Inside the Victorian Home That Went From Three Apartments to One Stunning Family House

Elegant living room with paneled cream walls, olive green velvet sofa, yellow accent couch, marble coffee table, and large window with curtains — (Image credit: Christopher Horwood)

Something of a problem child, the renovation of this pretty five-bedroom Victorian townhouse in a leafy North London conservation area did not run smoothly. Originally three separate apartments, it was bought just before the pandemic by a couple who had been living overseas, with plans to transform it into a lovely family home.

However, they encountered numerous hurdles, which led to lengthy delays. ‘At the start of the project, the clients didn’t have any children, and by the end they had three!’ says Angelica Squire of Studio Squire, who was tasked with turning their vision into reality. ‘Of all our projects, this is the one that caused the most challenges. Everything felt long and laborious,’ she adds. Fortunately, she worked with a dream team of RJH Architecture and Kiwi Building, who helped lighten the load.

Modern kitchen featuring olive green wood grain cabinets, dark veined marble countertops, skylight, pendant light, and woven cane barstools — **Kitchen**: The cabinetry is stained in a bespoke green hue that accentuates its striking woodgrain. Woven rush stools at the island link to the tones of the walls and floors. Bespoke cabinetry, Kiwi Building. Vili bar stools, The Masie. Pendant lights, Made in Design. Artwork, clients’ own

Key to the clients’ brief was a tailored interior designed to last, so a timeless aesthetic was top of their wish list. ‘They definitely didn’t want a space that felt really traditional and stuffy – they craved schemes that were contemporary and clean,’ Angelica says. Substantial structural work was undertaken to ensure a generously scaled property featuring flowing open spaces, a basement excavation that connects to the garden, a rear extension with skylights that flood the space with light, and a reconfigured layout. ‘We wanted to gain as much square footage as we could,’ says Angelica.

Few original features could be retained, as they were so badly damaged. ‘We tried to honor the fabric of the building. Where we couldn’t keep features, we replaced them like for like so, for instance, the pretty garden doors in the kitchen mimic the original ones.’

A sense of calm permeates the interior, thanks to the largely warm-white backdrop that enhances the airy feel, along with the pared-back schemes. A subtle blend of old and new dovetails neatly to evoke a timeless sense. In the entryway, for example, modern black spindles and a pale wooden handrail bring a streamlined, cleaner aesthetic to the staircase than traditional turned rails, while in the living room at the front of the house, beaded paneling provides a heritage backdrop. ‘The clients were keen to treat the walls differently here,’ explains Angelica. The elegant space was designed to feel laid-back enough for relaxing, yet formal and grown-up enough for entertaining.

Built-in home bar with oak glass-front cabinets, veined red marble countertops, a green velvet bench seat, and large abstract art framed in the center — **Middle room:** This multifunctional room is open and spacious. Calacatta Rosato marble counters bring drama to the oak joinery, while reeded detailing adds a contemporary touch. Cabinetry, bespoke design by Studio Squire, made by Kiwi Building. Artwork, Hannah Ludnow. Banquette seating covered in Teal corduroy, Brisbane Moss.

A burst of joyful color is provided by the yellow sofa. ‘We had to push the clients with some slightly bolder choices,’ says Angelica. ‘We felt there was an earthiness in the kitchen and, with the calm entryway, it would be lovely to come into the living room and have something punchier.’ A travertine fireplace forms a contemporary focal point – ‘it creates a lovely space for seating to be centered around’ – while a commissioned artwork hides the TV above.

View down a home hallway featuring a light wood staircase railing with black iron spindles, sisal runner carpet, and glass double doors — **Entryway:** A traditional, meets clean and modern look comes together in the entryway. Black spindles and a pale wooden handrail on the staircase work with the style of the house but feel sleeker than traditional turned rails.

Although pattern has been used sparingly throughout the interior, Angelica wasn’t shy of incorporating considered finishes that weave in texture and nuance, from the beaded paneling in the living room and dappled limewash-painted walls in key spaces to the striking stained-wood kitchen cabinetry. The latter was an experiment, Angelica notes: ‘We were exploring ways of doing something slightly different from the standard painted kitchen cabinets, but it was trial and error getting the right shade.’

Bedroom with black metal canopy bed, beige fabric headboard, wooden nightstand with table lamp, woven floor lamp, and a red upholstered chair — **Bedroom:** Studio Squire worked with an artisan ironsmith to create a large four-poster bed, dressed with simple linen curtains. The space is large enough to house a generous sofa, which provides a pop of a deep earthy shade. Custom bed, Nights in Iron. Bedside chest, Vinterior. Table lamp, Howe. Floor lamp, Soane Britain. Artwork, clients’ own

A conduit between the living room and kitchen, the middle room – which is often used as a transitional space in Victorian homes – was designed to work particularly hard. ‘The clients wanted an area that felt open, airy and multifunctional,’ explains Angelica. ‘They were keen for the house to be tidy, so we needed to make sure we included ample storage, which took careful planning.’

Storage for the children’s stroller, shoes and bags, and a very generous coat closet, as well as a powder room, were integrated. But the space also has a playful side. Due to its position, it proved the natural site for a bar area, with a handy banquette, allowing for pre-dinner drinks in the living room before moving through to the kitchen-dining area.

Modern bathroom featuring warm plaster walls, double vanity with marble top, ribbed sconces, wall-mounted mirrors, and an arched shower doorway — **En suite:** Terracotta limewashed walls and ceiling create a cocooning space and evoke a Moroccan spa feel, while the custom contemporary-style double vanity keeps the look streamlined. Walls in Bronte, Bauwerk Colour. Calacatta marble flooring, Mandarin Stone.

This project was certainly a labor of love, but the result has proved to be worth the wait.

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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.