CLEAR VISION
A few clever tweaks to Camille and Guillaume Petit’s classic terrace were all it took to turn it into a family home
Camille Petit and her husband Guillaume have a knack for making a home in whichever corner of the globe that they find themselves in. The couple, both native to the French Riviera, spent seven years living in an airy loft in New York before relocating to southwest London five years ago. After a period of renting, they finally found their ideal family home, but it needed plenty of vision to bring it to life.
‘Having spent time loft-living, we were used to the concept of light and space,’ says Camille. ‘Although we found this house charming, we knew we faced a challenge trying to channel more light into it, particularly as the property is north-facing.’
But the house ticked several boxes and had plenty of green spaces nearby, as well as a school for the couple’s daughter Teva, two. Plus, the previous owners had added a loft conversion and a rear extension, meaning that much of the structural work had already been completed. But it still felt dark and dated, and the layout was awkward.
‘We knew we wanted to pare things back, refine the flow and make the most of every inch of space,’ says Camille. ‘The open-plan ground floor hadn’t been well thought out – the living room was at the front, with a kitchen in the middle and a dining area at the rear. We had an idea of how to improve the flow and worked with our architect, Michael Schienke at Vorbild, to enhance the look and feel.’
They hatched a plan to rework the space and channel in extra light at the same time. ‘Every Victorian terrace has its unique quirks so there is no one-size-fits-all template when it comes to renovation,’
says Michael. ‘Instead, it’s often a case of reversing poor decisions and looking at what the footprint can yield.’ In this case, Michael suggested adding two extra skylights in the extension and moving the kitchen to the rear, with the dining area at the heart of the ground floor space. Plans also included tweaking the hall to allow for a bigger cloakroom and plenty of concealed under-stairs storage. On the first floor, additional space was carved out of the guest bedroom to create a stand-alone utility, and under-eaves storage was added adjacent to the third-storey main bedroom.
‘We chose white walls, knowing that we would introduce pops of colour,’ says Camille. ‘ We also made the left-field decision to anchor the space with dark stained-oak floors. That might seem counter-intuitive in a north-facing house, but in fact it works brilliantly: the timber makes the floor seem to disappear, lending a sense of spaciousness.’
Meanwhile, sleek lines, mid-century furniture, bright accents and plenty of greenery define this airy home. While light-hearted touches, such as the wallpaper mural in Teva’s room and dramatic feature walls, add an informal note. ‘During the project, we learnt that we could be bolder and we’d like to go even further now,’ says Camille. ‘Next we are looking for some statement artwork for the sitting room – perhaps some striking photography.’
With the works behind them, Camille and Guillaume are enjoying the little piece of the Mediterranean they’ve brought to London. ‘We often go to the nearby farmers’ market at the weekend before cooking at home,’ says Camille. ‘It’s great to have a space that is at last fully utilised.’