starting over
Natasha and Keren reworked a modest London terrace into a fabulous family home, eking out every inch of space with a radical eye for design
a radical overhaul gave natasha and Keren’s classic english home an unexpectedly contemporary feel
ÔOnly two walls in the house were untouched by a hammer,’ says Natasha Freeman, referring to the exhilarating sweep of open-plan spaces that greet the eye when entering her remodelled home. ‘We like taking down walls!’ Hidden behind the period façade of a west London terrace, interlinking rooms dressed in soft tonal palettes, tactile textures and smart mid-century pieces are highly individualistic yet wonderfully complementary, giving this quintessential English setting more than a hint of embracing Scandi hygge.
But to achieve it all, Natasha and her husband, Keren Mitchell, had to rip the house apart, almost from top to bottom. ‘It wasn’t in a terrible state, but the rooms were pokey, with low ceilings and an unattractive extension located at the rear,’ Natasha recalls. ‘We also had a growing family to consider and we wanted to create as much space as possible for the children to be able to run around and play.’
Expertise was key, with Natasha and Keren drawing on a wealth of knowledge in property and interior design. ‘Both of our parents are in the property industry, so we’d been on sites since we were knee-high,’ says Natasha. ‘Plus, my mother has the best eye of anyone I know and an amazing flair for design.’
In addition, Natasha and Keren are extremely entrepreneurial: their first joint foray into business was with a stall at Portobello Road Market selling scarves and jewellery, which they had designed in India while still students. After graduating, they co-founded an online recruitment company, with Natasha handling all the branding and marketing. She subsequently got into property development, buying, renovating and then moving on. Having sold the recruitment business, Natasha and Keren set up in interior design and property development together and have been growing both the client and private sides of the establishment ever since.
With a skilled team of craftspeople in place, the couple turned their attention to reconfiguring their own house. ‘I love space
planning and reconfiguring rooms, so I got stuck into that while Keren managed the builders,’ says Natasha. ‘We consulted with our architect and structural engineer on the planning and kitchen extension build before designing all of the fitted furniture, from the storage through to the kitchen.’
As an example of Natasha’s meticulous approach, one need look no further than the stylish bookcase in the living room, that runs a length of seven metres. ‘I must have drawn this bookshelf more than 100 times before I was finally happy with it,’ she says. ‘It was designed around objects I love and have collected over the years; some bought in auctions, others found online and many brought back from our travels. There’s the beautiful singing birdcage that was left to me by my grandmother; the Ettore Sottsass vases; the Tracey Emin Birds poster; the surf-inspired collages made by close friend Thibault Sandret…’
Such bespoke touches abound throughout this family home, from the gorgeous kitchen cabinetry to the gable-topped model houses in the children’s bedroom, which artfully conceal individual wardrobes. ‘We’re going to have to get a new one made for Clementine at some point,’ says Natasha. ‘I’m thinking of painting that one a soft green.’ One or two ideas, though, have had to be reworked. ‘The master bathroom’s double shower was originally conceived as a wet room,’ says Natasha, ‘but with the kids, we ended up having water everywhere! In due course, we decided to add the shower screen to prevent any slipping children.’
So, what’s next for this clever and industrious couple? ‘We plan to install a small kitchen up on the roof terrace, for when we entertain in the summer,’ says Natasha. ‘In the meantime, we’re finishing a stunning apartment in Notting Hill that will come to market shortly, starting work on a flat in Knightsbridge, completing the design and build of a Grade Ii-listed house in Camden and redesigning a jewellery store on Sloane Street. Busy times ahead!’