LEAP OF FAITH
A Georgian townhouse in London is brought sympathetically into the 21st century
When interior designer Julia Thompson and her husband Paul were looking for a new home in south London, they decided to take their time. ‘We’d already sold our house in Fulham and were living in a property that belonged to my parents,’ says Julia. ‘We viewed a lot of houses but found them all rather uninspiring.’
At Paul’s suggestion, the couple began house-hunting in Peckham. ‘I had huge reservations,’ says Julia. ‘Although the area has since become very hip, I didn’t know Peckham at all. Then Paul found this place – it was the house of my dreams and it was (just) within our budget.’
Although the property needed considerable work done to it, Julia and Paul both loved its high ceilings and original period features. Rather than rushing into transforming the house, the couple decided to wait. ‘When we first moved in, our son Frank was a baby, so we just enjoyed living here while we saved up our money and decided exactly how to renovate,’ says Julia.
Then three years ago, Julia and Paul bit the bullet and reconfigured the layout. ‘There was a 1980s-style conservatory at the rear of the house, which was damp, cold and uninviting, and made us less inclined to use the garden,’ says Julia. ‘There was also a rather dated kitchen at the front.’ With the help of an architect, they commissioned a double-storey extension with an open-plan kitchen, dining
and living area on the ground floor and a study on the first floor. ‘It has completely transformed the space,’ says Julia.
The couple then reworked the outdoor areas. ‘The garden was redesigned by Barbara Samitier and that was the icing on the cake,’ says Julia. ‘You walk out there and forget you’re in a city. The birds are singing, squirrels are chasing each other – when Coco our terrier’s not around.’
Like the house’s structure, the interior has evolved over time. Julia has an eye for vintage pieces and has combined old and new to create a unique look. ‘I’m drawn to objects that tell a story,’ she says. Lighting by Jasper Morrison and a De La Espada coffee table add polish to the retro mix. ‘The beauty of vintage items is that it stirs you into being creative as you’ve got to add your own twist,’ says Julia. Her finds range from mid-century sofas to iconic film posters. ‘I love how a poster sums up the glamour of an era,’ she says.
Having worked as a fashion stylist for many years, Julia is a master of the art of what she calls, ‘endless frou-frouing’. ‘Fiddling around until something looks just right is something I’ve always been able to do,’ she says.
Renovating the house both inside and outside has had a positive impact on the family’s lifestyle. ‘We now use the outdoor spaces all the time – for eating or sitting out with friends,’ says Julia. ‘It’s transformed how we live.’
design tip ‘I believe a home should reflect the personality of its owner, so don’t be a slave to the latest decorating trend or concept’