CHISWICK
Colour, character and clever circulation have transformed what was once an uninviting space into a cheerful family home
The ground floor of this Victorian terrace had been extended over time, creating a series of seemingly purposeless, poorly-lit rooms. Our task was to reorganise the layout to create a warm yet hard-working family home in which each room serves a purpose.
Home to a young family, it was important that the ground floor had space for both the children and the adults. Immediately opposite the front door was a functionless room that led through to the kitchen. By relocating the entrance to this room – adding steps and a glazed pocket door – we were able to create a cocooning TV snug for the children. Bespoke joinery lines the walls, whilst a weighty curtain encloses the room in the evenings.
The drawing room has now become TV-free and is furnished with reupholstered mid-century pieces already in the clients’ possession. It leads on to a library, which makes use of what was a functionless thoroughfare – a feature of most Victorian terraces. Here, we have embraced the darkness with deep colours to create an atmospheric, book-lined reading and music room.
A flight of burgundy steps connects the library to the kitchen, which now has a joyous palette of lilac and yellow. A crisp tide line of colour adds character to the walls, whilst a range of considered lighting options conjure different moods. Finally, the clients’ own artwork has been rehung in the space, adding a layer of personal meaning to the reinvigorated rooms.
“Sarah is such a joy to work with. She's talented yet down-to-earth; creative yet practical, passionate about design and endlessly patient. She instantly understood what we were looking to achieve with our home, then gently challenged us to go beyond this and consider things we'd never have thought of ourselves.
She has completely transformed the ground floor of our house into a warm, fun and vibrant space, which better suits the needs of our family. We still have to pinch ourselves that we get to live here every day! Watching her come up with a vision for the rooms was such a fun and exciting process and taught me a lot along the way, too.”