SETTING THE SCENE

A passion for pa ern brings this home to life

When Maria Fernanda Guirao enrolled on the design course at London’s prestigious Motley Theatre in 2007, she found it a gruelling but rewarding experience. ‘ We practically slept under our desks… but I learned to do everything – costumes, sets, woodwork, trompe l’oeil.’ The tough training led ! rst to a successful career as a costume designer and then, following the birth of her second child, it inspired her decision to retrain as an interior designer – a more family-friendly career choice. She soon landed a job with her friend and mentor Kate Guinness, before se"ing up her own practice ( guiraodesign.com). It was an astute, sideways move: ‘A costume has to express its wearer, and it’s the same for interiors. There’s no right or wrong taste, it’s about ! nding the colours and objects that make you feel happy.’

You could also say the same about the north London home she shares with her husband, Ma"hew Morgan, a writer, and their three children. By knocking down walls and layering

colour with texture, mid- century prints and antique ! nds, she’s turned their traditional Victorian terraced house into an expressive, upli "ing home. It’s also very practical, with zones for relaxing, entertaining and socialising. Upstairs there are !ve bedrooms and a home o#ce. Downstairs, in the pink and leaf-green reception rooms, deep shelving houses a well-stocked bar, and there’s enough space for the children to sca$er toys and make dens. Like a stage set, it’s become their ‘ li$le world’.

Maria’s previous home was a maisone$e a few doors down. ‘ When I moved in I was newly single and feeling sorry for myself. “Everyone gets pregnant in that %at,” my neighbours told me.’ The local myth proved to be true. Within months she met Ma$hew. ‘ When I was expecting our ! rst child we decided to move to a bigger home. We’d set our sights on this house, but it was too expensive.’ Then came the crash of 2008. ‘ We were walking past when the owner appeared. We asked if he was still selling. He said “Yes” and invited us in. We ! xed a price there and then.’

The last owners had altered the house, adding the extension at the back and converting the a$ic. ‘ But most of the work had been badly done. Many design crimes had been commi$ed.’ These included the decor, which was grey, white and a ‘disturbing ham’ colour.

The couple set to work. Downstairs, the laminate !ooring was ripped up to reveal original !oorboards, which were stripped and limewashed. Upstairs, partition walls were removed to open up the poky bathroom. With cascading houseplants and bright, encaustic tiles, Maria is reminded of her childhood home in Argentina, where her mother ran an art gallery.

Some original features, like the stained glass and marble "replace, were intact, but most of the plasterwork had been ripped out. Luckily, Maria was able to rescue sections of original mouldings from a neighbour, who was also refurbishing a property. She used these to recast the 19th- century cornices and roses.

Her theatrical background has made her resourceful: ‘ You learn to do everything in theatre, there’s a democratic ‘make do’ a#itude. It doesn’t ma#er who you are, everyone helps out, whether it’s sewing on a bu#on or sweeping the stage.’

Maria did most of the decorating herself, experimenting with colours, ‘ like a teenager trying out new hair dyes’, she smiles. ‘ My clients’ homes have to be perfect but I’m not afraid of trying out new colours here.’ While every room is di $erent – fern-green curtains in the living room, a whisper

At the front of the house, Maria mixed mid-century fabrics like the Svenskt Tenn curtains with ‘treasure’ accumulated over the years: family portraits, Argentinian artworks and vintage pieces, including the decorative lights found locally. The mid-century rattan table came from a brocante in France, while the antique rocking chair is much loved and used. FACING PAGE In a reference to her roots, Maria covered the sofa in a traditional Frazada rug.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Artworks lining the walls were ‘rescued from family attics’; glass domes hold beachcombed shells and precious photographs; the 1960s Accolay resin table was discovered locally and is one of Maria’s favourite finds. The Sixties butterfly lamp is by Lancia and was found at Roomscape in Camden.

Maria has painted the living room in Edward Bulmer Natural Paint’s Rose Tinted White. She favours cheerful, calm tones, which she has used throughout the house.

ABOVE & LEFT In the kitchen, the wallpaper – Eldblomman, designed by Josef Frank in the 1940s and available from Svenskt Tenn – is a new addition and makes Maria and Matthew smile. Maria painted the legs of the antique table in a blue to match. RIGHT An antique set of shelves, found in Matthew’s mother’s garage, was painted in Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball. It houses vintage pottery including pieces by Bordallo Pinheiro and Wade Heath. FACING PAGE This bright spot ‘has to be full of things of beauty to prevent clutter’, says Maria.

RIGHT Upstairs, Maria used Calamine by Farrow & Ball as the backdrop for the main bedroom, where the bedside table is vintage Heal’s and the lampshade is by Susan Deliss. BELOW, FROM LEFT The curtains are made from richly decorated panels of Christian Lacroix fabric; the strawberry quilt on the bed is vintage Liberty. In keeping with the whimsical, Silver Screen glamour of the bedroom, Maria found this floral sconce at Matilda Goad. The ‘Oui’ sign is a reminder, she says, ‘to start the day on a positive note’.