This Fragmented Old Home Was Completely Stripped Back – And Finally Its True Charm Emerged

'Slow and soulful' is how interior designer Eris Koutsoudakis of Meraki Design describes the sentiment behind the renovation of this West London Victorian townhouse – and that’s just what its busy owners craved.

Parenting three teenagers, traveling frequently, plus, for one, a career as a professional flamenco dancer, meant that creating a house design that enabled respite was key.

'We wanted a space that was relatively minimalist but also warm,' says one of the owners. 'For us, that meant a fusion of Japanese and Mediterranean influences.'

As it turned out, few duos could be better placed than Eris and her co-founder, Maria Kachramanoglou, to deliver that vision.

The pair, both born in South Africa to Greek families, have a style that is known for its gentle tactility, belying a forensic approach to architectural detailing.

'In Greek, “Meraki” is a phrase that indicates injecting a creative task with heart and passion,' says Eris. 'It’s about weaving meaning into an endeavor.'

That ethos is evident throughout this deeply calming space, where every small detail, from the wire-brushed oak joinery to the curved shadow-gap doorways, has been combed over.

The renovation entailed a back-to-brick approach, in part because over the years work had been carried out on top of previous adjustments. 'But that played to our advantage,' reflects Eris.

'Once we took everything apart, we found higher ceilings and a more flexible footprint than we imagined.'

The duo’s first task was to tackle what Eris describes as 'the fragmented energy of the flow', where the lower ground floor had been turned into a separate "granny flat" and the ground floor needed more light channeling through.

Meanwhile, the eaves space suffered from an inequality in the size of its bedrooms, requiring a rejig.

The duo pushed out into the side return, but most significant was the decision to remove the original staircase, tweaking its flow through the house to allow for greater usable space, particularly in the bedrooms

'For the owners, the priority was to eliminate any dead space and to allow every scheme to breathe,' says Eris. 'The wife has Japanese heritage, so we looked to honor that with sleek but warm details that could sit easily within a period home.'

A particularly successful example is the ergonomic oak screen that partially separates the entryway from the dining room.

Anchored by a suspended travertine console, it’s designed to appear monolithic while cleverly concealing two drawers.

'There’s something innately practical about it, yet it feels welcoming,' suggests the female owner. 'We also enjoy how well it offsets period details, such as the cornicing and ceiling rose.'

Though precision underpins these schemes, there’s also an appealing sense of imperfection inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – the honoring of impermanence.

Walls are painted in Bauwerk’s natural limewash paint, prized for its breathability and relaxed finish.

The walls are finished mostly in warm neutrals, contrasted by an earthy green in the first-floor living room. 'We encouraged the owners to go for a complete color drench in that space,' says Eris. 'If you are going to commit to that tone, it needs to feel fully cocooning.'

To achieve that sense of easy flow, spatial planning was key – not just via clever additions, such as the bathroom tucked behind a sliding mirrored door in the main bedroom or wine storage hidden in the dining room, but in moments of pause.

'For example, the kitchen nook is a space for slow breakfasts, long lunches and everything in between – unpretentious, tactile and inviting,' says Eris.

Likewise, in between the kitchen and dining room, a cozy snug is framed by arched, reeded-glass sliding doors, offering privacy without sacrificing light.

Finished in washed oak, their look is contemporary yet organic.

'Ultimately, our biggest challenge was how to keep the bustle of the city at bay in this home,' says Eris. 'How could we create a functional family home while offering a sense of sanctuary? For us, the answer was to honor nature, choosing simple materials and elevating them so that each could sing in their own way.'

The resulting gently contemporary schemes certainly dance to their own tune: a considered balance of heritage and modernity, joyfulness and serenity.

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