Houzz Tour: Natural Materials Create a Light and Cozy Home
Designers found on Houzz give a once-dark London house a lift with pale wood, calming blues and earthy neutrals
It’s hard to imagine looking at it now, but the ground floor of this London house used to feel a bit gloomy. Darker flooring and blocked sightlines were contributing to the dingy look, and the owners were eager to open up the space and bring in more natural light.
They found Mia Karlsson Interior Design on Houzz and tasked the firm with transforming the three-story house, turning the dreary space into a welcoming, light-filled home.
They found Mia Karlsson Interior Design on Houzz and tasked the firm with transforming the three-story house, turning the dreary space into a welcoming, light-filled home.
“The very clever thing about this space is the hidden pantry to the left of the oven stack that looks like a standard cupboard door, but is, in fact, a walk-in pantry,” Matthews says.
To maximize the space and keep clutter off the work surfaces, they installed an appliance garage on the kitchen peninsula to house frequently used small appliances.
Shop for your kitchen
Shop for your kitchen
Before Photo
Here’s how the kitchen looked before the renovation, with the island blocking views of the garden.
“The rugs, dining chairs and table, armoire and lighting in the dining area all share the same soft curves to create a beautiful flow through the space,” Matthews says.
A soft pendant lamp over the table provides a warm glow in the evening.
The team used Houzz Pro tools to share the design with their clients, as well as the products they specified.
“We use Houzz to manage all our projects and, in particular, the Selections boards, where clients can see all the items we’ve proposed,” Matthews says.
The Selections boards allow professionals to present items they’re considering for the project in a simple format that helps clients feel in control. They can see an image of each product and all of the information at a glance, then quickly press Approve or Decline.
Wall paint: Slate ll and Lead IV, both Paint & Paper Library
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
A soft pendant lamp over the table provides a warm glow in the evening.
The team used Houzz Pro tools to share the design with their clients, as well as the products they specified.
“We use Houzz to manage all our projects and, in particular, the Selections boards, where clients can see all the items we’ve proposed,” Matthews says.
The Selections boards allow professionals to present items they’re considering for the project in a simple format that helps clients feel in control. They can see an image of each product and all of the information at a glance, then quickly press Approve or Decline.
Wall paint: Slate ll and Lead IV, both Paint & Paper Library
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The homeowners like to entertain guests, and they wanted the living room to feel open, spacious and informal.
“The layout was dictated by the access to the outdoor area,” Matthews says. “We also wanted to create a nice open flow from the kitchen- diner without obstructing the view to the outdoors, which is why we went for a low sofa.”
The designers swapped the dark flooring that previously covered the ground floor with paler oak floorboards in a wide format to create a streamlined, spacious feel.
Walls paint: Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library
“The layout was dictated by the access to the outdoor area,” Matthews says. “We also wanted to create a nice open flow from the kitchen- diner without obstructing the view to the outdoors, which is why we went for a low sofa.”
The designers swapped the dark flooring that previously covered the ground floor with paler oak floorboards in a wide format to create a streamlined, spacious feel.
Walls paint: Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library
Before Photo
Previously, the large corner sofa was blocking access to the garden through the French doors.
The lower, shorter-sided sofa makes the view of and access to the backyard easier.
Natural materials, such as the stone coffee table and wooden storage unit, give the space a grounded feel.
“We used calm, earthy colors and organic shapes throughout the ground floor, with lots of blues, greens, grays and browns, highlighted with colorful accents in the artwork and accessories,” Matthews says.
A wood pendant ties in with the organic shapes hugs the ceiling to give the illusion of a taller room.
Natural materials, such as the stone coffee table and wooden storage unit, give the space a grounded feel.
“We used calm, earthy colors and organic shapes throughout the ground floor, with lots of blues, greens, grays and browns, highlighted with colorful accents in the artwork and accessories,” Matthews says.
A wood pendant ties in with the organic shapes hugs the ceiling to give the illusion of a taller room.
At the entrance to the couple’s bedroom, a storage ottoman sits alongside a dressing table, mirror and laundry baskets. Opposite these are glass double doors that lead to the en suite bathroom.
“Originally, the door to the en suite was next to the bed, and the bathroom itself was dark with no windows or natural light,” Matthews says. “We closed this up and created a brand new bathroom with double doors made from fluted glass so it has natural light from the window just outside.”
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“Originally, the door to the en suite was next to the bed, and the bathroom itself was dark with no windows or natural light,” Matthews says. “We closed this up and created a brand new bathroom with double doors made from fluted glass so it has natural light from the window just outside.”
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To complement the neutral scheme and create a serene feel in the bedroom, the designers chose a gently shaped pendant light.
They brought in some character with paneling behind the bed. “It softens the space and makes it feel a little less modern and stark,” Matthews says.
They brought in some character with paneling behind the bed. “It softens the space and makes it feel a little less modern and stark,” Matthews says.
Before Photo
Here’s the bedroom before its transformation.
They chose natural materials to create a spa feel in the en suite, including a wooden stool and leaf-print wallpaper. A freestanding bath brings a luxurious look to the space.
Wallpaper: Tektura
Wallpaper: Tektura
Neutral tile in varying shades provides a tranquil backdrop for a wall-mounted vanity unit and concrete sink, as well as for a standalone tub and walk-in shower.
They converted two bedrooms into home offices. This blue study includes custom cabinetry built into the fireplace alcoves.
“The statement blue was the perfect color to be the backdrop for an extensive Lego and book collection while still being calm enough for a productive work environment,” Matthews says. “The desk was deliberately positioned facing the windows, which offer an incredible view.”
“The statement blue was the perfect color to be the backdrop for an extensive Lego and book collection while still being calm enough for a productive work environment,” Matthews says. “The desk was deliberately positioned facing the windows, which offer an incredible view.”
The team included some playful elements in this room, such as a classic orange Togo chair and a fun monkey lamp.
This was the couple’s first renovation, and they wrote in their review that they “walked in pretty naïve about everything.” It’s a testament to the team at Mia Karlsson Interiors that they enjoyed the experience. “We had a wonderful time,” the couple wrote. “The project got delivered pretty much on time and at a really great quality, despite us learning as we went.”
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This was the couple’s first renovation, and they wrote in their review that they “walked in pretty naïve about everything.” It’s a testament to the team at Mia Karlsson Interiors that they enjoyed the experience. “We had a wonderful time,” the couple wrote. “The project got delivered pretty much on time and at a really great quality, despite us learning as we went.”
More on Houzz
Read more stories about homes around the world
Find home professionals
Shop for home products
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: North London
Size: Four bedrooms (converted into two bedrooms and two studies) and three bathrooms
Designers: Mia Karlsson and Holly Matthews of Mia Karlsson Interior Design
The previous kitchen in this house was quite dated, so the team installed a newer and better-quality design.
“There isn’t a huge amount of space, so we needed to maximize what we had,” designer Holly Matthews says. “Being able to cook in the kitchen while others were using a dedicated dining space was important to the client.”
The team planned a U-shaped kitchen that makes the most of the light from the garden, while a peninsula enables the cook to chat with people sitting on the bar stools or at the dining table.
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