AN EYE FOR BEAUTY Design studio Yellow London used colour and pattern to reinvigorate a period townhouse
Joyful touches abound in this townhouse that has been lovingly revamped by homeowner Maya Adcock and design studio Yellow London
When Maya Adcock walked into her Grade ll-listed west London home 32 years ago, it had sitting tenants, dry rot and a leaking gutter. ‘But it had sunshine streaming through the fabulous French windows in the sitting room that overlooked the garden square below and that made us fall in love,’ she says. She and husband Andrew were admittedly young and naive, envisaging simply a future family home, not seeing any pitfalls. ‘There were many and it was a total gut job, but the house evolved into a joyful home where our three children grew up,’ says Maya. ‘And it was only five years ago that we felt the need for a refresh.’ Their children had left home, but all live nearby and have eight children between them.
Maya, who worked in advertising, and Andrew, who was in corporate finance but had studied history of art at Cambridge, drew up plans together. Sadly Andrew passed away a couple of years ago but his creative eye is in evidence all over the house. The pair pushed out walls to create a bigger kitchen and a dressing room next to the bathroom, and replaced double doors with sliding ones between the hall and dining room to make the most of their art collection.
The lower ground floor was designed to accommodate the grandchildren, with bedrooms and a playroom, so their noise and paraphernalia is contained, but the major change was the reworked kitchen-diner. ‘Previously the kitchen was tiny, in the middle of the room with a fairly unused conservatory at the garden end,’ says Maya. ‘Now it’s one big harmonious space and we make the most of every inch.’
The old gold trompe l’oeil sitting room walls were swapped for a calmer backdrop to make the couple’s art sing out. Andrew was Chairman of the Samuel Courtauld Trust and the couple have a wealth of pieces collected over the years.
Towards the end of the renovation, Maya approached designer Cath Beckett, a friend of her son and one half, with Liv Wallers, of the relatively new practice Yellow London to help with the finishing touches. ‘I wanted a young, bright eye on the house for a fresh take,’ she says. Cath continues: ‘Liv and I were just starting out after having met as assistants at Joanna Wood Interior Design and it was a great opportunity to put our skills to the test.’
In the sitting room Cath brought in vintage leather armchairs and brass side tables, contemporary colour pops with green silk lampshades and bold, patterned blinds. Maya’s antique wooden sitting room chairs, previously with taupe cushions, were updated with a more gregarious green print. ‘There is great joy in seeing treasured pieces given a new lease of life,’ says Cath. They also introduced new headboards, lampshades and blinds in the guest bedrooms and bathroom, along with colourful cushions throughout.
Now the house has a harmonious layered look that is both timeless and modern. ‘There has never been any reason to move and I will stay here for a long time to come,’ says Maya. ‘I love how the house has adapted over the years and that it continues to evolve.’
Yellow London is celebrating its fifth year of business and has large projects on the go, including a new home Maya is building in Cornwall and a Grade ll-listed house in Hertfordshire. ‘Collaborating with Maya was a wonderful start for us, she was a dream to work with and really helped us on our way,’ says Cath.
“OUR BRIEF WAS TO INJECT SOME FUN AND MODERNITY, WORKING ALONGSIDE EXISTING FURNITURE, ART, ANTIQUES AND TREASURED FAMILY ITEMS”
MEET THE HOMEOWNER
Maya Adcock shares her style vision and loves
MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF THE PROJECT Opening up the dining room and kitchen into one space with French doors into the garden. BIGGEST INDULGENCE The rug from
Robert Stephenson in the sitting room, which ties in with the vintage leather chairs and all the artwork. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT Having our collection of art professionally hung changed the feel of the house without buying a single new piece. SECRET ADDRESS Myriad Antiques in Clarendon Cross, London – a shop full of surprises and good taste. MUSEUM TO VISIT The Courtauld Gallery – a must for anyone interested in impressionist and post-impressionist paintings.
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS Eclectic, bold, smart.