Welcome to my home
After viewing hundreds of properties over a three-year period, the Wisdens finally found this house. ‘We desperately wanted to stay in Wimbledon, but the problem was finding a good sized semi for a reasonable price,’ says Nicky.
Bought as a renovation project, the house needed a complete overhaul. It was previously owned by an elderly gentleman, and was falling apart. ‘The day we got our keys, we opened the front gate and it fell off in our hands!’ says Nicky. ‘Not one part of the house was okay, so we didn’t move in for the first four months while we carried out the first stages of renovation.’
The couple started by rewiring and replumbing, refurbishing the front windows, and creating an en suite for the main bedroom. They then repainted the entire interior and laid new carpets throughout. In the years since moving in, the Wisdens have gone on to create three new bedrooms at the top of the house, as well as adding an extension on the ground floor to house a new kitchen-diner, complete with bifold doors.
Nicky was determined to save as many of the house’s original features as possible: ‘It was really important to me to respect the heritage of our house and restore as much as we could. I was particularly passionate about keeping the original fireplaces, despite the work it entailed, as they add so much character.’
As well as the fireplaces, the couple also restored the stained-glass window in the hallway. ‘During the war, the pub at the bottom of our road was bombed and the explosion blew out our original window,’ says Nicky. ‘Our house was still the only one on the road without one, so we found someone on ebay to make a replica for us so we could put the history back.’
‘I’m influenced by the relaxed Scandi look and want our home to feel calm and serene, which is why I love the colour white and chose to paint the whole house in it,’ says Nicky. ‘I mix in a few boho and vintage pieces for a more homely feel.’
Buy the Key pieces
Carrara marble top, £800, Marble City, with steel legs, £400, from a local metal fabricator. Ferm Living plant box, £179, Cloudberry Living
“Plants bring colour and nature to a room. I always have them in the main rooms to add style”
I kicked and screamed to keep the original fireplaces throughout – the one in the living room almost led to divorce!”
Add a design classic
‘We love finding vintage pieces to mix with our modern decor,’ says Nicky. ‘Our Terence Conran armchair is one of my favourite finds – the style is timeless.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Terence Conran armchair, £400; large white vintage lamp, £210, both Lots Road Auctions. The Premier velvet footstool, £321.48, House of Isabella, is similar
Work in some soft accent colours
‘I add splashes of muted colour to every room,’ says Nicky. ‘I use blues, greys and dusty pinks on blankets, rugs and cushions. You can never have too many cushions! They add colour, comfort and cosiness.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Sanela cushion is a match, £9.50, Ikea. Grey cushions, £10 each, TK Maxx. Coffee table, £429, Swoon. Cooee white ball vase, £45, Mon Pote
Preserve original character and features
‘I wanted to buy this house as soon as I saw the original tiles in the hallway,’ says Nicky. ‘I’m glad we restored them, because the pattern works in this space plus it’s forgiving and doesn’t show the dirt!’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Barnet Marron Dorset tiles are similar, £54.89sq m, Tiles Direct. Circular strap mirror, £139, Hay. Love print, £24, Big Jon
Mix materials ‘Throughout the house, we’ve used a mix of leather, velvet, wool, marble, wicker, metal and wood; but all in toning colours, so the rooms don’t feel cluttered,’ says Nicky. In the main bedroom, the combination of textures gives a calm and cosy feel.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Holkham throw, £110; and cushion, £35, both The White Company, are similar.
Be clever with space
‘We wanted the biggest bed possible, so we fitted floating drawers instead of bedside tables to save every inch of space,’ says Nicky. ‘A hanging lightbulb looks minimal and helps keep the bedside clutter-free.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Floating bedside table, £95, Notonthe highstreet.com. Ekby Valter bracket, £2, Ikea. Light, £20, Creative Cables
I love the opulence of the bathroom, from the marbled tiles to the chrome roll-top bath – it’s where I go to escape a hectic day”
Stay true to your vision
‘We set out to create a luxury, hotel-chic-style bathroom and I think we achieved that,’ says Nicky. She painted the metal fire surround white, to make it blend into the calm scheme. BUY THE KEY PIECES
Italia Calacatta marble tiles, £31.92sq m, Porcelain Superstore
Layer textures
If you choose a neutral scheme, it’s important to add textures and natural materials to the room to give it depth and interest. In the guest room, Nicky’s done this by layering blankets, cushions and rugs.
BUY the KEY Pieces
Blanket, £110, Anthropologie. Afaw Berber rug (under the bed), £99, La Redoute. Sloane runner, £124.95, Benuta, is similar. Fabric decoration hung above bed, £45, Urban Outfitters. Botanical print, £34, Ross & Brown
What i’ve learnt “My husband taught me to ask for money off – haggling works, we made so many savings. Never is this more important than when renovating a house, especially when everything ends up costing double what you were hoping for!”