My Houzz: A Creative Renovation of a Compact Worker's Cottage
Small but perfectly formed, this family home has been lovingly updated to create a characterful and light-filled space
When Anna Burles and her business partner and husband Chris Trotman bought this house, they weren’t expecting it to become their home. As owners of Run For The Hills, they specialise in commercial and residential developments, and they thought they’d do this property up and sell it. “Things didn’t go to plan because we fell in love with it,” says Burles, who has kitted it out in ice-cream shades and fascinating vintage finds. Cosy, but able to accommodate a family of four, its location – just 10 minutes from the couple’s office – is unbeatable. “We’d rather compromise on size than location,” says Burles.
The kitchen has a utilitarian look. Floating shelves display pretty enamel pieces and jars with labels designed by Burles’ graphic designer/artist husband.
Moonbeam Penny Round mosaic tiles, Original Style.
Moonbeam Penny Round mosaic tiles, Original Style.
Burles went for an off-the-shelf kitchen, customising the units with handles made from fossilised wood. “My husband Chris almost lost it when he found out how much they were, but they really did transform the units.” The room is peppered with timeless glass and enamel pieces.
Kitchen, Howdens. Fossilised wood handles, Chloe Alberry.
Kitchen, Howdens. Fossilised wood handles, Chloe Alberry.
The ground floor is completely open-plan, with the kitchen at the back, the dining area leading off the kitchen and then a living space at the front. Because of this, there’s an uninterrupted view from the back to the front of the house, which is great for a young family. “I can be cooking in the kitchen and still keep an eye on the kids when they’re causing mayhem in the front,” says Burles. The floor in the dining area is limewashed “It’s a bit dark, but it still bounces the light around the room,” says Burles. A pretty lace tablecloth, antique candelabra and vintage chairs contrast with the modern prints on the wall. “We love juxtaposing vintage one-off pieces with more contemporary design,” says Burles.
Lace tablecloth, MYB Textiles. Limewashed burnt smoked oak floor, Havwoods.
Lace tablecloth, MYB Textiles. Limewashed burnt smoked oak floor, Havwoods.
The shell on the table is actually made of resin “It’s incredibly realistic, even close up. Burles found the pendant light (one of a pair) on a trip to Paris with Chris. “They are really heavy and Chris was furious that we ended up carrying them around Paris. But if you find something you love, you’ve just got to get it. Don’t wait, don’t think about it, don’t hope you’ll find it again.”
Soft pink walls and velvet upholstery create a soothing mood in the living area at the front of the cottage.
Three-seat Bluebell sofa; Valentin footstool, both Sofa.com. Sofa covered in Dusk and footstool covered in Pale Rose Varese velvet, Designers Guild. Walls painted in Middleton Pink, Farrow & Ball.
Three-seat Bluebell sofa; Valentin footstool, both Sofa.com. Sofa covered in Dusk and footstool covered in Pale Rose Varese velvet, Designers Guild. Walls painted in Middleton Pink, Farrow & Ball.
There are all sorts of vintage items dotted around the house.
The drinks cabinet used to be a medicine cabinet and the pelican lamp was originally just an ornament, but was converted by an antiques shop on London’s Golborne Road. “The Indian cow’s head was sent to me in the post as a thank you from an intern,” says Burles.
Vintage German medicine cabinet, Junk Deluxe.
The drinks cabinet used to be a medicine cabinet and the pelican lamp was originally just an ornament, but was converted by an antiques shop on London’s Golborne Road. “The Indian cow’s head was sent to me in the post as a thank you from an intern,” says Burles.
Vintage German medicine cabinet, Junk Deluxe.
Clever design ideas include using the space under the stairs, just off the dining area, as a compact home office. The tiled kitchen floor was designed by Burles.
Walls painted in Elephant’s Breath estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Elephant’s Breath estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
Chris designed about a third of the artwork in the house, including the God Save The Queen print.
Read our guide to limited edition prints.
Read our guide to limited edition prints.
The main bedroom has a mix of high-street and vintage pieces. “It’s the equivalent of a fashionista never wearing top-to-toe designer or top-to-toe high street – you have to mix and match,” says Burles. Soft textiles and a feathered pendant emphasise the stark texture of the animal skull mounted above the bed.
Eos pendant shade, Heal’s. Sienna linen throw in Dove, Designers Guild. Pascale wardrobes, Loaf.
Eos pendant shade, Heal’s. Sienna linen throw in Dove, Designers Guild. Pascale wardrobes, Loaf.
A 1960s sideboard is a handy place to display more intriguing objects, including an antique fan and another animal skull.
“Vintage pieces are what makes a place feel unique and uncopiable,” says Burles. “I always spend more on pieces I’m going to take from house to house rather than trend-led pieces, since you’ll probably fall out of love with them in a couple of years.”
Horns, Les Couilles du Chien.
“Vintage pieces are what makes a place feel unique and uncopiable,” says Burles. “I always spend more on pieces I’m going to take from house to house rather than trend-led pieces, since you’ll probably fall out of love with them in a couple of years.”
Horns, Les Couilles du Chien.
A warm mauve-grey colour provides a relaxing backdrop to the less conventional pieces in the main bedroom. “A lot of people describe our look as a bit quirky,” says Burles. “I’d say it’s creative.”
Walls and ceiling painted in Dove Tale estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
Walls and ceiling painted in Dove Tale estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
Burles found a matching pair of bedside tables in a vintage shop on London’s Wandsworth Bridge Road. The wall light looks vintage, but is actually new.
Wall light, Rockett St George.
Wall light, Rockett St George.
The spatially-challenged bathroom had been dominated by a full-sized bath, so Burles sourced a smaller option. “I found one that was 1,200mm and reorientated it under the window instead of it running the full length of the room.” The vanity unit is a customised media cabinet and the bright, almost neon yellow ceiling (just seen) is a fun touch. “I was really keen on floor-to-ceiling tiles, but if I did it again I’d have something that breathes a bit more I think.”
Hexagonal tiles, Original Style. Ceiling painted in Yellow Cake estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
Read advice on choosing the perfect tiles for your bathroom walls
Hexagonal tiles, Original Style. Ceiling painted in Yellow Cake estate emulsion, Farrow & Ball.
Read advice on choosing the perfect tiles for your bathroom walls
The dressing room (now the children’s bedroom) epitomises the old-meets-new vibe of the cottage with a bright pink clothes rail and vintage drawing.
Framed skeleton drawing, Les Couilles du Chien. Engineered Henley oak boards in Fresco, Havwoods. Barbie Pink rail from Yorkshire Displays.
What’s your favourite detail in this updated worker’s cottage? Tell us in the Comments section.
Framed skeleton drawing, Les Couilles du Chien. Engineered Henley oak boards in Fresco, Havwoods. Barbie Pink rail from Yorkshire Displays.
What’s your favourite detail in this updated worker’s cottage? Tell us in the Comments section.
Who lives here Anna Burles and Chris Trotman of Run for the Hills and their two young children
Location West London
Property A Victorian worker’s cottage in a conservation area
Size 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom
Designer Anna Burles of Run For The Hills
Photos by Rachael Smith
Now sporting a light-filled extension and open layout downstairs, this 19th-century cottage has certainly seen a lot of changes. But its latest transformation wasn’t all plain sailing, as Burles explains. “Because we’re in a conservation area, there were loads of restrictions – we couldn’t do bifold doors onto the garden, for example. It was quite a challenge to still make it what we wanted.” Skylights were given the greenlight by planning, and these ensure plenty of natural light flows through the open-plan ground floor. “It’s south-facing as well, which has a massive impact on light,” says Burles.
In the kitchen area, an island unit with a zinc worktop is joined to a vintage plan chest. “We wanted the chest to face into the living and dining area so the island wouldn’t feel like a kitchen unit,” says Burles.
Dining area walls painted in Elephant’s Breath estate emulsion; kitchen walls painted in All White estate emulsion; both Farrow & Ball.