Victorian Townhouse
LLI Design has created a warm, comfortable home with modern touches for a family located in London, England.
The house comprised of c. 2500 sq ft/230 sqm spread out over 3 floors including a cellar and a lovely rear garden. Although the house was in reasonable condition, the joinery and fittings throughout the house were dated, had been well used and looked tired. Many of the period features had been stripped out and those that remained had not been maximised. The house lacked character and personality although it benefited from “good bones”, nicely proportioned rooms, a delightful garden and a handsome exterior.
LLI Design felt that more could be made of the period features, enhancing some and reinstating others to bring out more of the Victorian feel of the property as well as adding more contemporary elements to the scheme.
The ground floor comprised of a generous hall leading to 2 connecting reception rooms and at the end of the hall an extended kitchen. There was a small WC and stairs down to the cellar. It was decided to leave the cellar as it was and use it for additional storage. The first floor is divided into 2 bedroom suites. The Master Suite; comprising of a good size principle bedroom with steps down to an ensuite and off the master bedroom, a small dressing room.
The original tiled floor had long been removed so a period style crisp black and white tile with a border pattern was specified. This immediately visually increased the size and lightness of the hall area.
Considering the overall size of the house almost no provision had been given to coat storage. So as not to compromise the size of the hall a small amount of space was nibbled out of the generous dining room adjacent to the hall in order to create a cloaks cupboard. This created a small return in the dining room; so that this wasn’t visually intrusive in the dining room the coving, skirting and dado detail wrapped seamlessly around the new return. The new return had the added advantage of creating an alcove for a sideboard, thus making the whole alteration seem natural.
Bespoke pale grey lacquer joinery was designed and installed either side of the fireplaces in both rooms, incorporating plenty of storage, with asymmetrical shelving which was lit with individual accent in joinery spotlights. At the side of one of the fireplaces a black steel log store was incorporated.
The existing kitchen was completely redesigned to suit the family. Creating a bespoke joinery kitchen in lacquer with walnut drawers and interiors. The styling was contemporary classic in soft colours with plenty of storage, including a generous larder and breakfast cupboard to house a kettle and toaster as well as a small wine fridge. Thus eliminating all clutter with everything being behind doors when not required. A Boston sink was specified along with a composite worktop and colour was added to the backsplash with ceramic deep blue tiles.
The master ensuite, which overlooked the garden, was redesigned and fitted with a large double wall hung vanity unit, with elegant composite basins on a thick natural stone shelf with a lacquer vanity unit underneath, wall mounted taps and double mirrors above. A sculptural composite freestanding bath sits near the window. A large matte tile was specified for the floor, steps and wall, with a contrast ceramic polished narrow rectangular tile for the shower enclosure. Dramatic lighting under the vanity unit and in the shower alcove added to the sense of well-being.
Design: LLI Design
Photography: Rick Mccullagh
