From sash windows to ornate molding, Victorian properties often boast a wealth of original features that tell of craftsmanship from a bygone era. And while the owner of this terraced house in north London was appreciative of such details, she was unapologetic in not making reinstating purely decorative touches such as picture rails and fireplaces part of her agenda when renovating.
‘She loved the bones of the place, but didn’t want it to feel too traditional,’ says Nicola Crawford of Finch Interior Design, who was tasked by the client, a lawyer, to make the house design reflective of her personality.
‘Eclectic’ and ‘bold’ were the adjectives that Crawford kept coming back to. That explains the limewash on the hallway’s walls to bring a touch of modernity to the period house, and the floor-to-ceiling tiling on the chimney breast in the living room in lieu of a mantelpiece.
Entryway: To add interest to the hallway and stairs, Nicola used a neutral limewash on the walls and teamed it with a darker hue on the woodwork. Walls in Ibiza limewash, Bauwerk Colour. Woodwork in Wainscoat, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Flush mount ceiling light, Pure White Lines
This refusal to follow expectations is what makes the house so uplifting. It also ensures that it is optimized for 21st-century living: in the designer’s considered reconfiguration of the ground floor, the kitchen is connected to the hallway thanks to an internal window placed by a newly created dining area.
The middle reception room – a space that often becomes merely transitional upon creation of a side-return extension – has been cleverly fashioned into a cozy reading nook with open shelving to display sculptures and vessels.
Dining Area: A window connects this space to the hallway and lets more light in. The banquette is covered in a practical faux leather. Banquette in Majilite, Dedar. Knit-Wit pendant lights, Made by Hand. Artwork by Jack Penny via The Dot Project
And then there’s the abundance of vibrant wall art, which is hung in clusters or off-center.
‘I’m obsessed with art – I think it makes up so much of a room,’ says Nicola, who relished taking on a curatorial role.
Her favorite piece is of three jaunty waiters by British artist Jack Penny, which she sourced at an exhibition by The Dot Project (and which has found its natural home around the dining banquette). The offerings by M.A.H Gallery and Rye-based McCully & Crane also resonated with Nicola and her client.
Living Room: Rich in color and texture, the space features a chimney breast clad in glossy zellige tiles. Nicola had the lacquered table made and the color chimes with the curtains. Tiles in Caramel, Terrazzo Tiles. Pouffes, Sister by Studio Ashby. Coffee table by Freeborn Carpentry.
Striking a balance between the intensity of the framed canvases and the decor was key.
‘It was about ensuring that the interiors were impactful enough to complement the art without overpowering it,’ explains Nicola.
She landed on Joa’s White, a strong, taupe-based neutral by Farrow & Ball for the downstairs walls, ‘in order for the art to breathe’.
Living Room: The earthy tone of the sofa is mirrored on the ceiling. The standing lamp by Henry Holland Studio is just as striking as the art on the walls. Cove sofa, Fred Rigby Studio. Ceiling in Light Bronze Green, Little Greene. Painting by Nadia Tuercke.
Contrasted with a green ceiling in the living room (the client’s favorite color), the effect is more like stepping into the realm of a worldly collector than a gallery.
Nicola then layered the space with a textural mix of fabrics ranging from linen to bouclé. Henry Holland’s ceramic nerikomi floor lamp, which provides form, pattern, and materiality, is central to the living room’s design.
Kitchen: The jewel in this room’s crown is the tile-wrapped island. Nicola sourced three different styles from a Portugal-based firm; while the counter is flat, a three-dimensional tile used around the sides creates an artfully uneven surface that catches the light. Tiles, Barro. Pedestal bowl, Henry Holland Studio. Bar stools, Vaunt Design
When it comes to kitchens, Nicola feels passionately that any ‘should look and feel like a beautiful room that just happens to be a kitchen,’ she says.
In this instance, eschewing wall cabinets and conceiving a kitchen island cast in 3D tiles lends a sophistication that one would expect to find in a buzzy restaurant.
Kitchen: Nicola had the oak kitchen made to her design, opting for an open shelf instead of wall cabinetry on which to display vessels and objects. The splashback and worktop are crafted in travertine. Cabinetry by Freeborn Carpentry.
‘Because it’s lower down and not at eye level, it works,’ she says of the structure.
The open shelving suspended above adds to the feeling of sitting up at a cocktail bar, but was in fact a solution to minimize the visual impact of the boxed-in steel beams.
‘I knew there wasn’t a call for any more lighting there, so doing this helped zone the kitchen area,’ she explains.
Bathroom: This was updated with new floor and wall tiles. Nicola repainted the existing slipper bath. The art was acquired by the client from charity and pop-up vintage shops. Floor tiles, Otto Tiles & Design. Wall tiles, Marrakech Design
The main bathroom was refreshed without changing any of the plumbing fixtures.
Nicola repainted the body of the slipper tub and swapped out all the tiles, choosing an encaustic cement tile for the floor.
The new zellige tiles that line the walls are elegantly edged with a marble pencil trim that Nicola hunted down on eBay.
Primary Bedroom: The layout was altered by creating a wall for the bed to go against, resulting in space for a walk-in wardrobe area behind it. Bed upholstered in Adamo & Eva by Dedar. Floor lamp and chair, Soho Home. Artwork by Tabby Booth.
Having worked on this style of house before, Nicola used a tried-and-tested layout in the main bedroom.
Moving the bed perpendicular to the windows and erecting a wall behind it created a full run of wall for closets, as well as a section opposite for a vanity.
Primary Bedroom: Catering to the client’s love of green, a feature wall opposite the bed is painted in an earthy shade. Nicola designed the smart sideboard. Walls in Moss, Fenwick & Tilbrook. Nude artwork, Studio SPF
‘It means when you walk into the room, you encounter the softest part – the bed – while the hardest part – the closets – is hidden,’ says Nicola.
She designed a headboard and had it wrapped in a moss-colored velvet by Dedar. The result is a plush, hotel-like space that the Victorians would surely admire.
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