Houzz Tour: Natural Finishes Add Texture to a Calm London Home
A designer’s touch with pale wood, fiber and leather lightens up a young family’s Victorian
Interior designer Celine Erlam was involved in the transformation of this semidetached London house from day one. “The clients are close friends of mine, and I’d helped them with the living room in their previous home,” she says. “When they bought this Victorian house, it needed a complete renovation — you couldn’t live in it as it was.”
Erlam worked closely with architects and builders to gain planning permission for an attic conversion, update the wiring and plumbing, and turn the run-down old building into a place her friends could call home.
Erlam worked closely with architects and builders to gain planning permission for an attic conversion, update the wiring and plumbing, and turn the run-down old building into a place her friends could call home.
The table seats eight people and is paired with five wooden dining chairs with leather seats. “The couple were happy to go with the leather, despite having a 1-year-old, as it will mark over time and become quite beautiful,” Erlam says.
She also designed a bench with storage below. “You can pull the drawer from either side of the bench or open up the top like a chest,” she says. “It’s where the owners keep their daughter’s toys.”
The couple already had the pendant light. It’s banana-fiber shade and copper-colored stem add another layer of texture to the minimal design.
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She also designed a bench with storage below. “You can pull the drawer from either side of the bench or open up the top like a chest,” she says. “It’s where the owners keep their daughter’s toys.”
The couple already had the pendant light. It’s banana-fiber shade and copper-colored stem add another layer of texture to the minimal design.
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In the kitchen, a central island stands in front of a wall of practical cabinets. The countertops are marble, which the couple and the designer discussed at length before choosing. “We went through the pros and cons of maintaining marble,” Erlam says, “and they decided they’d go with it.
“They’re big foodies,” she adds, “so they sourced all the appliances themselves.”
Above and below the integrated ovens are cabinets. Since there was enough closed storage in the room, they opted for a simple shelf above the sink.
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“They’re big foodies,” she adds, “so they sourced all the appliances themselves.”
Above and below the integrated ovens are cabinets. Since there was enough closed storage in the room, they opted for a simple shelf above the sink.
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Erlam commissioned her carpenter to introduce some beautiful elm features into the room. The wine racks are practical enough to hold plenty of bottles, and there’s a space in the middle for pouring drinks.
The fridge and the freezer have custom doors complete with clever vents and attractive wooden bar handles.
To the right of the wine rack is a full-length pantry cabinet. Erlam added the line across the center to tie in with the other horizontal lines in the space.
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The fridge and the freezer have custom doors complete with clever vents and attractive wooden bar handles.
To the right of the wine rack is a full-length pantry cabinet. Erlam added the line across the center to tie in with the other horizontal lines in the space.
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To the side of the L-shaped kitchen-dining space is a casual living area. “This is where the family hang out and watch TV,” Erlam says. The television is integrated into the wall for a streamlined finish.
Black-framed glass sliding doors lead out to the yard and can be covered with a sheer curtain in the evening. “The track is concealed, so it seems as if the curtains are floating,” Erlam says. “They go right up to the ceiling to give a sense of height, and the fabric helps to soften the space.”
Black-framed glass sliding doors lead out to the yard and can be covered with a sheer curtain in the evening. “The track is concealed, so it seems as if the curtains are floating,” Erlam says. “They go right up to the ceiling to give a sense of height, and the fabric helps to soften the space.”
The small powder room was the ideal place to be a little more adventurous with the color scheme.
“We went for a bold wallpaper, copper [faucets] and accessories, a walnut-framed mirror, and fun, birdlike wall lights,” says Erlam, referring to the Lucellino lights by Ingo Maurer.
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“We went for a bold wallpaper, copper [faucets] and accessories, a walnut-framed mirror, and fun, birdlike wall lights,” says Erlam, referring to the Lucellino lights by Ingo Maurer.
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In the front living room, Erlam focused on reinstating period details. “We restored the cornicing and kept the original flooring,” she says. “We sanded the boards down and applied a soap treatment to make the yellow pine look lighter.”
The team also decided to close up the doorway that led to the hallway, so they could make better use of the space. “With the large opening from the middle room, there was no need to have an extra doorway from the hall,” Erlam says.
Wall paint: Flint, Little Greene
The team also decided to close up the doorway that led to the hallway, so they could make better use of the space. “With the large opening from the middle room, there was no need to have an extra doorway from the hall,” Erlam says.
Wall paint: Flint, Little Greene
Before: The front room was dark and dreary.
Moroccan tiles line a fireplace with a wood-burning stove. The team kept the wall fairly simple, as this is where the couple watch movies. A projector drops down from the ceiling and casts images on the plain surface above the mantel — once the wreath is removed, of course.
“We chose not to opt for ceiling lights in most of the house and went for soothing wall lights instead,” Erlam says. “In here, especially, it would have got in the way of the projector.”
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“We chose not to opt for ceiling lights in most of the house and went for soothing wall lights instead,” Erlam says. “In here, especially, it would have got in the way of the projector.”
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The adjacent room is used as an office, so this freestanding, dark wood cabinet works well as overflow storage for files.
Erlam’s carpenter built the elm shelving unit in the office. “The shelves are used for display,” she says, “while the MDF cupboards below house the printer and stationery.”
Erlam’s carpenter built the elm shelving unit in the office. “The shelves are used for display,” she says, “while the MDF cupboards below house the printer and stationery.”
A vintage desk adds another layer of warm wood to the neutral space, and a modern office chair is both practical and attractive.
The door to the hallway is large, so they put in pocket fire doors.
The door to the hallway is large, so they put in pocket fire doors.
Before: A door led into the living room. It was filled in, and a wider opening now goes into the middle room.
After: The hallway is simply decorated with a glass pendant light, black spindles and white stair treads. “To save some money, the client installed the paneling himself,” Erlam says. “It runs all the way up to the top floor.”
Opposite the powder room, the designer opened up the space under the stairs for coat storage.
Opposite the powder room, the designer opened up the space under the stairs for coat storage.
A custom headboard provides a soft surface in the master bedroom, while recessed shelves on both sides are ideal for bedtime essentials. Switches in these recesses control the wall lights beside the bed and on the other side of the room.
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The chest of drawers is a family heirloom. A rod with a hammered beeswax finish holds custom linen curtains.
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Find someone to make custom window treatments
The couple were keen to have their own en suite bathroom. Erlam accommodated this with a clever closet design. One of the doors in the wall of closets opens up to reveal the bathroom behind.
In the en suite, Erlam installed a freestanding Lusso Stone tub and a walk-in shower. She applied a frosted film to the window for privacy.
The brushed chrome faucets go with the monochromatic palette, while the copper hanging planter, the milk stool and the vintage sideboard opposite bring in warmth.
The brushed chrome faucets go with the monochromatic palette, while the copper hanging planter, the milk stool and the vintage sideboard opposite bring in warmth.
Erlam’s team created a double vanity from a vintage sideboard. “We asked a stone professional to cut out holes in a marble top,” she says. “We also had to make space for pipework inside.”
Two sinks sit on the marble surface, and the faucets are mounted on the wall.
Each of the large porcelain floor tiles is a slightly different shade, which gives the floor an interesting texture.
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Two sinks sit on the marble surface, and the faucets are mounted on the wall.
Each of the large porcelain floor tiles is a slightly different shade, which gives the floor an interesting texture.
You Can Turn That Into a Bathroom Vanity?
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The client was very involved in decorating the nursery and chose most of the pieces. She wanted to add color while maintaining a light, bright feel, so Erlam suggested a two-tone paint effect.
The built-in closet has brass handles. “We used brass for most of the door handles and window fittings throughout the house,” Erlam says.
The built-in closet has brass handles. “We used brass for most of the door handles and window fittings throughout the house,” Erlam says.
The color scheme is a combination of dusty blue and pink. “They kept it quite simple, as it gets colorful once toys start appearing,” Erlam says.
The client didn’t want to buy a changing table, so they adapted this vintage chest for the purpose instead.
Before: The family bathroom, right next to the nursery, was in bad condition.
After: Erlam chose a black-and-white palette with a hint of mint. The African basket beneath the sink helps give the simple design more depth.
The sink is off-center, providing space at the side for toothbrushes and soap.
The slim matte subway tiles give the shower area an architectural look that resembles a brick wall.
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The sink is off-center, providing space at the side for toothbrushes and soap.
The slim matte subway tiles give the shower area an architectural look that resembles a brick wall.
More on Houzz
Read about other homes around the world
Find an interior designer
Shop for rectangular tile
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with their 1-year-old baby
Location: London
Size: Four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: Celine Erlam of Indie & Co.
Erlam’s clients love a pared-back aesthetic, so they went for streamlined, flat-front cabinets, a pale color scheme and a sleek, polished concrete floor in their open-plan kitchen and living space. Erlam introduced natural accents in wood, fiber and leather to warm up the cool tones.
“The dining table was the inspiration for all the [woodwork] in the home,” she says. “It’s made from elm and was the first thing we chose for the house.”