Fast movers
A modernised Victorian property retains its original character
Living area
‘We wanted a calm, relaxed feel with lots of light and a mixture of old and new furniture and accessories, for a layered look.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Henry sofa in Seashell, from £1,496, Arlo & Jacob. Bespoke shelving and cabinets, RESSI London. Chindi rug, £378, irugs UK, is similar. Hector 30 table light, £215, Original BTC. Round hobnail vase, £60, Liberty, is similar
“What I loved the most about our home was the feeling of calm – even with two kids and all their paraphernalia!”
Rebecca Wakefield lived here with her partner Josh Fortnum and their sons Jude, four, and two-year-old Hector, until December 2020. Rebecca is an interior designer (studiofortnum.com) and Josh is a quantity surveyor.
THE PROPERTY
A three-bedroom Victorian terrace in south London.
Rebecca and Josh’s offer was accepted on this south London home before Josh had even seen it. ‘The estate agent who came to value our flat in Peckham mentioned a probate house a mile or so from us and I went to see it the next day,’ says Rebecca. ‘I loved it and put an offer in within the first few minutes. Josh didn’t see the inside until we exchanged!
‘The house didn’t have any central heating and the décor was trapped in the 1950s with most of the original features ripped out, sadly. We inherited floral carpets, one bright pink room (including wallpaper, carpet and lights), and the garden was a forest of weeds. However, I knew it just needed some love and attention.
‘Phase one of the renovation started when I found out I was pregnant. I had terrible morning sickness in a house with no hot water or heating. But on we went, refurbishing the upstairs, where new internal walls were installed. The whole house had to be rewired and replumbed before we could even dream about picking paint colours. We had just finished phase one in May 2017 when I gave birth to Jude on the bedroom floor – not part of the plan!
‘By the next summer, after saving hard, we were ready to start work on the kitchen extension. I was pregnant again and Hector was delivered in the living room in May 2019 – planned this time! Phase two was the kitchen – we extended into its side return and opened the space up, adding a large skylight and the same oak flooring as the rest of the downstairs. The kitchen extension was the best thing we did as we spent all day in there - it’s such a lovely, light-filled sociable space.
‘We decided to move house at the end of last year as we found a school we loved a few miles away, but I always felt so happy and grateful whenever I stepped through this house’s front door.’
Living room
‘The walls throughout are painted in Shaded White by Farrow & Ball. It gives such a lovely consistency and I like that it’s a deep neutral that changes throughout the day.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Large ceramic vase, £24.99, H&M Home. Artificial eucalyptus stem, £2.50, Ikea. Bird sky poster, £23.95, Desenio, is similar. Stella footstool in Elephant matt velvet, from £305, sofa.com
Kitchen-diner
‘We extended sideways into the narrow alley alongside the kitchen to create a much larger, more liveable space.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Black bistro dining chairs, £325 for two, La Redoute. Walnut bar stools, £99 each, Cult Furniture. Oak chevron flooring, price on request, Havwoods
Kitchen
‘I always wanted a green kitchen but I didn’t know which shade. Treron by Farrow & Ball was released a few days before I ordered the kitchen, so I went for it. It’s a beautiful mid green.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Kitchen, DIY Kitchens. Door fronts, price on request, Naked Doors. Holy Wafer kitchen handles in brass, £17 each, Superfront
“Having a mixture of textures, tones, forms and materials layered together creates a much more interesting space”
Kitchen
‘I love how practical and beautiful the kitchen looks, from the large gas hob to the way the oven is set into the island, and the double sink at the back. The triangle of prep space –sink – hob works so well.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Brass hot water tap, Zip Water UK. Brass sockets, from £29.99, Dowsing & Reynolds
UNDERSTATED ARTWORK COMPLEMENTS THE SPACE PERFECTLY