think of this colourful yet classic family house? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Walls painted in Slaked Lime – Mid, Little Greene.
What do you think of this colourful yet classic family house? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here A young professional couple with two children
Location New Malden, Surrey
Property Detached late Victorian/early Edwardian house
Size 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Designer Liz Chesculescu of Space Interior Design Ltd
Like the rest of the house, the formal living room on the ground floor of this period property needed a complete overhaul when interior designer Liz Chesculescu took on the job.
“The wife is very talented and had a vision, but she needed some help to pull it together, especially as she had recently had a baby and has her own business,” explains the designer.
The look needed to creatively merge both the traditional and modern style tastes of the owners. The result is understated décor that works for the whole family.
Bluebell sofa, sofa.com.