Looking to the future
Traditional features are given a fresh twist in this tech-savvy family house
Living room
‘I like mixing traditional features, but putting modern twists on them. The coving, windows and floorboards here are all quite traditional, but we’ve contrasted these with the more modern style panelling.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Roche Bobois Blue velvet sofa, £900, ebay. Zebra artwork, £250, Carl Moore at Rise Art
“We designed the house to fit in with us and the way we wanted it to live in"
THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom Edwardian terrace in Gladstone Park, north London.
THE VALUE Bought for £750,000 in 2017, it’s now worth about £1 million.
Going from a one-bedroom flat to a four-bedroom house was a step up, and a big factor for Abby and Louis when searching for their current home. ‘We moved to this area as we could get a lot more for our money,’ says Abby. ‘We also loved the style of the houses, and being next to a park.’
The house was ripe for renovation and ideal for the couple to showcase their company, LC-AV Ltd, with the best of smart home and audio technology. They moved in and spent the first year on plans to extend, before starting work the following year. ‘It gave us time to live in the space first and understand how we wanted to use it,’ says Abby.
Outside, the property still had its original door and balcony, matching the rest of the street, but inside, everything needed ripping out. ‘The previous owners had done a horrible extension at the rear and in the loft, without planning permission,’ says Abby. ‘This made getting a mortgage tricky and we were a bit concerned about what else we’d find when we started the build.’
The house has now been extended and opened up to maximise the light and space. ‘We project-managed the work ourselves, which threw up a few problems,’ says Abby. ‘We’re both huge perfectionists, which meant we sometimes got caught up about little things.’
Four years on, and the house is cosy and traditional at the front, while the rear is light, open and modern. ‘We like the contrast between the two and wanted to play off it,’ says Abby. Original features have been restored and Louis has installed the smart home technology, with the lighting, AV, CCTV, music, heating and garden irrigation system all accessible from their mobile phones. ‘We’re so pleased with how it’s turned out,’ Abby reflects. ‘There’s still some bits I’d like to add to finish the space, but our budget – and energy – has been well and truly spent!’
Living room
The classic cast-iron fire surround feels modern thanks to the dramatic paint treatment of the walls. Gold highlights on the mirror frame and coffee table add a touch of sparkle that works as well at night as during the day.
BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls painted in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. The Aula coffee table, £299, Made, would work here
Snug
A paned, reeded glass partition separates the living room from the snug and the rest of the open-plan kitchen-diner, while still allowing it to feel part of the same space.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Grey velvet sofa, £1,500, Sofa.com. The Cadre coffee table, £349, Dwell, is similar
Kitchen
The couple chose Howdens carcasses and made the door fronts themselves by staining oak-veneered MDF to give it a black oak effect. ‘For the floor, we went for microcement to give the appearance of polished concrete,’ Abby explains.
BUY THE KEY PIECES For microcement floors, try Living Concrete. Branch dining table, chairs and bench, £1,599, Heal’s
Kitchen
‘We bought the marble for the worktops from a local stone yard. It’s a great way to save money on a kitchen, while still finishing up with a high-end appearance,’ says Abby.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Bar stools, £822 each, Mater. Hooked pendant lights in brass, £229 each, Buster + Punch
“We love the contrast between the traditional front and the light, open, modern space at the back of the house”
“I like mixing traditional features, but putting modern twists on them”
Bedroom
‘I think it’s important to find as much inspiration as possible before you decorate, whether that’s online or from restaurants, shops or hotels,’ says Abby.
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Alison Plus bed, £1,300, Camerich. ICS1 pendant lights, £345 each, Flos at Paper Rooms. Marble look small end table, £319, Pols Potten at Made in Design
Bedroom
‘I suggest taking photos wherever you go and remember, moodboards are your friend!’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Walls painted in Skimming Stone emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Irregular pebble mirror, £150, La Redoute. Ashlynn armchair in lambswool, £499, Weilai Concept
Bathroom
‘The loft bathroom was a difficult space to plan, with the small size and sloping roofline, so we made the entire space a wet room,’ says Abby. ‘It means it still feels spacious.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Carrara polished marble wall tiles, from £83.20sq m, Mandarin Stone. Thermostatic shower with handheld shower, £495, Lusso Stone