Houzz Tour: 1920s Home Sensitively Updated in Phases
A design-build firm found on Houzz leads a two-year renovation of this elegant English home
The phrase “worth the wait” is probably an understatement when it comes to this gorgeous English home, as the owners did have to exercise quite a bit of patience. Pandemic restrictions meant renovations to the tired 1920s property spanned two years and the work had to be divided into three phases.
“The owners saw the house in early 2020,” designer Natalie McHugh of N&K Interiors says. “They were keen to get going on extending it for their family and found us on Houzz when they searched local design and build companies, but COVID delayed everything.”
In September 2020, the team tackled a bathroom and four bedrooms, one of which was turned into a playroom, as well as changing all the windows and got the family in for Christmas. In January, they started the two-story side addition — laundry room, mudroom, powder room, living room and bedroom suite. The remaining work was completed in 2022, resulting in a home that’s both highly functional and full of warmth and character.
“The owners saw the house in early 2020,” designer Natalie McHugh of N&K Interiors says. “They were keen to get going on extending it for their family and found us on Houzz when they searched local design and build companies, but COVID delayed everything.”
In September 2020, the team tackled a bathroom and four bedrooms, one of which was turned into a playroom, as well as changing all the windows and got the family in for Christmas. In January, they started the two-story side addition — laundry room, mudroom, powder room, living room and bedroom suite. The remaining work was completed in 2022, resulting in a home that’s both highly functional and full of warmth and character.
The couple wanted a Shaker-style kitchen. “That’s very much what we do, so that’s what they liked when they saw our previous projects on Houzz,” McHugh says. They also like wood and wanted it throughout their home.
The cabinets have been painted in a rich blue, tones of which McHugh has used in all the rooms. “The [owners] do like blue and we thought it was a good theme color to run throughout the house,” she says. Paired with white and wood, it makes for a calm palette.
The copper countertop on the island brings warmth into the room. “I was slightly concerned about it because it’s obviously a natural material and it tarnishes and scratches really easily and I knew they were a busy family,” McHugh says. “But in fact, they’re not precious and it’s a beautiful piece of furniture.”
Kitchen cabinet paint: Pantry Blue, DeVOL; faucets: Perrin & Rowe
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The cabinets have been painted in a rich blue, tones of which McHugh has used in all the rooms. “The [owners] do like blue and we thought it was a good theme color to run throughout the house,” she says. Paired with white and wood, it makes for a calm palette.
The copper countertop on the island brings warmth into the room. “I was slightly concerned about it because it’s obviously a natural material and it tarnishes and scratches really easily and I knew they were a busy family,” McHugh says. “But in fact, they’re not precious and it’s a beautiful piece of furniture.”
Kitchen cabinet paint: Pantry Blue, DeVOL; faucets: Perrin & Rowe
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The breakfast cabinet, which sits apart from the other cabinets, is a good example of the way McHugh thought about how the family would use the various spaces.
“The owner was quite specific on zones in here,” McHugh says. “She wanted a breakfast cupboard so she could, for instance, be prepping while the kids went to the breakfast cupboard to make their toast, so they weren’t all on top of each other.”
“The owner was quite specific on zones in here,” McHugh says. “She wanted a breakfast cupboard so she could, for instance, be prepping while the kids went to the breakfast cupboard to make their toast, so they weren’t all on top of each other.”
The pot filler above the countertop is another zoning trick, making it easy to pop on some vegetables or leave a pan to soak without having to bother anyone using the sink.
The white zellige backsplash tiles are subtle but add depth and catch the light beautifully. The Alaska Bianca quartz countertops also lighten the scheme.
Zellige backsplash tile: Mosaic Factory
The white zellige backsplash tiles are subtle but add depth and catch the light beautifully. The Alaska Bianca quartz countertops also lighten the scheme.
Zellige backsplash tile: Mosaic Factory
The ceiling is covered in pale wood strips. “I love doing something on the ceiling — it is the fifth wall and it often gets overlooked,” McHugh says. “I often paint the ceiling in a color or do a timber finish. The [owner] had seen another project of mine with this and thought it really finished off that room.
“When we started the extension, we found there were no foundations on the outside wall, so we had to underpin it,” she says. “Between these two rooms we had to fit a picture frame steel, so we thought if we did something with timber [on the ceiling], it would detract from the bulkhead.”
Much of the wood, including the ceiling here, is lime-waxed, which prevents too “woody” a look while still showing the grain.
From here you can see the extent of the side addition, comprising the laundry room and the powder room behind the range, a mudroom and the library-living room just glimpsed through the fireplace to the left.
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“When we started the extension, we found there were no foundations on the outside wall, so we had to underpin it,” she says. “Between these two rooms we had to fit a picture frame steel, so we thought if we did something with timber [on the ceiling], it would detract from the bulkhead.”
Much of the wood, including the ceiling here, is lime-waxed, which prevents too “woody” a look while still showing the grain.
From here you can see the extent of the side addition, comprising the laundry room and the powder room behind the range, a mudroom and the library-living room just glimpsed through the fireplace to the left.
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Floor plan: The first floor (ground floor) plan shows the addition on the right.
Fitting out the laundry room with plenty of storage, made by McHugh’s cabinet makers, meant the kitchen could remain free of upper cabinets.
This is also a good space to prep food and store produce, as it’s cooler in here. “It’s heated, but on a different circuit, so the temperature can be kept lower,” McHugh says.
This is also a good space to prep food and store produce, as it’s cooler in here. “It’s heated, but on a different circuit, so the temperature can be kept lower,” McHugh says.
A big deep sink, robust countertop and hanging drying rack, as well as the washing machine and dryer, make this a well-functioning laundry area. Here again, tasks are zoned in this space.
The window frames throughout the house have been replaced with dark aluminum ones.
You can just see the powder room behind the pocket door.
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The window frames throughout the house have been replaced with dark aluminum ones.
You can just see the powder room behind the pocket door.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Inside the powder room, a pretty Moroccan sink adds a decorative note. A mirror helps to spread the light in the dark-painted space, while fish-scale tiles add texture and work with the Moroccan feel.
The side door is used a lot by the family. They’re outdoorsy so this is somewhere they can come in and drop muddy boots and clothes and wash dog paraphernalia if necessary.
The flooring is hard-wearing limestone.
The flooring is hard-wearing limestone.
The mudroom has five sections, so each person has their own zone where shoes, coats and bags for school are all kept. “Each child has to make sure their bags are ready in here for the next day, so they can grab and go,” McHugh says.
This keeps the clutter contained and the entrance hall free. “The kids are very much drop your coat and rush off, and [the parents] didn’t want the hall to be used for that,” she says.
This keeps the clutter contained and the entrance hall free. “The kids are very much drop your coat and rush off, and [the parents] didn’t want the hall to be used for that,” she says.
In the dining area at the back of the house, McHugh designed in bifold doors, which pull in lots of light and give easy access to the yard. “They can open the big bifolds and walk straight out onto the new decking area,” she says.
Having an indoor-outdoor space is perfect for the family, as they’re very sociable. The dining table extends to accommodate a crowd.
Having an indoor-outdoor space is perfect for the family, as they’re very sociable. The dining table extends to accommodate a crowd.
The couple’s global travels have led to them collecting some interesting objects and artworks, which they wanted to have on display.
“They wanted some clear wall space to display artwork and pieces of furniture from their travels around the world,” McHugh says.
“They wanted some clear wall space to display artwork and pieces of furniture from their travels around the world,” McHugh says.
Before: This is the original living room, which is now the dining room and open to the kitchen.
Before: The original wide window has been replaced by bifold doors and the fireplace modified to be double-sided.
Here you can just see the modified fireplace (behind the dining chair), which now contains a bioethanol fire, opening into the new addition.
The rooms are very much connected while providing separate areas for the family to enjoy.
The rooms are very much connected while providing separate areas for the family to enjoy.
The family call this area on the other side of the fireplace the library. “They’re heavily into reading, so the bookcase and chairs around the fire mean this can be a quiet reading zone,” McHugh says.
The flooring throughout the ground floor is engineered oak.
Wall paint: Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball
The flooring throughout the ground floor is engineered oak.
Wall paint: Inchyra Blue, Farrow & Ball
At the garden end of the addition — and open to the library — is the living area, which has a lovely big oriel bay window complete with window seat.
“You actually feel as if you’re sitting in the garden,” McHugh says. “It was also a way to get in more daylight, and we illuminated it with little spots in the oak surround so it adds a glow at night.”
“You actually feel as if you’re sitting in the garden,” McHugh says. “It was also a way to get in more daylight, and we illuminated it with little spots in the oak surround so it adds a glow at night.”
McHugh turned one of the bedrooms into a playroom, designing a reading nook under the stairs to the loft.
The dark ceiling gives the room a cozy feel, while custom cabinetry is designed to work as the children get older too.
Wallpaper: Milton & King; ceiling and reading nook paint: Railings, Farrow & Ball
Wallpaper: Milton & King; ceiling and reading nook paint: Railings, Farrow & Ball
Floor plan: The two-story addition on the second floor (labeled as the first floor on the plan) allowed the creation of a bedroom suite for the couple.
The couple’s en suite is soothingly neutral, with a pleasingly tactile pebble shower area.
The oldest daughter wanted wallpaper on her ceiling and chose this pretty birds design. McHugh then color-matched paint with the birds to create a feature wall.
Wallpaper: Hygge & West
Wallpaper: Hygge & West
The middle child has the smallest bedroom, and McHugh wanted to do something a bit different to make it special. The ceiling is pretty high, so this platform was the perfect solution. “It gives her the option to go up there and read, or a friend could stay for a sleepover,” McHugh says.
Wallpaper: Hovia
Wallpaper: Hovia
The daughters chose turquoise for a bright, fresh feel in their bathroom. McHugh had the tiles laid in a vertical stack bond for a neat, on-trend look. Double sink prevent squabbles.
The couple wanted the children to choose elements of their bedrooms. The son chose this New York scene and the superhero light.
Wallpaper mural: Hovia
Wallpaper mural: Hovia
A raised bed makes the most of the space, while the dark-painted wall continues the blue thread running through the house.
Wall paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
Wall paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
The son’s en suite has the same vertical stack bond tiles, this time in a dark blue that works with his bedroom.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five and their dog
Location: Surrey, England
Size: Seven bedrooms and four bathrooms
Designer: Natalie McHugh of N&K Interiors
Life for the family of five is hectic and they wanted a home that helped life run smoothly, with a layout that was connected but had areas where they could all find a space for themselves.
So among other clever ideas, McHugh designed a zoned kitchen, a separate playroom, a quiet library area and a mudroom with easy-to-clean flooring.
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