Houzz Tour: Vintage Pieces and Texture Refresh a 1930s House
A mix of Scandi understatement and midcentury furniture make for a welcoming and calming home for a young family
The owners of this 1930s terrace had never renovated before, so they called in Krystyna Martin-Dominguez of K Space Interiors soon after moving in. “They thought they just wanted someone to help with deciding which cushions and blankets to buy,” Krystyna recalls.
However, after talking to the couple about any practical problems they’d encountered with the house and learning they wanted to live there for a long time and planned to have a baby, she recalls, “I said to them, ‘Hmm, I think we might need to do a little more,’ and we ended up doing a full refurb.”
However, after talking to the couple about any practical problems they’d encountered with the house and learning they wanted to live there for a long time and planned to have a baby, she recalls, “I said to them, ‘Hmm, I think we might need to do a little more,’ and we ended up doing a full refurb.”
Though the house is blessed with high ceilings, particularly in the living room, there were barely any original features. So, to add subtle detail, the walls and ceilings throughout (except in the bathrooms) were painted in a soft, buttery-coloured limewash. “It’s unsealed, which makes it easier if you want to repaint in future,” Krystyna says.
Walls painted in Flannel Flower, Bauwerk. Linen curtains throughout, Etsy. Metal Arturo Alvarez pendant light, The Conran Shop.
Walls painted in Flannel Flower, Bauwerk. Linen curtains throughout, Etsy. Metal Arturo Alvarez pendant light, The Conran Shop.
“We also opened up the fireplaces, which had been blocked up, and took the plaster off to expose the brick. This was to add texture and a soft industrial look,” Krystyna says.
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On the other side of the arch, in the middle room on the ground floor, there’s more seating, seen here, as well as a dining table and the kitchen, shown below.
Existing flooring, which was vinyl in here, was replaced with these wide oiled oak planks throughout – “knotty,” Krystyna says, “as they wanted it as close to natural as possible” – to boost the Scandi look.
Existing flooring, which was vinyl in here, was replaced with these wide oiled oak planks throughout – “knotty,” Krystyna says, “as they wanted it as close to natural as possible” – to boost the Scandi look.
The couple work from home at least some of the time. “One of the bedrooms is used as [the husband’s] office,” Krystyna says. “And [the wife] works from home some of the time from this desk.”
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The space had been extended before the couple bought the house and this room is long and open-plan. This area, used for dining, is at the very back of it, adjacent to the kitchen and opening onto the garden.
Woodwork throughout painted in French Grey, Little Greene. Pendant light, Gong.
Woodwork throughout painted in French Grey, Little Greene. Pendant light, Gong.
The linen curtains, which the owner already had, add yet more texture.
The dining set is one of many vintage buys for the house. Krystyna says the wife was so enthused about the idea of filling the house with vintage pieces that she now regularly travels to antiques and vintage fairs and markets and befriends dealers.
“It’s become a hobby; she had never bought furniture before and didn’t know it could become a passion,” Krystyna says. “In fact, she bought so much that I was putting other clients in touch with her to buy her spare stuff!
“The owners both learned a lot during the process, especially about vintage furniture and the quality of it, how it can be cheaper, healthier to live with and sustainable. They were discovering all the time and taking time to make their choices,” she says.
The dining set is one of many vintage buys for the house. Krystyna says the wife was so enthused about the idea of filling the house with vintage pieces that she now regularly travels to antiques and vintage fairs and markets and befriends dealers.
“It’s become a hobby; she had never bought furniture before and didn’t know it could become a passion,” Krystyna says. “In fact, she bought so much that I was putting other clients in touch with her to buy her spare stuff!
“The owners both learned a lot during the process, especially about vintage furniture and the quality of it, how it can be cheaper, healthier to live with and sustainable. They were discovering all the time and taking time to make their choices,” she says.
Krystyna didn’t design the kitchen, which was existing. However, she did change the lighting and the windows and added the directional ceiling spots.
The new oak flooring, which replaced some cracked floor tiles, has also added texture and warmth to the space, along with seagrass rugs.
There’s a door into the kitchen from the hallway (out of shot). There’s also a utility room and a cloakroom, both accessible from the hall but not shown.
Rugs, Ikea. Ceiling lights, Astro.
The new oak flooring, which replaced some cracked floor tiles, has also added texture and warmth to the space, along with seagrass rugs.
There’s a door into the kitchen from the hallway (out of shot). There’s also a utility room and a cloakroom, both accessible from the hall but not shown.
Rugs, Ikea. Ceiling lights, Astro.
This guest bedroom is on the first floor. “They have people staying all the time,” Krystyna says, “so it’s well used.”
The flooring on this level is all cork, which feels warm and cosy underfoot and adds another soft texture.
The flooring on this level is all cork, which feels warm and cosy underfoot and adds another soft texture.
The chest of drawers was a vintage piece the owners already had. Krystyna put a bespoke, built-in wardrobe into the other alcove.
Paper pendant light; bed linen, both Zara Home. Black and white throw; brass candlesticks; vases, all Aarven.
Paper pendant light; bed linen, both Zara Home. Black and white throw; brass candlesticks; vases, all Aarven.
The room has a fireplace with the chimney breast taken back to brick.
Also on this floor is the family bathroom, which Krystyna completely overhauled and reconfigured.
“We connected three areas to create this bathroom, which is on the right as you come up the stairs,” she says. “Previously, they were separate spaces; there was a bit of angled hallway and a separate loo and bath. It was all quite cramped.” Now, it’s spacious and airy.
Marble floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Basket, Graham & Green. Lighting, Dyke & Dean. Matt stone composite sanitaryware, Lusso Stone.
“We connected three areas to create this bathroom, which is on the right as you come up the stairs,” she says. “Previously, they were separate spaces; there was a bit of angled hallway and a separate loo and bath. It was all quite cramped.” Now, it’s spacious and airy.
Marble floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Basket, Graham & Green. Lighting, Dyke & Dean. Matt stone composite sanitaryware, Lusso Stone.
The walls and shelf supporting the basin are microcement, which is fully waterproofed. “It’s sleek and helps the room to feel bigger,” Krystyna says. “They didn’t need extra storage in here, as they have plenty elsewhere.”
The mirror has lights and a heating mat to keep it dry after a shower. “It makes the room feel much bigger,” she says.
The mirror has lights and a heating mat to keep it dry after a shower. “It makes the room feel much bigger,” she says.
The principal bedroom is in the loft, a space Krystyna reconfigured for the couple. She made the loft access behind the plant more practical and also more discreet than it had been previously.
The wardrobes were also existing, but Krystyna tidied up the doors, which had lost alignment, painted them in the same limewash as the walls and ceiling, added bronze handles, and embedded LED lighting into the ceiling right in front of them. “It’s beautiful after dark,” she says.
The floor is sisal, bringing in yet more texture.
Cupboard handles, Corston.
The wardrobes were also existing, but Krystyna tidied up the doors, which had lost alignment, painted them in the same limewash as the walls and ceiling, added bronze handles, and embedded LED lighting into the ceiling right in front of them. “It’s beautiful after dark,” she says.
The floor is sisal, bringing in yet more texture.
Cupboard handles, Corston.
The bedside niches were already there, but originally covered by doors. Krystyna enhanced the shelf, using leftover tiles from the bathroom. She also had new wall lights wired in to avoid trailing cables.
Wall lights, Astro.
Wall lights, Astro.
The loft bedroom has an en suite shower room, which Krystyna gutted and redid.
“We had to adjust the placement of the doorway to fit in the black concrete basin (tucked behind the door on the left; visible in the photo below) and, in turn, the walk-in shower, which is on the right,” Krystyna says
The striking dark tiles are marble. “It looks grey, but it has a bit of pink and gold in it,” she says.
Celine marble, Mandarin Stone.
“We had to adjust the placement of the doorway to fit in the black concrete basin (tucked behind the door on the left; visible in the photo below) and, in turn, the walk-in shower, which is on the right,” Krystyna says
The striking dark tiles are marble. “It looks grey, but it has a bit of pink and gold in it,” she says.
Celine marble, Mandarin Stone.
The sliding door is bespoke. “It’s the third time I’ve done a door like this,” Krystyna says. “Another client saw it and loved it. It’s just a sliding door on a simple sliding track with boxing to hide it.”
The door panel is fire-rated and mirrored, with a decorative bobbin trim. “I’m obsessed with that moulding!” she says.
The door panel is fire-rated and mirrored, with a decorative bobbin trim. “I’m obsessed with that moulding!” she says.
The baby hadn’t arrived at this stage, but the couple were getting this sweet room ready in anticipation.
Wall crocodiles, Aarven. Light shade, Zara Home. Blind, Color & Co. Tallboy chest of drawers, vintage G-Plan; drawer fronts painted in Athenian Black, Annie Sloane.
Wall crocodiles, Aarven. Light shade, Zara Home. Blind, Color & Co. Tallboy chest of drawers, vintage G-Plan; drawer fronts painted in Athenian Black, Annie Sloane.
How do the owners like their reinvented home? “They love everything,” Krystyna says. “They say it’s like spending time in a really nice expensive boutique hotel – and they travel a lot and know what they’re talking about, so that’s a massive compliment.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite detail in this texture-filled home? Let us know in the Comments.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite detail in this texture-filled home? Let us know in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A young couple, who now have a one-year-old
Location South-east London
Property A 1930s terraced house with a converted loft
Size Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Krystyna Martin-Dominguez of K Space Interiors
Project year 2023
Photos by Kasia Fiszer
Under Krystyna’s guidance, the couple first tackled the bones of the house: they rewired, replaced both bathrooms, upgraded all the windows and flooring, and insulated. “We healed the house and made it healthy and nice and warm,” Krystyna says.
Only then, collaborating closely with the homeowners, did Krystyna get to work on the decor, which, she says, developed organically. “I suggested midcentury vintage and the owners liked Scandi with a heavy focus on texture,” she says, explaining how they ended up with a mixture of all three key elements throughout the house.
“They started digging out artworks they’d collected, family heirlooms, wedding presents; we began gently, stripping out then adding things slowly. We weren’t going for a particular style – [the wife] just wanted the space to make her feel good.”
Armchairs, Soho Home. Black Cast pendant lights, Menu.