My Houzz: Graphic Vintage Style in an East London Townhouse
White walls and dark floors provide a canvas for framed vintage prints and midcentury furnishings in the home of a fashion writer
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From vintage fashion posters set against stark white walls to handpicked furniture, fashion writer and journalist Hywel Davies' terrace townhouse carefully balances functional flow with ideal spaces for entertaining. "I opted for pure white walls and dark floors to serve as a blank canvas for my furniture and accessories," he says, "which is where I think the main design personality is found."
When Davies bought the house two years ago, he set to work right away, ripping out all the carpets, stripping the floorboards, installing a new kitchen and knocking down walls. Then he added his own decorative touches to make the light and bright space fit his fashion-forward style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hywel Davies and his partner
Location: Lower Clapton, Hackney, East London
Size: 160 square meters (1,722 square feet); 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms
When Davies bought the house two years ago, he set to work right away, ripping out all the carpets, stripping the floorboards, installing a new kitchen and knocking down walls. Then he added his own decorative touches to make the light and bright space fit his fashion-forward style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hywel Davies and his partner
Location: Lower Clapton, Hackney, East London
Size: 160 square meters (1,722 square feet); 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms
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| Davies describes his design style as basic and functional, with a mix of vintage and new. He sources most of his furnishings from London's secondhand shops and from markets in Berlin and Paris. He highlights subtle symmetries in each of the home's spaces. This pair of black leather armchairs is from a Royal Air Force base. |
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| A well-worn chesterfield leather sofa from John Lewis adds soft lines to this linear room and contrasts with the zigzag floor lamp. Stacked industrial-style stools are at the ready for when Davies entertains. "The living room is my preferred place in the house to relax, as it's just a staircase away from my basement study," he says. |
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| Black Eames dowel-leg side chairs make a statement around a 1960s Danish table. Davies is drawn to the clean lines of Danish design and frequents the Danish Homestore in Nottingham. |
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| Stairs lead down from the main entryway into this ground-floor kitchen. The kitchen and dining area lead directly onto a newly added garden deck. |
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| New skylights keep the kitchen space open and encourage flow from the kitchen to the garden deck. An upholstered armchair at the head of the table can easily become a reading nook during the day. |
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| The biggest and most costly part of the remodel was cladding the new kitchen in stainless steel. Davies opted for a few open shelves to minimize clutter. |
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| Davies added a garden deck, where he enjoys dining and where he maintains a small variety of potted plants. |
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| This is a view of the house from the back of the large garden. "My idea of gardening is getting someone else to do it," Davies says. |
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| Upstairs, he added a wall decal of a world map to accent the blank wall between the three bedrooms. |
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| A unique industrial-style dresser found at a secondhand store also sits in the hallway between the bedrooms |
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| In this guest bedroom, and in the other bedrooms too, Davies splurged on authentic Fog & Mørup pendant lights. |
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| The master bedroom maintains the same minimal, neutral color palette as the rest of house. |
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| Davies collects graphic design posters. Hanging here is a poster commemorating the 50th anniversary of the font Helvetica. |
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| Davies repurposed a vintage crate as a TV stand, which conveniently hides the wires behind. |
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| He knocked down walls to combine two small bedrooms into one large bathroom. A gray claw-foot tub has a view of the backyard garden. In the corner, built-in shelves hold towels and other essentials. |
The large walk-in shower features classic white subway tiles.
Davies chose an old-fashioned lavatory during the renovation to add to the vintage, traditional feel. Along with the tub, it's a surprising highlight of the space.
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| An additional guest bedroom with Orla Kiely bedding and an old leather teddy welcomes guests and friends. |
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Comments
dcer I love that claw foot tub! I just love the bathroom in general. It is so filled with light!
8 months ago · Like
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Brenda I have done my home in bright colors. After looking at this home I am really liking the white with the dark floors.
8 months ago · Like
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Lucianna Samu - Color and Design The floors are great. The house seems a little stark. I would love to see a few splashes of color here and there.
8 months ago · Like
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olldbobbi Nicely done! Even though the color palette is neutral the house isn't boring, it's fun and filled with charming details. I like the leather teddy bear, and I'll up you one mohair 55 year old teddy bear I've had since I was a kid!
8 months ago · Like
hollybar Very composed and edited spaces are often times without soul or reveal too little character to hold my interest.Not the case here at all. What a beautiful,beautiful home.
8 months ago · Like
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lcarvalho I need this man to come to my recently started reno house project in the south of France, immediately!! Not least because we have matching danish round dining table and vintage (in my case ercol) living room furniture. Does he do interior design consults? He's done it so beautifully.
8 months ago · Like
fania amazing!!!!!
8 months ago · Like
drjosiepc1 I love this house. It has a relatively small footprint, and the owner has made good use of all of it by not cluttering it up with all sorts of "stuff." The somewhat minimalist look is also functional and interesting, including the furniture (wonderful hunting out of pieces here), the wall art (posters), etc. I especially like the "splurge" pendants in the bedrooms for wow factor. I like, too, the kitchen (if I ever have to replace my roof, I intend to put in a skylight, since the kitchen needs more light) with its use of steel and choice of tile. The deck and back yard are a delight. It is wonderful to see a relatively small house with great style instead of the gargantuan, over-styled houses promoted by design magazines (for the 1 and 0.1 percent, I guess).
8 months ago · Like
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gardenancy I'm in love with that deep sofa! But the kitchen looks like a school lunchroom, the connection to the outside being its sole redeeming feature IMHO. Fantastic space that has been overtaken by testosterone.
8 months ago · Like
franki7 The decking is BEAUTIFUL! Your entire place is! franki
8 months ago · Like
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rebkot Why is stainless steel so popular? Even in this (very excellent) home, all gussied up for photos, you can see the wiping marks all over the stainless steel. It is the worst for showing fingerprints etc. I hope this fad fades soon. Otherwise, though, great house. I love the fantastic wood floors.
8 months ago · Like
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raeannkaplan Great eye for detail and beautiful pieces! A natural talent for decorating and design for a journalist/writer! Love it!
8 months ago · Like
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hollydiana Where is the zig zag lamp from, Hywel?
8 months ago · Like
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merrynunnari nicely done. the floors are especially beautiful.
8 months ago · Like
sharon king All but, but not stark. The furniiture and accessories are just right.
7 months ago · Like
blanchard I so love a masculine decor.....but this is too much white for me. I know it can be one gray day after another in England at times, and perhaps the white lightens the mood. I think the addition of some color, even if only thru throw rugs, would enhance the look....and the masculinity of the space.
7 months ago · Like
sharon king Oops! I meant all white, but not stark. The furniture and accessories add just the right touch!
7 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Nov. 1, 2012.
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