Before and After: Natural Colors and Textures Warm a Family Home
Designers transform a once-generic London home into an inviting, personalized space for relaxing and entertaining
Slick modern style has its place, but the owner of this five-story London property, part of a converted Victorian school, loves a rustic look and details with character, so the generic style of his new home wasn’t ideal. In addition, he’s a keen cook, but the kitchen was in a dark basement. Having worked with them before to help sell a property, he asked designers Shirin Arefi and Natascia Fileppi of Interia Design to create a warm, inviting home for himself and his four teenage children.
Key to the transformation was moving the kitchen up from the windowless basement to the airy ground floor and turning the lower level into a snug TV room, giving the family plenty of spaces to hang out, entertain and relax. Then Shirin and Natascia brought in natural materials — wood, rattan, linen and stone — for texture and warmth. What elevates the renovation, though, are the many beautiful details they incorporated, from the double bullnose countertop edge to sawn-oak cabinet door trims to custom wardrobes in the bedroom.
Key to the transformation was moving the kitchen up from the windowless basement to the airy ground floor and turning the lower level into a snug TV room, giving the family plenty of spaces to hang out, entertain and relax. Then Shirin and Natascia brought in natural materials — wood, rattan, linen and stone — for texture and warmth. What elevates the renovation, though, are the many beautiful details they incorporated, from the double bullnose countertop edge to sawn-oak cabinet door trims to custom wardrobes in the bedroom.
Before: This photo of the original kitchen shows the modern style the owner didn’t love. “It was missing the warmth,” Fileppi says.
After: Now, wood has brought in the earthy color and texture the owner likes, both in the cabinets and the flooring. “Everything’s very calm and there’s an inviting atmosphere,” Arefi says.
There’s masses of storage. The run of custom oak cabinetry, designed by Fileppi and Arefi and made by Richard Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers, includes an integrated dishwasher, bins, a refrigerator-freezer and a beverage station.
The peninsula, meanwhile, is about 10 feet (3 meters) long and has drawers on both sides. And there are plenty of spots for the owner’s many cookbooks, from shelving at the far end of the peninsula and a console table near the doorway to bookcases in the TV room downstairs.
Wall lights: Visual Comfort
There’s masses of storage. The run of custom oak cabinetry, designed by Fileppi and Arefi and made by Richard Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers, includes an integrated dishwasher, bins, a refrigerator-freezer and a beverage station.
The peninsula, meanwhile, is about 10 feet (3 meters) long and has drawers on both sides. And there are plenty of spots for the owner’s many cookbooks, from shelving at the far end of the peninsula and a console table near the doorway to bookcases in the TV room downstairs.
Wall lights: Visual Comfort
Fileppi and Arefi have included elegant details throughout the home. “[The owner] is quite a quirky individual and he loves quality and having something he doesn’t see everywhere else,” Fileppi says.
Several of those details can be seen in this photo. The edge trim on each drawer and door is hand-sawn oak, while the custom-made sink is patinated brass. The Crema Marfil marble countertop, meanwhile, has a double bullnose edge, which echoes the fluted doors on the beverage cabinet and curved edges of the peninsula cabinetry.
For the owner, it’s touches like these that really make the design. “He’s all about little details and he really notices, so it’s about giving him delightful little moments when he sees them,” Fileppi says.
Several of those details can be seen in this photo. The edge trim on each drawer and door is hand-sawn oak, while the custom-made sink is patinated brass. The Crema Marfil marble countertop, meanwhile, has a double bullnose edge, which echoes the fluted doors on the beverage cabinet and curved edges of the peninsula cabinetry.
For the owner, it’s touches like these that really make the design. “He’s all about little details and he really notices, so it’s about giving him delightful little moments when he sees them,” Fileppi says.
The fluted doors on the beverage cabinet fold back neatly into pockets at the side, so they can easily remain open for making hot or cold drinks.
The unit is backed with a mottled mirror, which works nicely with the sawn oak and helps to reflect light from the inlaid LED strips into the room.
The unit is backed with a mottled mirror, which works nicely with the sawn oak and helps to reflect light from the inlaid LED strips into the room.
Before: Here’s a view of the old atrium in the area where the dining table now sits.
After: A new floor was created across the atrium. “There’s actually a glass floor under the table if more light is needed downstairs, but the owner likes the rug,” Fileppi says.
The duo designed the banquette seating, which contains storage and has heating within it for a cozy dining experience. It’s also fitted with double USB sockets, so the owner can easily work here and the teenagers can do their homework.
The square oak dining table was custom made to fit to maximize the space. The table legs are cleverly set back to allow easy access to the benches. “When Richard [Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers] was trying to explain how a leg would look, he said, ‘It’s like a high heel,’ and we said, ‘We get you!’” Fileppi says.
Custom dining table: Weald Kitchen Makers
The duo designed the banquette seating, which contains storage and has heating within it for a cozy dining experience. It’s also fitted with double USB sockets, so the owner can easily work here and the teenagers can do their homework.
The square oak dining table was custom made to fit to maximize the space. The table legs are cleverly set back to allow easy access to the benches. “When Richard [Edmondson of Weald Kitchen Makers] was trying to explain how a leg would look, he said, ‘It’s like a high heel,’ and we said, ‘We get you!’” Fileppi says.
Custom dining table: Weald Kitchen Makers
The sofa at the other end of the room faces a wood-burning stove and a TV. Sheer curtains at the window help to reduce glare on the screen.
The designers have continued the natural colors and textures in this area, with a linen sofa, fluffy pouf and woven lamp base and plant pot.
The windows into the basement, seen at the sides of the rug, were already in place.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
The designers have continued the natural colors and textures in this area, with a linen sofa, fluffy pouf and woven lamp base and plant pot.
The windows into the basement, seen at the sides of the rug, were already in place.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
Before: Back when this was the living room, the wallpaper was a snakeskin design, which wasn’t to the owner’s taste.
After: The fireplace has been redesigned and seating added. “Changing the gas fireplace to a wood burner gave it a lot of character,” Arefi says.
Some features in the house, such as the staircase, would have been too costly to change.
The black steel double doors were chosen as a link between the floating stairs and the more rustic kitchen-dining area.
“We wanted the house to flow, so when you come out of the kitchen to go to a different floor, you don’t suddenly feel as if you’re in a different home,” Arefi says.
The black steel double doors were chosen as a link between the floating stairs and the more rustic kitchen-dining area.
“We wanted the house to flow, so when you come out of the kitchen to go to a different floor, you don’t suddenly feel as if you’re in a different home,” Arefi says.
Before: The powder room in the basement doesn’t have any natural light, so Arefi and Fileppi chose pale colors for it, including marble herringbone floor tiles and off-white Kit Kat wall tiles, while a vintage wood mirror adds warmth.
Before: The original utility room, also in the basement.
The new utility design contains a laundry area, linen cupboards and a walk-in corner pantry for extra kitchen equipment and ingredients.
It’s been outfitted on more of a budget, as the owner didn’t want to spend too much in here. Arefi and Fileppi used off-the-shelf cabinets with the original quartz countertop and gave the room a lift with glittering mother-of-pearl mosaics laid in a herringbone pattern.
Cabinets in Sandstone: Howdens
It’s been outfitted on more of a budget, as the owner didn’t want to spend too much in here. Arefi and Fileppi used off-the-shelf cabinets with the original quartz countertop and gave the room a lift with glittering mother-of-pearl mosaics laid in a herringbone pattern.
Cabinets in Sandstone: Howdens
What was once the gloomy basement kitchen is now a cozy family room, or TV snug, perfect for gathering in the evenings. The natural textures and earthy color palette continue in here, apart from on the sofa.
“We love the blue of the sofa because it’s an unexpected color, as everything’s natural, but it still ties in because it’s linen,” Fileppi says. “The soft blue makes the room feel lighter.”
The owner already had the wicker ottoman, which has yet more useful storage inside.
“We love the blue of the sofa because it’s an unexpected color, as everything’s natural, but it still ties in because it’s linen,” Fileppi says. “The soft blue makes the room feel lighter.”
The owner already had the wicker ottoman, which has yet more useful storage inside.
Before: The original atrium seen from the basement.
After: The atrium area now houses cupboards and shelves. Again, there’s attention to detail, with the grain on the doors repeated perfectly. “It’s beautiful,” Fileppi says. “We asked for them to be handleless with a push-click mechanism, because you don’t want to interrupt that pattern.”
“All the shelves also have the sawn-edge detail,” Arefi adds. “They’re not solid oak, because Richard [Edmondson] said it twists, and oak is stronger than plaster and will bring down the wall with it, so it’s a high-quality oak veneer.”
Custom cabinetry and shelving: Weald Kitchen Makers
“All the shelves also have the sawn-edge detail,” Arefi adds. “They’re not solid oak, because Richard [Edmondson] said it twists, and oak is stronger than plaster and will bring down the wall with it, so it’s a high-quality oak veneer.”
Custom cabinetry and shelving: Weald Kitchen Makers
“After” floor plans: The home originally had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but the owner asked Arefi and Fileppi to rework the floor plans to create five bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom, to accommodate the whole family.
Before: This is a “before” shot of the principal bedroom on the second floor.
After: Lovely details sing out yet again in the owner’s redesigned bedroom. The linen curtains, for instance, have an elegant double pinch pleat and are hung from a curved French iron pole.
The carved bed also adds just the right amount of detail. “[The owner] just loved it, [especially] the fact it had carving around the head as well as on the sides,” Fileppi says.
The process of showing so many products and materials to the owner and getting quick approvals was made much easier with the help of Houzz Pro tools. “We use the Product Clipper and Selections all the time,” Arefi says.
“We clipped everything and put them onto Selections boards, so he could approve the things he liked,” Fileppi says.
“[Houzz Pro] is also really useful for all our invoicing — we use it solely,” Arefi adds.
Bed: Graham & Green; custom closets: Weald Kitchen Makers
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The carved bed also adds just the right amount of detail. “[The owner] just loved it, [especially] the fact it had carving around the head as well as on the sides,” Fileppi says.
The process of showing so many products and materials to the owner and getting quick approvals was made much easier with the help of Houzz Pro tools. “We use the Product Clipper and Selections all the time,” Arefi says.
“We clipped everything and put them onto Selections boards, so he could approve the things he liked,” Fileppi says.
“[Houzz Pro] is also really useful for all our invoicing — we use it solely,” Arefi adds.
Bed: Graham & Green; custom closets: Weald Kitchen Makers
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The rattan webbing, which brings in more natural texture, is stuck to panels, both to be more robust and to prevent moths from getting in.
The closet interior is beautifully crafted from oak and tailored to the owner’s needs.
The closet interior is beautifully crafted from oak and tailored to the owner’s needs.
Before: This is the original principal bathroom, decorated in the home’s former signature glossy monochrome.
After: The designers brought in antique brass hardware, oak and marble for a mix of a modern industrial look and a rustic feel, with a view to creating a slightly masculine look.
“Sometimes, when you go down the typical rustic route, some things are softer,” Fileppi says. “By putting in the industrial tapware, it not only gave it modernity, it also made it feel more masculine.”
Marble mosaics in a herringbone pattern in the shower give way to simpler marble tiles on the floor. “They’re two classic styles, but you need a break from the herringbone texture, so we laid something plainer on the floor,” Fileppi says.
Hardware: Samuel Heath; vanity unit: Neptune
“Sometimes, when you go down the typical rustic route, some things are softer,” Fileppi says. “By putting in the industrial tapware, it not only gave it modernity, it also made it feel more masculine.”
Marble mosaics in a herringbone pattern in the shower give way to simpler marble tiles on the floor. “They’re two classic styles, but you need a break from the herringbone texture, so we laid something plainer on the floor,” Fileppi says.
Hardware: Samuel Heath; vanity unit: Neptune
Fileppi and Arefi have transformed this once-generic house into a warm and personal home. And the owner couldn’t be happier.
Heated towel rail: The Sterlingham Co.
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Heated towel rail: The Sterlingham Co.
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A father with four teenage children
Location: Battersea, southwest London
Size: Five bedrooms plus a study-bedroom and five bathrooms
Designers: Shirin Arefi and Natascia Fileppi of Interia Design
Cabinetmaker: Weald Kitchen Makers
The dining area, seen in the corner here, was originally a two-story atrium designed to share some light with the gloomy kitchen below, while this space was a living room.
Knowing the owner loves cooking, Fileppi and Arefi suggested swapping the rooms. “For us, it was a no-brainer,” Arefi says. “He would have been miserable cooking in a windowless basement, then he’d come upstairs at nighttime, but have to close all the blinds [for privacy], as this is the ground floor.”
Swapping the rooms also unlocked more usable space up here. This is now a lovely communal room, with lots of places to perch. “It’s the perfect setup, with the kitchen, dining area, sofa, fireplace seats and barstools,” Arefi says.
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