The chic monochromatic London home created by an expat Kiwi.

A New Zealander and his French wife create a deceptively simple London home

The narrative of this London house is as much about a collaborative mix of opposing cultures as it is about the owners’ joint passion for simple white walls, natural furnishings and pared back rooms. Photographer, stylist and creative director Karine Kong is French and hails from the seaside in Bordeaux; her husband Steve Kirk, is a New Zealander from Hamilton.

At its core their house reflects Karine’s European aesthetic influenced by French interior designers such as Jacqueline Morabito combined with the simplicity of some of the celebrated Scandinavian stylists she admires.

Juxtaposed with Karine’s creativity is Steve’s handson, down-to-earth Kiwi common sense and his realistic

DIY know-how. It might seem like a culture clash but this collaborative energy has resulted in a home that is comfortable, stylish and totally practical – the perfect tribute to both their talents.

The terraced house is located in a leafy back street off Shepherds Bush Rd in West London. “It’s a neighbourhood still forming its identity,” says Steve. “Still a little bit edgy with great energy and some interesting restaurants and cafes.”

When Steve and Karine first moved into the area in 2009 they initially gave the house an all-white decor to make it more liveable and acceptable to their taste. Over time they made minor improvements but once they got a feel for the right vibe and then embarked on 10 months of intensive renovations to completely change the house, from the ground floor to the attic.

The transformation was dramatic to say the least. A traditional, rather dowdy two-storey four-bedroom London terraced house morphed into a modern, open-plan, three-storey house with five bedrooms and a home office to house the creative couple and their family.

It’s now become a creative retreat with a totally organic feel enhanced by soft furnishings and natural fabrics such as rough linens, bare woods and industrial chic pieces.

Says Karine: “I wanted the house to be simple and uncomplicated – but feel like a light-filled, airy, spacious loft with the occasional nod to French and Nordic style.”

With this clear vision in mind Steve and Karine knocked down walls to let in the light and create an inviting living room/dining area that exposed the hallway and stairs.

To make it more practical and continue the organic flow a neutral coloured resin floor was laid throughout the ground floor connecting the open-plan living space with the adjacent kitchen. In this new guise the house has taken on the mantle of a contemporary European home far removed from its austere, musty Edwardian origins.

Furnished with classic design pieces from Vitra, Eames, Knoll, and Mendes da Rocha along with vintage finds, artworks made by Karine and wooden furniture made by Steve, their home has a witty and distinct blend of Gallic and Antipodean ideas.

It follows that some of the more iconic items of furniture and intriguing objects are a result of Karine’s advantageous relationships that she has forged over time with designers and suppliers through her popular interior design, fashion and lifestyle

blog, Bodie and Fou. Other pieces are the result of happy hours trolling through flea markets and car boot sales in London, Paris and Bordeaux hunting for vintage and rustic items that fit the minimalist decor.

“A home is an accumulation of memories,” says Karine. “We still get so much pleasure from the little treasures we have discovered on our travels.”

On the more pragmatic side, tapping into Steve’s skills they fitted the modern kitchen with a long breakfast bar to seat eight people. Add to this Corian worktops, the latest in Miele appliances and a Quooker fusion tap and it really looks the part.

“To save space we installed one complete wall with floor-toceiling kitchen units and appliances to increase storage and create an interesting minimalist look,” says Steve.

Then to bring the outside in they also added a large picture window which gives a great view to the garden’s changing seasons.

On the first floor, the original 1980s-looking bathroom with walls previously painted in a bright Yves Klein blue was transformed into a practical, modern warm grey family bathroom with a Boffi basin and Corian bath adorned with Vola taps.

The same resin floor from the ground floor was used to match the minimalist style of the bathroom.

“I fulfilled a life-long dream having the bathroom walls decorated with tadelakt, a traditional Moroccan finish I’ve always admired,” explains Karine. “It’s a labour-intensive technique made from lime plaster, which is rammed, polished and treated with soap to make it waterproof.”

The look is completed with grey towels from The White Company,

THESE PAGES (from left) Karine Kong and Steve Kirk’s main living room in their UK home features a mix of contemporary and vintage pieces including a Ghost sofa by Paola Navone, a Moroccan rug by Larusi, and a Turning Table by Menu from Amara; the black Spanish leather chair in the right corner is by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Furniture and behind it is a Tolomeo floor light by Artemide, while under the window is a pair of classic LCW chairs by Charles & Ray Eames from Vitra and hanging from the decorative ceiling rose is a Koushi light by Mark Eden Schooley. The opening up of the hall and stairs to the main living space was Steve’s design; the VW photo is by Karine.

THIS PAGE The chairs in the dining room are by Cult Furniture and the oak table by Normann Copenhagen; above is a Koushi light by Mark Eden Schooley, while the glasses and carafe are from Nicole Farhi and the bowls from Vera Wang. OPPOSITE (from left) Karine’s design aesthetic includes nods to French and Nordic style. Her husband Steve brought a down-to-earth Kiwi sensibility to their renovations, including a good dose of DIY know-how.

THIS PAGE (from left) Atop the kitchen’s vintage metal shelving unit is a large glass jar from Baileys, a chopping board made by Karine’s father, a white water jug by Nelson Sepulveda and a grey water jug from H&M; the stool is from Moroccan Bazaar, the jute rug from Marks & Spencer Home, and the portrait on the wall is by Karine. The kitchen’s Ball chair in White is by XL Boom.

THIS PAGE (from left) The kitchen, with its glass roof and long breakfast counter, was designed by Holloways of Ludlow. In Karine’s office, adorned with family portraits and her small collection of treasures, a Charles & Ray Eames leather chair is paired with a vintage festival table bought at Anthropologie.