How to recreate the look of this thoughtfully reconfigured Victorian townhouse
Christabel Chubb highlights the key design elements and decorating decisions employed by the Todhunter Earle team in this Victorian house, detailing the furnishings, fittings and fixtures used throughout this family home.
Paul Massey1/11Originally in the central part of the house, the kitchen was repositioned at the front by Flower Michelin Architects, allowing natural light from the west-facing windows to flood into the room. Original features such as the chimneypiece were left untouched, respecting the house’s Victorian origins. Having open shelves rather than wall-mounted cabinets enhances the sense of width in quite a narrow room, and a seat built into the bay window helps to make the most of every bit of space.
Paul Massey2/11The opening between this room at the back of the house and the adjoining dining room was enlarged, so more natural light can reach what could have been a dark space. This idea has been used throughout the house. As Laura King, the lead interior designer on the project, explains, ‘This creates a greater sense of space and flow, without making the rooms open plan.’ Walls in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Sand III’ provide a calm, pale background for a set of botanical prints and a David Seyfried sofa, covered in ‘Gonfaloniere’ linen in grass by John Stefanidis from Tissus d’Hélène.
Paul Massey3/11On the other side of the room, a new internal window allows daylight to reach the stairs and landing, and frames a view of the wallpaper in the downstairs loo beyond. The fanlight above it gives the impression of a higher ceiling. Adjacent to this wall, double doors provide another entrance to this part of the house.
Paul Massey4/11This sits between the kitchen and morning room (above). The combination of concealed and exposed storage allows the owners to display pieces collected on their travels on shelves behind fluted glass doors, with space for small appliances in the cupboards below. The custom-built cabinetry does not reach the ceiling, which emphasises the height of the space and gives the space an airy feel. The rug helps to define this as a room in its own right and stops it feeling like a passageway between the adjoining rooms. The steel chandelier is from Howe.
Paul Massey5/11Once again, an opening was enlarged – this time on the first floor – to create an L-shaped room, which now houses a formal sitting room and a large study. Timber panelling in a style consistent with the Victorian architecture of the room was used to make a feature of the opening itself, and other original period features, such as the skirting and cornicing, were restored by specialists. An eye-catching, mid-century-inspired ‘Wormhole 03’ brass floor lamp by Bronzetto is positioned in a corner beside a ‘Hartfield’ armchair and ottoman from Arlo & Jacob, providing an ideal spot to relax with a book.
Paul Massey6/11On one side of this east-facing room is a desk with a shelf above it, which were both custom built to fit the space with its distinctive angles. The walls are painted in ‘Tawny’ from Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, a timeless beige that was chosen for the way it works well in different lights. A rattan chair brings a natural, textured element to the scheme, while the owners’ decorative leather hippo adds a fun, quirky touch.
Paul Massey7/11In this lower-ground room, which doubles as a spare room for guests, internal windows and a glazed door separate the space from the hallway. This brings as much natural light as possible into an area that would otherwise be quite dark. Walls in warm ‘Buff ’ and woodwork in ‘Milk White’, both from Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, contribute to the airy feel, and a sofa bed in a rich yellow brushed linen-cotton from Sofa.com can be converted easily for guests.
Paul Massey8/11Panelling was added below Pierre Frey’s ‘Mojito’ wallpaper and painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Green Smoke’, as was the shelving on the back wall (seen in the mirror), which helps unify the space. A rattan-framed mirror from The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair makes the room appear to be larger than it is and provides decorative detail. There is no natural light, but ‘Swan Neck’ wall lamps from Pooky and a ‘Dodo Egg’ pendant by Beata Heuman provide a warm, atmospheric glow.
Paul Massey9/11A tricky corner in this playroom on the lower-ground floor has been transformed into a reading nook with drawers underneath. Ideal for homework, the desk was made to fit the space and the wall is partly clad with cork covered in blue ‘Milano’ wool flannel from Clementine Oliver, for use as a pinboard. The wallpaper is from Trustworth Studios.
Paul Massey10/11Ample storage in the main bedroom is provided by built-in wardrobes, which stop just short of the ceiling in order to make the walls of this bedroom feel taller. The cornicing is interrupted above the window to create space for a pole with full-length curtains. The wallpaper is Cole & Son’s ‘Hummingbirds’ and the bespoke chest is from Howe. The owners’ armchair from Kingcome Sofas has been re-covered in Namay Samay’s ‘Lerio’ in sterling.
Paul Massey11/11Throughout the house, bespoke joinery was crucial for making the most of the space, with many of the pieces designed to be dual purpose. The boys’ bedroom has a custom-built desk and seating area with storage below for toys, all in Paper & Paint Library’s ‘Blue Blood’. ‘It’s very important to have a space for everything,’ says Todhunter Earle co-founder Kate Earle. A George Spencer Designs ‘Wide Straight Edge Braid’ was used to create the illusion of a higher ceiling.
Todhunter Earle Interiors: todhunterearle.com
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