TWICE AS NICE
Neutral shades combine with mid-century furniture in this chic end-of-terrace new-build
Looking at this terraced house from the front, you’d never believe how much space there is inside. Thanks to an extension at the back, what was originally a compact three-bedroom property is now a spacious home with four bedrooms, all ensuite, and a large, open-plan kitchen/living/dining space. In 2003 Alexandra and Jason bought this house and promptly left for Los Angeles, where Jason had been offered a job. Eight years later they returned. ‘We knew we were coming back, so wanted to make sure we were on the housing ladder and this was a good “lock up and leave” house. It was a new-build so nothing needed doing to it,’ explains Alexandra.
‘When we first came back, we only made cosmetic changes, such as laying oak floorboards in the living room and hallway, knowing we were going to make quite radical alterations later on.’ In 2017, and with their daughters getting older, they decided to add a loft conversion, which would house Alexandra and Jason’s bedroom, and mean that each of the girls could have their own bedroom, with an ensuite, on the first floor. ‘The loft was in two parts – the main space and a separate area above the garage,’ explains Alexandra. ‘So we got an architect to plan the layout, then found a local building company to do the work. Our top-floor room now has a Juliet balcony overlooking the garden, which is really lovely in the summer.’
Six months on, and with the bedrooms completed and the girls settled, Alexandra decided to tackle the ground-floor extension. ‘It was a big job, which included removing tons of soil,’ she says. ‘The garden was raised before, so we had to level and excavate it. There was also a drain to take into consideration. And although the builders had finished the loft conversion fairly quickly, the extension proved to be a slower process. It’s hard with children and pets in the house. I work from home too, so it was all a bit frustrating – like camping indoors for nine months!’ laughs Alexandra.
Once the space was finished, Alexandra was able to bring her design talents into play. ‘Having lived in LA, where everything is light and bright, I wanted to create the same feeling here, but as the back
of the house is north-facing I had to include as many skylights as possible to bring more light in. I also specified internal Crittall doors, two leading into the library room from the newly created hall, and another into the extension, to tie in with the sliding doors at the back.
‘I like a neutral palette, to which I add pops of colour and texture with textiles – often my own screenprinted work. I also love to mix mid-century and modern pieces, bought both here and in LA, and we have a lot of furniture from French retailer Roche Bobois, some of which I’ve had re-upholstered. As the house is regularly used for photo shoots, all the furniture in the family room is made up of components that are light and easy to move around,’ says Alexandra.
The kitchen is a key part of the extension. Alexandra chose a design from Rational, a German manufacturer. The base units are made from bookmatched oak, so the woodgrain continues across the doors for a continuous look. Pale grey has been used for contrast on the wall units, with matching cabinets on the opposite wall in the television area tying the two spaces together. A collection of striking Tom Dixon pendants creates a focal point above the island, while the same flooring has been chosen for indoors and out, creating a seamless transition from the family room to the garden.
The dining area is at the other end of the kitchen, at the front of the house, and features an Eero Saarinen vintage Tulip table surrounded by classic Eames chairs, some of which are upholstered, and the old living room has been transformed into a quiet library area – no television, just music and books.
‘We couldn’t be happier with the house. It has everything we need. The girls have their own rooms and we have a wonderful family space that really came into its own during lockdown,’ says Alexandra. Alexandra’s house can be hired for shoots; find more info at locationshooting.co.uk; or on Instagram @alexandraetondesign
‘We wanted a-family home with a HIGH END finish’