My Houzz: 750-Square-Foot Creative Haven in London
A couple — architects with a passion for DIY and upcycling — transform a former public housing unit into their perfect family home
Architects Barbara Toscani and François Martens’ home is full of Ikea hacks, storage solutions, upcycling and do-it-yourself projects. It’s a treasure trove of ideas to steal, strokes of low-cost genius dictated by modern taste and an in-depth knowledge of the raw materials used.
The inviting aroma of coffee, homemade bread and porridge fills the home of Barbara Toscani (an Italian), François Martens (a Belgian) and their two children. Three languages are spoken here — Italian, French and English — and the cultural variety is evident in the design of the apartment as well. It’s bright, colorful and highly personalized.
The kitchen is an Ikea hack: The basic structure was bought in the Swedish megastore and then customized. Leather drawer handles were added, for example. “Perhaps more expensive than the kitchen itself,” Toscani says, smiling. The counter is made of plywood, finished with door trim and coated with cement paste.
Storage space is tucked in all around the home; this plywood bench is Martens’ handiwork. One compartment holds the trash can and another the wine bottles. In the center is a desk for the children.
The painted pegboard is handy for hanging tools, keys and other items. Most of the family’s domestic life takes place in the kitchen area, and Martens enjoys experimenting here as much as he enjoys home improvement projects.
Hardworking Pegboard Keeps Things Organized
Hardworking Pegboard Keeps Things Organized
The big black tube that crosses the living room wall and ceiling — the air vent from the roof — showcases the building’s origins.
Can one live without a sofa? It seems so: “I realized that I needed an armchair when I was breastfeeding,” Toscani says. “For the rest of the furniture, we chose beanbag chairs, which are extremely versatile and can be easily moved. The kids are always on the floor anyway.”
Armchair: Strandmon, Ikea
Armchair: Strandmon, Ikea
Toscani plays the piano, and having one at home was an absolute necessity for her.
Instead of a ceiling lamp in this room, there’s a disco ball — they can turn it on in the evening and dance!
Instead of a ceiling lamp in this room, there’s a disco ball — they can turn it on in the evening and dance!
Cart: Raskog, Ikea
The large barn door was recycled and reinforced with a crossbeam.
Toscani reupholstered this chair with a carpet sample.
The hairpin table legs were bought on Etsy. The plywood tabletop is extendable.
This headboard was made from the original flooring in the apartment, subsequently decorated by Toscani.
On the ground floor, next to the entry, a small area acts as both closet and mudroom. It holds bicycles, boots — and a bathtub.
The shower features colorful plexiglass instead of regular glass. It’s a cheerful, unique and child-friendly solution.
A shoe rack was born from recycled parts of a piece of Ikea furniture that had seen better days. Industrial elastic bands were added.
The floor, like many of the apartment’s other items, is plain plywood.
Radically transforming an apartment on a low budget is no easy feat. Toscani and Martens were able to do it by pairing low-cost and recycled materials with simple yet creative ideas. The architects fashioned a home that reflects their personalities and tastes — and offers plenty of brilliant ideas for maximizing and personalizing one’s space.
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Radically transforming an apartment on a low budget is no easy feat. Toscani and Martens were able to do it by pairing low-cost and recycled materials with simple yet creative ideas. The architects fashioned a home that reflects their personalities and tastes — and offers plenty of brilliant ideas for maximizing and personalizing one’s space.
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Barbara Toscani and François Martens, both architects, and their children, Matthieu, 4, and Maxime, 2
Location: London
Size: About 750 square feet (70 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
That’s interesting: The apartment, built in 1936, was once a public housing unit; the building still contains some public housing units