ROOM TO GROW This couple’s London terrace has evolved to meets the needs of their expanding family
For the past 25 years, Debbie Hawkes and her husband Nick have carefully reshaped and reworked their home to keep pace with their growing family
Over the course of 25 years, Debbie Hawkes and her husband Nick have seen their home near Clapham Common evolve as their family has grown. The house they bought as a young couple has been continually remodelled to suit their needs as they raised Poppy, 22, Kitty, 20, and Archie, 13.
‘When we bought the property,’ recalls Debbie, ‘we both worked in marketing and were enjoying our life as a young couple in London. We had no idea at the time that the area was known locally as “Nappy Valley”. Without realising it, we had found the ideal location when it came to starting our own family a few years later.’
Scope to expand
The property had been well maintained but was dated, with avocado bathrooms and an outside loo. However, the couple could instantly see the potential with scope to extend out and up, and the added bonus of a cellar and a good-sized garden.
‘We decorated from top to bottom and have redecorated countless times since,’ says Debbie. ‘Our home has simply expanded with our growing family and suited our needs at every stage.’ Over time the couple have extended into the side return, done a loft conversion, changed the kitchen four times, and two years ago they embarked on their most ambitious project to date – a basement dig and a complete reworking of the ground floor.
‘Nick and I were very specific about what we wanted to create,’ says Debbie. ‘We had lots of involvement in the project from the start, liaising with our wonderful architect, Henrietta Hayward, our builders, PVA Developments and the kitchen designers at Roundhouse.
‘We stayed in the house for the whole process much to the dismay of the builders. Everything went into storage, and we spent 10 months being continually moved around, with an everreducing kitchen until we were left with only a microwave and kettle on the floor of a bedroom.’
Modern living
The basement renovation has had the biggest impact, giving the family a large living/tv area, a utility room and a cloakroom. On the ground floor the dining room now sits next to the sitting room, with the two spaces flowing effortlessly thanks to beautiful steelframed doors. The sleek, modern feel continues through into the kitchen. ‘We wanted it to have an industrial aesthetic, with luxurious but functional finishes,’ says Debbie.
Being involved in this project and watching her designs for the house come to fruition over the years has been the catalyst for Debbie to start her own interior design practice, Studio Ogee, with friend and business partner Nicoline Sandwith. ‘It’s wonderful to now be able to bring my passion for interiors to other people’s homes,’ says Debbie.
It hasn’t stopped on the home front either, with Debbie and Nick continually tweaking the decor. ‘London is a great source of influence and we still feel lucky living here, enjoying everything it has to offer,’ says Debbie. ‘Our home reflect us – it tells the story of our family life over 25 happy years.’