PURE BEAUTY
The clean lines and cohesive canvas of whites, greys and dusky pinks in Hannah and Sam Franklin-bort’s renovated terrace are quietly stunning
Having lived in trendy Dalston for seven years, Hannah and Sam Franklin-bort wanted more greenery and space for the next stage of their lives. Their search led to a five-bedroom Victorian terrace near Peckham Rye Park in East Dulwich. ‘I wanted to put my own stamp on whatever we bought, so veered away from properties that had already been renovated,’ says Hannah, a stylist and creative director (hannahbort.com). ‘The fact that it hadn’t been touched was a blessing for us.’ RDA Architects were drafted in to create an open-plan home that could double up as a location house. ‘Luckily our architect James Henderson was glad to work with a couple who didn’t want the typical cookie cutter terrace conversion,’ says Hannah. ‘With nothing charming or original left we felt able to strip everything out and start again.’
Work started six months later to extend at the rear and side. Internal walls were knocked out and floor-to-ceiling
storage was built along the length of the ground floor. The poky galley kitchen - on a lower level with a step down was also problematic. ‘We could have dug down and created a higher ceiling in the kitchen, but I really wanted it on one level with the sitting room,’ says Hannah. Large metal-framed doors and a five-metre-long glass roof flood the room with light. ‘I picked the biggest piece of glass possible without needing a crane,’ she adds.
A trip to Copenhagen inspired the kitchen design, which consists of Ikea base cabinets upgraded with fronts by Danish company Reform. ‘I really loved the idea of natural materials but didn’t want plywood so I picked smoked oak fronts,’ says Hannah.
Elsewhere the small attic en suite has been made more usable thanks to a new sliding door that opens when the bedroom door closes, and vice versa. The couple have also gutted and reconfigured the damp main bathroom, as well as converting a bedroom into a walk-in closet. Next they plan to turn a bedroom into an office with space for Hannah’s props. Unfortunately the project took two years rather than the agreed four months. ‘After nine months of delays the builders had to go,’ says Hannah. ‘In a way it was a blessing as we discovered local firm Object Atelier who created all the cabinetry and redid the flooring and stairs. They had a similar design ethos to me and were meticulous.’
A cohesive canvas of muted grey and dusty pink tones was chosen for the interior. ‘Although I use a lot of bold colour in my professional work, with the high ceilings I felt it wouldn’t benefit from very dark or bright shades,’ says Hannah. Natural materials and brass fittings bring warmth, while Chinese and Korean ceramics and artwork add personality. ‘I didn’t think about trends as the most important thing was how it makes you feel,’ says Hannah. Furniture choices were also carefully considered. ‘I wanted to understand how the space worked first, then buy furniture that was beautiful but not superfluous,’ she says.
The renovation was finally completed in time for baby Olive’s birth in October 2020, but Hannah was determined not to rush her design decisions - even her insistence on perfectly mitred 45 degree stairs. ‘We aren’t precious about the space now it is finished,’ she says. ‘It really feels like home and it’s very personal to us.’