HOUSE OF COLOUR

The owners of a top floor flat have transformed it with bold shades and an east-meets-west vibe

With their son Dylan growing up fast and an extended family overseas, Jen Taylor, a designer, and her husband Hari, an architect, knew they would have to move to gain the extra bedroom they needed. Keen to stay in the area of south London where they were living in a former Peabody housing block of flats, they emailed their neighbours to see if anyone was interested in selling their property. ‘These are good quality purpose-built flats, the rooms all have great proportions with period features, and there’s a lovely communal garden, so we really wanted to remain here if possible,’ explains Jen.

Luckily for the couple, a sale had just fallen through on a top-floor property. ‘We were next door but on the ground floor,’ says Jen. ‘We wanted a do-er upper and this place hadn’t been touched for decades. Then we saw the height of the loft and that sealed the deal, as we knew we would be able to extend into that space.’ And not only that, buying privately, rather than through an estate agent saved them money.

With such good architectural credentials at stake, the main challenge was going to be where to site the staircase to the loft, which was to become the main bedroom and ensuite bathroom. ‘It was going to be a bedroom and we couldn’t justify the cost of a dormer,’ explains Jen. ‘We knew we would have to install Velux windows instead and strengthen the joists.’ Once the couple had established where the drain would have to be positioned to connect to the existing services, they were able to plan the new layout.

Keen to create a bright hallway and working to a tight budget, Jen and Hari decided to capitalise on the existing structure with a double-height space and a spectacular staircase that Hari would design. ‘We wanted to make a feature of the stairs,’ he says. ‘A solid balustrade would have blocked the light that floods in, and neither of us fancied glass; plywood offered a cost-effective yet elegant solution. The staircase also makes it feel more like a maisonette and there is plenty of storage underneath.’

While they were still living in their former home, Jen and Hari were able to submit their planning application, and once it was granted, they oversaw the four-month project through daily site visits. ‘Things crop up all the time that need answering straight away,’ says Jen. ‘So we would pop in before work to see if the builders had any questions and give them a list to check against. One of the main advantages though was that the builder’s son is a quantity surveyor. We knew each other professionally, so we knew he could read

‘I like the mix of old and new, and East and West – it means our home reflects all the things we love’

the plans and they would do a good job.’ Along the hallway, overlooking the communal garden at the back of the property, the kitchen was turned into an open sociable space by knocking down the adjoining wall to the dining room. ‘The kitchen in our previous place was small so I’d be cooking while everyone else was in the living room,’ says Jen. ‘I wanted to make this one as big and airy as possible, so it would be the heart of the home. Everything happens here now. Dylan can do his homework, or when we entertain, friends can sit and chat while we cook.’

Although two heads are often better than one – particularly when one is an architect and the other a designer – when the project is a home renovation, it can easily become a battleground. However Jen and Hari managed to successfully unite their different ideas. Before switching careers to set up her homeware brand, Hokolo, Jen was the project architect for The Adria, a luxury boutique hotel in South Kensington. ‘It was the first project where

I’d worked closely with a team of interior designers,’ she says. ‘The decor was very sumptuous and I loved the richness of colour, pattern and texture.’

Wanting to inject some character into her own home, Jen opted for a stylish grey palette in the main bedroom, hallway and kitchen. In the kitchen she created a striking patchwork splashback with blue Moorish-style tiles. ‘It’s the opposite of a typical architect’s home with bare white surfaces everywhere,’ she laughs. ‘My husband took a lot of convincing. Even the builders were tutting as they painted the walls grey, but when it was finished everyone loved it. We’re on the top floor so the flat is filled with light and can take darker shades.’

For the flooring, Jen and Hari went for a pale grey Marmoleum not traditionally used in residential developments. ‘We wanted a seamless feel without any joins between the rooms,’ says Jen. ‘It’s used a lot in commercial developments as it looks like resin but is less expensive. The cost is in the installation as it needs a specialist, but it’s easy to clean and things don’t break if they get dropped.’

The flat is peppered throughout with vintage mid-century furniture, which Jen, a keen Ebayer, has bought at affordable prices. A close attention to detail is apparent in the carefully sourced Berker rotary light switches. ‘We both studied the great masters of Modernism and love that design ethos,’ explains Jen. ‘The clean lines, honest materials and workmanship really appeal.’ Jen has also introduced Chinese antiques to reflect her Hong Kong heritage and some quirky touches, with the unusual ceramic artwork that decorates the hallway. ‘I’ve injected warmth with bold colours,’ she says. I also like the mix of old and new, and East and West – it means our home reflects all the things we love.’