A renovated Victorian terrace house in London with interiors inspired by sun-soaked Moroccan riads and pastel-hued Mediterranean escapes? That’s the surprising, yet spectacularly realised, idea behind this north London home. Once a series of dark, compartmentalised rooms, it’s now a light-filled, open space organised around a dramatic double-height living area and kitchen, whose trapezoidal shape generates intriguing perspectives from every angle.
The design is a collaboration between Hackney-based interior design studio All & Nxthing, founded by Stephen Nash, and Merrett Houmøller Architects. The family who own the house had a clear brief in mind – in fact, they sought out their architect of choice before they had even bought the property, certain that they wanted a Victorian or Edwardian home they could put a modern stamp on. Once their purchase was complete, they set forth on a mission to create a contemporary yet cosy home, filled with light, tall spaces and areas to entertain.
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The resulting revamp was partly inspired by traditional Moroccan and Andalusian homes – “where a tall central courtyard is filled with light, with smaller, cosier rooms at the sides”, as Robert Houmøller explains. Angular internal and external cuts add a contemporary edge and create interesting views throughout the house; much of its original first floor was removed to maximise the height of the central kitchen extension, with light flooding in from numerous windows and skylights overhead.
All & Nxthing’s response to this original concept was just as impressive. Nash focused on raw natural materials and textures to complement the bold architecture, deploying a palette of neutral tones that enhances the sense of calm and flow. “The ultimate aim was to create a place of sanctuary from the city outside,” he says. He took inspiration from Mediterranean, SoCal and New Mexican interiors, juxtaposing exposed brickwork with limewash-painted clay walls, terracotta floor tiles and bespoke joinery with a rough-sawn finish. “Accents come in the form of oxidised copper countertops in the kitchen and brass lighting in the living spaces; together, these provide warmth and a sense of continuity,” he adds. He echoed the architecture’s asymmetrical forms in his choice of linear and grid-patterned finishes, and in the tapering handles on the bespoke maple and beech kitchen cabinets, which were designed in-house.
The ground floor is essentially five interconnected spaces, with views from the kitchen at the back through to an informal sitting area and living room at the front. The latter, with its big leather couch, built-in triangular cabinets and vintage travertine coffee tables, follows the architecture’s geometric theme, and can be closed off for watching movies. Next door, the cosy sitting area plays host to Carl Hansen’s curvy Sideways sofa, a stove, and a compact desk for working from home; Paola Navone’s oversized brass pendant for Gervasoni glimmers overhead.
Moving upstairs, the original staircase was reimagined with oak treads that matches the flooring in the rest of the house, with handmade oak and powder-coated steel handrails; once again, their slender lines are in perfect harmony with the architecture. Décor in the bedrooms was kept to a restful minimum, while the bathrooms have a distinctly Mediterranean vibe. “We used a peachy-nude tone for the walls and paired it with limestone floors, simple white ceramic tiles and unlacquered brassware, which will acquire a patina over time,” says Nash.
The pared-down beauty of this renovated Victorian terrace house in London is accentuated by its north-facing garden: the light shifts dramatically through the day, casting long shadows across the ground floor’s angular planes and adorning the dining-room ceiling with dappled patterns. Next to the custom dining table – made for All & Nxthing by London designer Fred Rigby Studio – is a shallow pond fed by rainwater draining off the roof. Together with a drought-resistant planting scheme that includes mature olive trees and grasses in giant terracotta planters (as well as a plethora of indoor greenery), it helps to make this corner of north London feel like a balmy oasis. “Our home captures the warmth of Mediterranean design,” say the owners. “It’s a sanctuary on rainy days, but also makes sunny days even lovelier.”
