DESIGN FOR LIVING

How one couple turned a dated London semi into the family home of their dreams

When Chloe Roberts and her husband Adam were househunting in east London, they wanted a property they could adapt to their changing needs. ‘We were planning to start a family and wanted this move to be for the next 10 years,’ says Chloe, who you can follow on Instagram @cactusandcandles. ‘We saw it needed a fair bit of work and investment, as the layout and decor didn’t work for us, but we’re not averse to a project.’ The couple had originally planned to live in the property for a while before beginning the work, but then fate took a

hand. ‘Within a fortnight of moving in, I discovered I was expecting our son Hector, now three, so we had to get started on the changes,’ says Chloe. The couple promptly engaged architect Peter Lancaric to design a replacement side extension and help reconfigure the layout. The new extension was combined with the old lounge and kitchen to create one large family space, with a utility and WC. ‘We opted to bring the black bricks, which form the back of the house along with white render, into the living area as an alternative to reclaimed brick,’ says Chloe.

A TOTAL MAKEOVER

Another key stage of the renovation was in the hallway, where the open tread staircase was moved from the centre of the house to the party wall. ‘This was a fairly big decision, but gave us so much more usable space we felt it would be worth it in the long term,’ says Chloe. With the building work in full swing, Chloe took time to revise the decor. The bold statement wall in the ground floor extension provided the starting point for the monochrome theme throughout the rest of the house. ‘The back of the house is fully glazed with a roof light above the wall so there’s plenty of light to balance the dark,’ says Chloe. ‘We also chose Brilliant White for the rest of the room, along with light ash flooring and light grey kitchen units to maintain a light airy space.’ The couple varied decor slightly in the sitting room. ‘This was the only room with original features, so we wanted it to have more of a traditional cosy feel,’ says Chloe. ‘We chose plantation shutters, which give us privacy while allowing in plenty of light.’ Reupholstered antique chairs, safari fabric and antique ornaments have been combined to give the room a distinct feel.

GREAT USE OF SPACE

Upstairs, the existing bathroom was rather cramped so Chloe decided to extend slightly into the adjoining nursery, allowing her to create her dream bathroom. To keep the nursery feeling spacious, the ceiling was raised into the loft and a roof light installed. With the project now complete, Chloe and Adam are delighted with the results. ‘Our architect really helped us optimise the layout,’ says Chloe. ‘We wanted the ground floor living space to be sociable yet functional. It’s now our favourite part of the house and where we spend most time as a family.’

DINING AREA The statement black brick wall adds drama. Benchmark oak herringbone flooring, £35sq m, Barham & Sons. White dining chairs with natural legs, £44.95 each, Stone Butterfly. Etsy sells similar dining tables, from around £175. Wall calendar, £59.95, Stendig, is similar. Try the Hell Yeah sign, £120, Neon Beach. The black rattan bar stools, £195 each, Rockett St George, would work here

KITCHEN Neutral Shaker cabinetry works well with the monochrome scheme. Kitchen units, £10,000, Moores. Hot water combined tap, £1,049, Perrin & Rowe SITTING ROOM ‘I used classic shutters to create a sleek look,’ says Chloe. Shutters, price on request, Plantation Shutters. Walls in Rectory White emulsion, £47 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Try single sheepskin rug, from £35. John Lewis & Partners. Antique chairs upholstered in Alvar, £16m, Clarke & Clarke. Cushions in Longleat, £19.95m, Prestigious Textiles STAIRCASE The tiled runners make a bold design statement. Casino Baccarat tiles, £52.25sq m, Fired Earth. Interior architecture design by Peter Lancaric HECTOR’S BEDROOM Colourful accessories strike a playful note. Try the Mula abacus, £10, Ikea

BEDROOM An oversized floor light adds the drama here. Single sheepskin rug, from £35, John Lewis & Partners. Try the Teal waffle bed throw, £69, Secret Linen Store MASTER BEDROOM ‘We designed this room to be serene,’ says Chloe. One alcove has become a vanity. Simba upholstered bed, £449, John Lewis & Partners. Try the Knitted olive green blanket, £79, Secret Linen Store. The Alana dressing table, £199, Made, is similar. Try the Ali wall lamp in Black, £20.78, Sklum SHELVING UNIT A nook in the eaves houses a bespoke shelving unit. Scented candles, from £49, Jo Malone BATHROOM ‘Here we balanced style and practicality,’ says Chloe. Try Metro White tiles, £20sq m, Topps Tiles. Taps and shower, £1,800, from a selection at Bespoke Taps