Design house: A glamorous and festive Edwardian terrace in south-east London

Multitasking is part and parcel of daily life for the homeowner, who is also an interior designer. Two years ago she upped the ante, however, when she and her husband, decided to completely refurbish their five-bedroom Edwardian home in south-east London. The task was all the more tricky was the owner was expecting their second child.

See: our spaces section for more inspiring featured homes

With impeccable timing –the work too just nine months to complete –the couple managed to create a warm and stylish home that not only works perfectly for the family, but is also, as the homeowner reveals, a wonderful showcase for her design ideas.

• See some of the world's best homes – beautiful properties from around the globe

The property

The home was very tired when the owners first bought it. It had been modernised over the years, but nothing seemed to flow. There were different types of flooring, doors, joinery, finishes and electrical fixings. We had a lot of work to do to unify it.

Dining room

Deep blue walls make a good foil for brown furniture, adding a refreshing twist to a traditional setting.

Entrance

The house originally had double doors, which the owner says, ‘weren’t very practical’, so she had a single door designed to look like the original pair.

Living room 

Layers of rich textures and a tartan-covered rocking chair bring a club-like feel to this hospitable room.

Kitchen

‘We had quite a small space to work with, so the designer had to think hard to find ways of squeezing everything in,’ says the homeowner.

Dining room

Useful storage has been created with built-in shelving around the door arch leading to the dining area (below), which is positioned between the family room and the kitchen.

Main bedroom

A muted scheme of strong greys and warm gold tones creates a cosseting feel.

Bathroom

Marble tiles and accents of brass make for an unusually glamorous family bathroom. ‘It wasn't easy to find traditional-style fittings in this color,’ says the homeowner.

Guest bedroom

A modern cityscape painting and lime-green accents lift the neutral palette in this comfortable space.

Photography/Jonathan Gooch