Design house: A perfectly peaceful mid-Victorian terrace in London

For the owners of this home, moving house was a matter of practicality. ‘With three children, the house we had bought when we first married had begun to feel too small,’ they explain. But with schools and family nearby, the couple did not want to go far, so they began looking for a suitably sized property in the same area of London, hoping to find something they could turn into an elegant family home.

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‘We viewed thirteen houses; this was the thirteenth,’ say the owners. The mid-Victorian, white-stuccoed terraced property had been owned for 30 years by a couple whose children had grown up and moved away, so they wanted to rent or sell the house. ‘Everything was being decorated white to make it more marketable, but in spite of this it had a lovely feel and the space that we needed.’

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The property

Knowing that they wanted to put their own mark on the property, the couple asked the owners to put a stop to the works. They then sought the advice of their trusted interior designer, Georgina Scott.

‘One of the things we find difficult is paint,’ say the owners. ‘You try a little on the wall and think “That looks fine” and then, of course, it isn’t when applied to a larger area.’ They asked Georgina to devise a color scheme for the house. ‘We wanted a calm blend of greys and blues to make the most of the abundant natural light,’ they said.

‘The palette is quite tight, to give a feeling of flow and cohesion,’ says Georgina. ‘As the house is tall and thin, it was essential to pull everything together, to make all the floors look consistent.’

It was the owners' idea to have a black-and-white floor in the kitchen. ‘We saw something similar in one of those free property magazines that are always coming through the door, and we thought it looked amazing.' The owners also chose the dining table and chairs. ‘Upholstered chairs would have been lovely, but they’re not practical with three children. Maybe later though.’

Kitchen

‘This house called for a tailored, glamorous look,’ says the owner, who opted for mirrored splashbacks for a light, spacious feel.

Conservatory

The conservatory was rebuilt to be more in keeping with the style of the property.

Dining room

The same paint has been used here and in the kitchen, so the two rooms sit comfortably together when the double doors are open.

Entrance hall

The striped carpet on the stairs makes an appearance on each floor, a unifying thread through the house.

Boot room

The fitted cabinets by Lewis Alderson & Co were designed to complement those in the kitchen.

Drawing room

‘When we moved in, the house had horrible fireplaces that were obviously not original,’ said the owners. These have now been replaced with antique designs from Matthew Upham, who also supplied many of the lights and mirrors around the house. ‘We weren't entirely sure about the idea of dressing the windows with swags and tails, but it proved to be a very good solution. As well as framing the fine windows, the silk fabric lends a lovely touch of opulence.’

Library

To create a pleasing sense of continuity, the window of this first-floor space has been dressed in the same manner as the adjacent drawing room.

Main beroom

The large-scale paisley motif on the bedspread adds interest without compromising the restful atmosphere.

Dressing room

Floor-to-ceiling storage keeps this room between the main bedroom and bathroom organised.

Main bathroom

A marble vanity top lends understated luxury to this refined scheme.

Guest bedroom

A window treatment in the same delicate sprigged fabric as the headboard makes a strong focal point.

Photography/James Balston