open house
Carrie and Eoin Hegan reinterpreted their favourite elements of warehouse living in a Victorian family home
These homeowners recreated a spacious warehouse look in their East End Victorian maisonette
Carrie Hegan’s first taste of warehouse living was her husband Eoin’s old bachelor pad – a converted factory space in East London. A few years on, when the couple set up home together in a Victorian townhouse, they fondly remembered the relaxed vibe of open-plan living. ‘When we moved here, the first floor was three rooms, but it was always our intention to knock them into one large space,’ says Carrie. ‘ We had become used to the light, airy and easy feel of warehouse living, so wanted to recreate it here in a more refined way.’
A few years on, the couple were ready to convert the three rooms into one, as well as add a loft extension. Now, their beloved urban elements – bare brick walls, wood flooring and old-school brassware – are set against shapely Mid-century furnishings and statement lighting for a gentler version of the look.
Carrie has an eye for vintage and intriguing finds, which add plenty of personality to the open-plan space. She and Eoin gained a master suite from the new loft space, with floor-toceiling bifolds stretching across the back wall. This room was created from scratch, but reworking the first floor proved more of a challenge. ‘This used to be a skinny kitchen and a dining room with a hatch at the front, and a seldom-used living room at the back,’ explains Carrie. Tom Phillips, head designer at Phillips Design Studio, helped the couple re-imagine the space and suggested moving the kitchen to the back of the house where light floods in through a high window. ‘This opened up the layout,’ says Carrie. ‘The kitchen now gets lots of light, while the living and dining areas have views over a park at the front.’
The extension and renovations started in January 2015, by which time Carrie was pregnant with Ethan, now 18 months
old. Naturally, the work over-ran, so Carrie’s first weeks of maternity leave were far from relaxing. ‘Instead of putting my feet up, I got woken up early every day by the builders and then headed out for most of the day to escape the dust and banging,’ she says. However, the upside was that Carrie was on-site to make the final decisions and manage those finishing touches.
A few weeks after Ethan was born, the family could make the most of their new bright and welcoming bedroom. ‘In the summer we push the doors back completely,’ says Carrie. ‘On a weekend morning, our entire room can be open to the fresh air.’
Carrie’s style evolved as the renovation progressed. ‘I love how just being in London means you are exposed to all kinds of inspiration,’ she says. ‘I get ideas from trips to flea markets, art exhibitions and cafés and bars, which showcase up and coming trends. It means that you can just soak it all up.’ The lights over the kitchen island are a case in point. ‘Eoin and I got chatting to a coffee shop owner in Soho and I asked her where she’d bought her lights. She was able to put me on to her supplier. The people you meet can be a fantastic source of inspiration, alongside interiors magazines and Pinterest,’ she adds.
A self-confessed bargain hunter, Carrie sourced almost everything herself, from reclaimed brassware taps to the Mid-century Danish and French furniture. ‘When I look around our home, there’s a satisfaction in knowing where I tracked down each item. For example, the living room rug was haggled for in Morocco and my favourite vintage jar was bought from a French market on our honeymoon.’ Throughout this home, personal touches bring a warmth to the bones of warehouse living that make Carrie and Eoin feel right at home.