Houzz Tour: A Sensitive Refurbishment That’s Brimming With Colour
Restored original features are perfectly set off by a palette of rich tones in this beautifully renovated Georgian home
While interior designers have the creative job of choosing paint colours for a project, it’s the build team who actually apply them to the walls, ceilings and woodwork. On this project, though – a Georgian home that glows with warm and surprising colours – painting with those shades was just as enjoyable as picking them. “It was fun to work with so many colours,” says Adam Favor of Nova Design & Build, who carried out the refurbishment. “We prefer that to using just one shade on the walls and ceiling throughout. Being in the house now feels very exciting. It’s not something we see every day.”
This beautiful four-floor Georgian townhouse needed more than just a paint job, though. Adam oversaw a full renovation, rewiring and replumbing throughout and preserving original features where possible. Working with the owners, interior designer Emilie Fournet had already created the beautiful scheme. It was then Adam’s job to bring it all to life. “It was the first time working together and great to collaborate on this project,” Emilie says.
This beautiful four-floor Georgian townhouse needed more than just a paint job, though. Adam oversaw a full renovation, rewiring and replumbing throughout and preserving original features where possible. Working with the owners, interior designer Emilie Fournet had already created the beautiful scheme. It was then Adam’s job to bring it all to life. “It was the first time working together and great to collaborate on this project,” Emilie says.
The basement was wet and needed a lot of work to make it watertight. “We had to tank the whole thing and remove all the screed as well, because there was no insulation in there at all,” Adam says. “No waterproof membrane below and no damp-proofing, so it was all gutted.”
Walls and ceiling painted in Whitening, Little Greene. Shelves painted in Emerald Green, Farrow & Ball.
Walls and ceiling painted in Whitening, Little Greene. Shelves painted in Emerald Green, Farrow & Ball.
Emilie chose bold mustard yellow and deep plum cabinets to bring a lighter feel to the basement kitchen.
Kitchen cabinets painted in
Muga, Paint & Paper Library. Island painted in Plum Tree, Mylands. Quartzforms Imperial Cherry Beige worktop, MKW Surfaces.
Kitchen cabinets painted in
Muga, Paint & Paper Library. Island painted in Plum Tree, Mylands. Quartzforms Imperial Cherry Beige worktop, MKW Surfaces.
One cupboard within the bank of floor-to-ceiling cabinets has glass doors and is lined with wallpaper. All the knobs and handles in the kitchen are bronze.
Bronze handles and knobs, Corston. Seraphic Star wallpaper inside cabinet, Soane. Nero Riven Slate floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Helen’s stools, DeVOL.
Bronze handles and knobs, Corston. Seraphic Star wallpaper inside cabinet, Soane. Nero Riven Slate floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Helen’s stools, DeVOL.
In the basement, the kitchen and dining room stayed where they used to be, but a damp shower room was converted into a utility space and downstairs loo.
Walls painted in Plum Tree, Mylands.
Walls painted in Plum Tree, Mylands.
The kitchen opens onto a dining space with access to the garden.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
While the rest of the house has many original features, there was no fireplace in the dining room. “We opened it up to see what’s behind, but unfortunately we didn’t find anything,” Adam says, “so we just kept the opening there and the owners decided not to have a fireplace at all.” Adam installed new French doors here.
Reed chandelier, available at Visual Comfort. Walls and ceiling painted in Whitening, Little Greene. Dining chairs, Vinterior. Scalloped jute rug, Vanrenen GW Designs
Reed chandelier, available at Visual Comfort. Walls and ceiling painted in Whitening, Little Greene. Dining chairs, Vinterior. Scalloped jute rug, Vanrenen GW Designs
The entrance hallway mid-works.
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Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The hall floor and stairs are now covered with vintage runners. The bright lampshades on the wall lights hint at the colourful story that unfolds in each room.
Runners, The Cloth Shop. Console table, Susie Watson Designs. Wall lights, Pooky. Walls painted in Drop Cloth, Farrow & Ball.
Runners, The Cloth Shop. Console table, Susie Watson Designs. Wall lights, Pooky. Walls painted in Drop Cloth, Farrow & Ball.
There is a double reception room on the ground floor with lots of original Georgian features, including sash windows, shutters and decorative coving.
The owners were keen for a cosy and timeless look, so Emilie chose patterns and colours that worked in harmony and complemented their existing furniture and art collection.
Walls painted in Old White; ceiling and coving painted in Off-White, both Farrow & Ball. Sofa, Love Your Home. Footstool, Sofa.com. Rug, Soho Home.
The owners were keen for a cosy and timeless look, so Emilie chose patterns and colours that worked in harmony and complemented their existing furniture and art collection.
Walls painted in Old White; ceiling and coving painted in Off-White, both Farrow & Ball. Sofa, Love Your Home. Footstool, Sofa.com. Rug, Soho Home.
The tapestry is a traditional Uzbek needlepoint antique suzani, found on Etsy.
The owners were eager to preserve the house’s original features, so Adam and his team stripped floorboards and removed the paint from all the original woodwork and features. “That includes all the window shutters and frames, doors, architraves, skirting boards, cornices and ceiling roses,” he says.
These are the original double doors and cornicing, all lovingly restored.
These are the original double doors and cornicing, all lovingly restored.
The double reception room, before.
New marble fire surrounds and cast-iron inserts were installed on both fireplaces where previously there had been simple wooden and tiled surrounds.
Fire surround, hearth and inserts, The Better Hearth.
Fire surround, hearth and inserts, The Better Hearth.
This side of the double reception room overlooking gardens at the back is a space for reading or listening to music.
Le Klint 368 floor lamp, Holloways of Ludlow. Natural jute rug, Ikea.
Le Klint 368 floor lamp, Holloways of Ludlow. Natural jute rug, Ikea.
The full-height sash window floods the light with space. As the house is Grade-II listed, the owners were not able to make any changes to the windows or exterior. “They were hoping to replace the windows with double glazing, but that was not possible,” Adam says.
Swing arm wall light, Lightsource.
Swing arm wall light, Lightsource.
At the back of the ground floor there was originally a kitchenette.
The kitchenette has now been converted into a shower room and boot room. “There had been French doors onto a metal staircase leading down to the garden here,” Adam says. “We got rid of the doors and external staircase and fitted a window instead.”
The boot room has a built-in bench, wardrobe and storage baskets. In the shower room, the walls are lined with kit-kat tiles, with black and white encaustic floor tiles underfoot and brushed nickel brassware throughout.
Panelling painted in Green Stone, Farrow & Ball. Black Pradena porcelain tiles, Bert & May. Porcelain wall tiles, Solus Ceramics. Basin washstand; toilet, both Victorian Plumbing.
The boot room has a built-in bench, wardrobe and storage baskets. In the shower room, the walls are lined with kit-kat tiles, with black and white encaustic floor tiles underfoot and brushed nickel brassware throughout.
Panelling painted in Green Stone, Farrow & Ball. Black Pradena porcelain tiles, Bert & May. Porcelain wall tiles, Solus Ceramics. Basin washstand; toilet, both Victorian Plumbing.
On the first floor, there’s a drawing room/library. Emilie designed the room to house the couple’s collection of books, and set up the space to be multifunctional. A sofa-bed can be pulled out to turn the room into a guest bedroom, and a small desk ensures it can also be used as a study.
“The bold wall colour creates a cocooning space overlooking the greenery of the Georgian square,” Emilie says.
“This room is so beautiful,” Adam says. “It looks like a cake. When I enter the room, it really feels edible!”
He fitted a new ceiling rose and coving in here, and also stripped the floorboards and treated them.
Walls painted in Rouge II, Paint & Paper Library. Ceiling and coving painted in Mushroom, Little Greene. Coving and ceiling rose, Stevensons of Norwich. Benitier silk ceiling lamp, Gong. Rug, Penny Morrison.
“The bold wall colour creates a cocooning space overlooking the greenery of the Georgian square,” Emilie says.
“This room is so beautiful,” Adam says. “It looks like a cake. When I enter the room, it really feels edible!”
He fitted a new ceiling rose and coving in here, and also stripped the floorboards and treated them.
Walls painted in Rouge II, Paint & Paper Library. Ceiling and coving painted in Mushroom, Little Greene. Coving and ceiling rose, Stevensons of Norwich. Benitier silk ceiling lamp, Gong. Rug, Penny Morrison.
The drawing room was formerly a bedroom.
A chest belonging to the owner’s grandfather was sanded down and used as a coffee table. The clock is another inherited piece, and a lot of the artwork came with the owners from their previous home.
The clock leans because the floorboards are uneven. “We had to secure all the furniture to the walls, so it can’t fall over,” Adam says.
The clock leans because the floorboards are uneven. “We had to secure all the furniture to the walls, so it can’t fall over,” Adam says.
A new marble fireplace returns a feeling of grandeur to this space. The house is listed, and that meant carefully preserving the ceilings, as well as any original cornicing or ceiling roses.
“When we fitted new lights, or pulled wires through for lights and fittings, we had to be really careful not to damage the ceilings,” Adam says.
Carrara marble fireplace and cast-iron inserts, The Better Hearth. Aurora footstool, Ceraudo.
“When we fitted new lights, or pulled wires through for lights and fittings, we had to be really careful not to damage the ceilings,” Adam says.
Carrara marble fireplace and cast-iron inserts, The Better Hearth. Aurora footstool, Ceraudo.
Adam and his team built bespoke shelves for two of the walls, designing them to accommodate this sofa. They’re in the same paint shade as the walls.
This bedroom, also on the first floor, served as a nursery when the project was first finished. (Since then, the owners have had another child.) “During the project, the owners broke the news they were expecting their first child,” Adam says. “The guest bedroom suddenly changed to a nursery.”
Again, rich colours brighten up this space. “They are in absolute harmony, though,” Adam says. “Even though it’s so colourful, the colours don’t dominate. They just work perfectly with the furniture.”
Adam stripped and refurbished the original wardrobe, seen here on the left of the chimney breast.
Skirting boards, window frame, panelling and radiator all painted in Oak Apple, Little Greene. Creeping Toadflax wallpaper, Living Quarters. Wardrobe with woven rattan door, Maisons du Monde. Pendant light, Tom Raffield.
Again, rich colours brighten up this space. “They are in absolute harmony, though,” Adam says. “Even though it’s so colourful, the colours don’t dominate. They just work perfectly with the furniture.”
Adam stripped and refurbished the original wardrobe, seen here on the left of the chimney breast.
Skirting boards, window frame, panelling and radiator all painted in Oak Apple, Little Greene. Creeping Toadflax wallpaper, Living Quarters. Wardrobe with woven rattan door, Maisons du Monde. Pendant light, Tom Raffield.
The couple’s bedroom is on the top floor, above the drawing room. “There wasn’t much change in here apart from redecorating,” Adam says.
Ceiling painted in Shaded White; skirting board, wardrobes, fireplace and radiator in De Nimes, both Farrow & Ball.
Ceiling painted in Shaded White; skirting board, wardrobes, fireplace and radiator in De Nimes, both Farrow & Ball.
The couple’s bedroom before.
Blue grasscloth wallpaper and warm pink accents create a relaxing feel. “We fell in love with that French blue grasscloth, which is perfect for introducing some calm and softness to the bedroom,” Emilie says. “It also allowed us to add stronger elements, such as the pink bedside tables and the leopard print rug.”
Adam saved the pine wardrobes on either side of the fireplace, repainting them to suit the scheme.
Grasscloth wallpaper in French Blue, Altfield. Crochet pendant light, Hamimi.
Adam saved the pine wardrobes on either side of the fireplace, repainting them to suit the scheme.
Grasscloth wallpaper in French Blue, Altfield. Crochet pendant light, Hamimi.
In addition to the grasscloth wallpaper, the rattan headboard adds further texture.
Loire rattan bed frame, Time4Sleep. Bedside table, Trove. Wall lights, Porta Romana.
Loire rattan bed frame, Time4Sleep. Bedside table, Trove. Wall lights, Porta Romana.
This room on the top floor was always a bathroom, but it had a completely different layout. “We ripped everything out and had to level the floor, as it was not very sound structurally,” Adam says. “We had to replace a few floor joists and properly waterproof it all, as there was a lot of damp and significant water damage to the subfloor.”
“The bronze green wall colour was the starting point for the bathroom and everything else followed from that,” Emilie says. “We wanted to create a timeless sanctuary, but also to make it feel like another room without being too ‘bathroomy’.”
The original fireplace had been painted, so it was stripped and refurbished. It’s surrounded by lots of art and antique objects belonging to the owners.
Walls and window frame painted in Light Bronze Green, Little Greene. Bath, The Albion Bath Company. Antique Marble porcelain floor tiles, Porcelain Superstore.
“The bronze green wall colour was the starting point for the bathroom and everything else followed from that,” Emilie says. “We wanted to create a timeless sanctuary, but also to make it feel like another room without being too ‘bathroomy’.”
The original fireplace had been painted, so it was stripped and refurbished. It’s surrounded by lots of art and antique objects belonging to the owners.
Walls and window frame painted in Light Bronze Green, Little Greene. Bath, The Albion Bath Company. Antique Marble porcelain floor tiles, Porcelain Superstore.
The walk-in shower is lined with bronze green tiles.
Lenton tiles, Parkside Architectural Tiles. Brushed bronze shower head and mixer, Francone Bespoke Taps. Heated towel rail, Victorian Plumbing.
Lenton tiles, Parkside Architectural Tiles. Brushed bronze shower head and mixer, Francone Bespoke Taps. Heated towel rail, Victorian Plumbing.
The washstand has a marble top, which ties in with the marble-effect tiles on the floor.
The refurbishment work took six months. “We were hoping for three or four, but that was optimistic,” Adam says, “and that was before we knew about the issues in the basement.”
Adam and the owners enjoyed a harmonious working relationship. “If I ever came to them with news that we’d found a surprise and were going to have to fix it, otherwise they would have problems, they always said, just go ahead and do it,” Adam says. “They were extremely easy-going.”
From the owners’ perspective, working with Adam was great. “Adam was amazing,” they said. “Nothing was too much trouble. When the unexpected happened, he dealt with it quickly and at very reasonable cost. I have recommended him to many people, who have also been very pleased.”
Washstand, Neptune. Wall light, Jim Lawrence.
Tell us…
What do you like about Adam and Emilie’s refurbishment of this Georgian house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The refurbishment work took six months. “We were hoping for three or four, but that was optimistic,” Adam says, “and that was before we knew about the issues in the basement.”
Adam and the owners enjoyed a harmonious working relationship. “If I ever came to them with news that we’d found a surprise and were going to have to fix it, otherwise they would have problems, they always said, just go ahead and do it,” Adam says. “They were extremely easy-going.”
From the owners’ perspective, working with Adam was great. “Adam was amazing,” they said. “Nothing was too much trouble. When the unexpected happened, he dealt with it quickly and at very reasonable cost. I have recommended him to many people, who have also been very pleased.”
Washstand, Neptune. Wall light, Jim Lawrence.
Tell us…
What do you like about Adam and Emilie’s refurbishment of this Georgian house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A professional couple with two children
Location Islington, London
Property A four-storey, Grade II listed Georgian townhouse
Size Three bedrooms (one now a library/guest room) and two bathrooms
Construction Adam Favor of Nova Design & Build London
Interior designer Emilie Fournet of Emilie Fournet Interiors
Project year 2023
Photos by Kasia Fiszer
This beautiful Grade II-listed townhouse was looking tired and rather bland when Adam first saw it. “There was no real life in the house,” he says. Working to Emilie’s scheme, Adam and his team converted some rooms and refurbished the rest. Here in the basement, there was originally a kitchen and dining space, plus a small shower room.