MODERN TOUCHES

Marisa Daly and her partner, Jonathan, have given this Victorian cottage a clever contemporary twist

Add a contemporary twist to your home

WHO LIVES HERE

Interiors stylist Marisa Daly and her partner, literary agent Jonathan Conway, share this three bedroom Victorian terraced cottage in Walthamstow Village, east London, with their children Phoebe and Reuben. Marisa drew up plans with an architect to update and extend the house. ‘I wanted the interior to be more modern without obliterating the Victorian character,’ she says.

COLOUR IN THE KITCHEN

The couple extended the kitchen to create a dining area, with doors opening on to a deck and steps leading down to the garden. A pair of Stelrad radiators look striking on either side. The mid-century chairs were found in a vintage shop in Hastings and the vase is by Moser. The kitchen cupboards are painted in Pea Green by Little Greene.

LIGHT AND AIRY

To increase light and space on the ground floor, the wall and doors between the front and rear reception rooms were removed. A still-life by Lottie Cole hangs above the mantelpiece and the walls have been painted in Portland Stone Deep by Little Greene. ‘I love to be surrounded by colour and pattern,’ says Marisa, ‘but a sense of balance and order is also important to me.’

Jonathan’s ever-increasing library required a generous amount of shelf space. The solution was floor-to-ceiling shelves. ‘It’s deceptive, as each shelf is deep enough for a double row of books,’ explains Marisa. ‘I’m dreading moving from here – there must be at least a thousand volumes up there, but a room without books is unthinkable!’

OLD AND NEW

Combining styles and finishes is part of Marisa’s design ethos to add character and interest to an interior. The original Victorian architectural details have been restored and she even reinstated one or two. While the turquoise sofa, made by Designers Guild, was a recent purchase, the Chesterfield sofa under the window belonged to Marisa’s mother; it was re-upholstered in yellow velvet.

GET THE PICTURE

Although they weren’t allowed to build a loft extension, Marisa added a staircase and used the height above the first-floor landing to make space for a desk, where she and Jonathan work. Photographs, prints and paintings are hung in ordered rows to give the collection a sense of cohesion.

COSY BEDROOM

Phoebe’s bedroom is painted in Pea Green by Little Greene. The blind is made from Bennison’s Waikiki fabric, recycled from a shower curtain Marisa had in her previous home. The cushions on the Ikea cane chair are made up in Speckled Collection linen from CLJ Home.

CALM AND COMFORTABLE

A beautifully shaped statement headboard, upholstered in a vibrant green floral design, takes centre stage in the master bedroom (try The Headboard Workshop for similar). The wallpaper is called Domino, a Neisha Crosland design from Turnell & Gigon. ‘The vintage ceiling light we bought on holiday in Hudson, New York, and my marble-topped dressing table belonged to my grandparents,’ says Marisa. The green-edged bed linen is from Designers Guild.

SMART AND STYLISH

Marisa opted for a fully tiled bathroom. The tiles are Lime House from Fired Earth and the towels are from Designers Guild.

PICTURE PERFECT

The walls of Reuben’s bedroom are papered in a decorative Brunschwig & Fils toile design, which is a stunning backdrop for the white cot and lamp.