House Design

This classic London mews house has an unexpectedly modern interior

Behind the classic façade of this Victorian house lies a contemporary style, thanks to the imaginative approach of designers Kitesgrove.

living room with black and white houndstooth check mid century armchairs in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove
(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

Everything about this classic Victorian mews house speaks of contrast. A flat-fronted, period façade gives no hint of the bold architectural shapes and unconventional layout within, just as a deeply peaceful crescent setting belies the building’s hectic west London location. 

It’s exactly this juxtaposition that appealed to owner Lynn Chen. Though she had renovated a number of London new-build apartments, the prospect of nudging a period house towards relaxed, modern living was new to her. 

Nonetheless, its previous incarnation, which incorporated a vast LED-lit glass staircase, seemed to Lynn to jar with the bones of the building.

‘I wanted to restore the English feel of the house and to respect its context,’ she says. ‘It also needed to cater to our busy family life.’ 

Working with architects Studio McLeod and interior design practice Kitesgrove, Lynn simplified the layout of the house, improved circulation and carved out two further bedrooms and bathrooms without expanding its footprint.  

Hallway

hallway with steel and oak staircase in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

Key to the design of this hallway was the creation of a lightweight steel and oak open staircase hung from the roof, which neatly dissects all three storeys. 

Extra light was introduced throughout via floor-to ceiling windows, skylights and an ingenious Rubik’s Cube-like configuration of angular light wells.  

Kitchen diner

White kitchen with dining area with wooden table in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

'A well-conceived layout was our driving force,’ says Kitesgrove’s Caitlin Nicol. ‘We moved the kitchen and dining room area to the lower ground floor, along with an informal living room

Above the table is a triangular skylight – just one of the striking architectural features of this renovation. 

Dining area

Dining area with blue walls and round wooden table in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

One corner of the dining area has a streamlined marble-topped bar, painted in a grounding blue-green, complete with wine fridge for easy entertaining. This creates a natural focal point while, conversely, the off-white kitchen seems to melt seamlessly into its setting.  

'My family loves spending time around the dining table and so it made sense for us to have kitchen, dining and relaxation areas on one floor,’ says Lynn.

Living room

living room with black and white houndstooth check mid century armchairs in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

The open-plan living room is anchored by a fireplace.

Simple details create a characterful look, including the black strips on the wall that chime with the rug and mid-century chairs. The mid-century modern living room furniture complements the angular skylights.

Office

office with modern yellow chair in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

A glass-fronted home office was created on the ground floor.  

A patterned wall and window treatment double the decorative impact of this space. The walls were papered in a sisal grasscloth, featuring an informal deconstructed chevron design. 

The glazed wall allows for a sense of space while providing acoustic and visual privacy when necessary. 

The tweaks to the layout were instant game changers. ‘It meant the spaces related to each other,’ says Lynn. 

Main bedroom

bedroom with ochre striped wallpaper in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

Lynn’s decorative choices were gentle yet impactful, thanks perhaps to the structural motifs that run throughout. 

As a result, in the main bedroom elegant ochre striped wallpaper echoes the vertical lines of the staircase and emphasises the softly curving roof angle. Its deep ochre hue evokes a cocooning feel. 

Though Lynn has a preference for minimal interiors, she wanted to experiment more boldly with pattern and color.

Bedroom

bedroom with blue scalloped headboard and blue and rattan wardrobe in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

The scalloped headboard and a rattan-fronted wardrobe in the bedroom add depth and texture to this space on the top floor.

Bathroom

white bathroom with calacatta marble in Victorian mews house in London with contemporary interior designed by Kitesgrove

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

To flood this bathroom with natural light, a vast and retractable skylight was put in. The sinks and bath are surrounded by Calacatta marble. 

A hidden jewel of a cloakroom, tucked under the stairs, features a modern pastoral wallpaper by Cole & Son. ‘The house was built in 1850, around the time of London’s Great Exhibition, with its emphasis on cultural and decorative richness,’ says Caitlin. ‘We took our cue from that, sourcing furniture and fabrics that introduce a global flavour, along with a sense of comfort and warmth.’  

Now, a series of contemporary shapes complement this building’s period origins while standing apart from them. It’s an unexpected harmony that appeals to Lynn. ‘The house is a stone’s throw from everything I need and yet it’s incredibly private,’ she says. ‘It is such an oasis of calm amid the busy city life.’  

 

Interior designer/ Kitesgrove 

Architect/ Studio McLeod

Photography/ Mary Wadsworth

Text/ Emma J Page

Vivienne Ayers
Houses Editor

Interiors have always been Vivienne's passion – from bold and bright to Scandi white. After studying at Leeds University, she worked at the Financial Times, before moving to Radio Times. She did an interior design course and then worked for Homes & Gardens, Country Living and House Beautiful. Vivienne’s always enjoyed reader homes and loves to spot a house she knows is perfect for a magazine (she has even knocked on the doors of houses with curb appeal!), so she became a houses editor, commissioning reader homes, writing features and styling and art directing photo shoots. She worked on Country Homes & Interiors for 15 years, before returning to Homes & Gardens as houses editor four years ago.