Take A Look Around This Period Family Home In North London
The Property
Set within the leafy streets of Hampstead Garden Suburb, this Arts & Crafts house dates back to around 1908. While full of character, the property was tired and no longer suited the needs of its growing family. The original layout consisted of a series of smaller rooms, creating an awkward flow that felt disconnected from modern family life. Fortunately, the owners secured planning permission within the conservation area, allowing them to extend the property and rethink the internal layout while respecting its architectural heritage.
The redesign focused on creating spaces that worked harder for a busy family. A former garage was transformed into a practical utility room and playroom, while the upper floor was reconfigured to create a generous main bedroom suite complete with separate walk-in wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom. Throughout the house, original features – including the internal doors and ironmongery – were retained in line with conservation requirements, ensuring the home's Arts & Crafts roots remained intact. Today, the five-bedroom property balances period charm with contemporary family living for a busy couple and their four young children.
The Brief
From the outset, the clients wanted interiors that felt contemporary, considered and quietly elegant rather than traditionally decorative. The aim was to create a family home with warmth and character, focused on timeless pieces that would evolve alongside the family rather than feel tied to a particular trend or moment.
The design carefully balances respect for the property's heritage with the owners' personal taste. A palette of soft creams, earthy browns, blush pinks and muted greens creates continuity throughout the house, while natural materials and enduring finishes ensure longevity. Influenced by the relaxed refinement of places such as Heckfield Place, the interiors combine comfort with sophistication. Brushed nickel bathroom fittings, bespoke joinery and carefully curated artwork bring depth and personality to each room, creating a home that feels both elevated and deeply liveable.
LET'S TAKE THE TOUR
The Main Bedroom
Designed as a sanctuary from the demands of family life, the main bedroom embraces a soothing palette of muted neutrals and tactile textures. Interestingly, the architect's original plans positioned the bed facing the windows but this arrangement restricted both circulation and bed size. Reorientating the layout and introducing a half-height upholstered headboard allowed the room to function more effectively while disguising an awkward wall shape.
The clients were keen to preserve some of the property's original quirks, including the uneven wall and existing archway, both of which serve as subtle reminders of the home's history. Existing furniture, including the dressing table, was incorporated into the scheme, helping the room feel personal as well as polished.
Ceiling Light Soho Home
Headboard Fabric Yarn Collective
Cushion Fabric Yarn Collective
Bench Soho Home
Mirror Soho Home
The Walk-In Wardrobe
Connecting the bedroom and en-suite, the walk-in wardrobe demonstrates how thoughtful design can maximise even the most compact of spaces. To enhance the natural light, a full-height mirror framed in matching timber was positioned at the end of the room, reflecting daylight from the bathroom beyond and creating a greater sense of openness.
The bespoke joinery combines traditional and contemporary influences. Modern shaker-style doors nod to classic craftsmanship, while fluted detailing adds a more current edge. The timber finish was selected to mirror the flooring used on the ground floor, creating cohesion throughout the house.
Footstool Soho Home
Wall Colour 'French Grey' Edward Bulmer
The Main En-Suite
Like the bedroom, the en-suite was designed to feel calm, restorative and separate from the energy of everyday family life. Marble surfaces introduce a luxurious, hotel-like quality, while soft pink tiles add warmth and character without overwhelming the space.
Storage was cleverly integrated behind mirrored cabinetry, making use of otherwise awkward recesses behind the doors. Open them and you'll discover original arch details that echo those found in the bedroom. The timber finish used throughout the joinery was matched to the walk-in wardrobe, reinforcing the sense of continuity across the suite.
Wall Lights Astro
Taps Dornbracht Vaia
Floor Tiles Mandarin Stone
Wall Tiles Claybrook
The TV Room
Just off the kitchen, the TV room is where the family spends most evenings together. Unlike the more formal living room, this space was designed for everyday use, combining comfort, practicality and personality.
Layered textures, playful shapes and vibrant fabrics help create a relaxed atmosphere. Studio Ashby's Afua fabric introduces colour and pattern, while a deep-pile Nordic Knots rug provides a soft surface for children to play on. Existing artwork owned by the clients was incorporated into the scheme, ensuring the room felt personal and lived in from day one.
Cushion Fabric Studio Ashby
Pendant Light lights&lamps
Rug Nordic Knots
Side Table Anthropologie
Sofa Fabric Linwood
The Formal Living Room
With bespoke joinery framing the fireplace and shelves intended for books from the beginning, the formal living room naturally evolved into a space dedicated to conversation, reading and entertaining. Free from televisions and technology, it offers a quieter counterpart to the family-focused TV room.
The original fireplace was retained as part of the conservation requirements but the tiles were updated with a handcrafted design from Balineum, helping the feature feel both fresh and authentic. Once the room was complete, a bespoke artwork commission by Fergus Polglase was added, drawing together the palette used throughout the space.
Pendant Light Pure White Lines
Fireplace Tiles Balineum
Artwork Fergus Polglase
Wall Colour 'French Grey' Edward Bulmer
Rug Soho Home
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The Kitchen
The clients envisioned a kitchen inspired by Mediterranean interiors: clean, warm and understated. A handleless design keeps the space feeling streamlined, while metallic finishes on the tall cabinetry introduce subtle warmth and sophistication.
One of the key design decisions involved the flooring. Initially, the clients were drawn to large-format tiles but a more textured chevron design ultimately proved the perfect choice, adding character while maintaining the room's timeless feel. Natural materials, including Taj Mahal quartzite, ensure the kitchen feels both practical and enduring.
Pendant Light Heathfield
Kitchen Kitchen Architecture
Flooring Mandarin Stone
Roman Blind Fabric Levant Stone Romo
The WC
The cloakroom offered an opportunity to inject personality into the home while remaining true to the overall palette. Rather than relying on bold colour, the design focuses on pattern, texture and craftsmanship.
Handmade scalloped tiles introduce depth and movement, while their naturally oxidised finish catches the light beautifully. A concealed storage cupboard is cleverly hidden beneath wallpaper, allowing practical elements to disappear seamlessly into the design.
Wallpaper 'Leaping Leopards' Schumacher
Tiles Domus
Basin Lusso Stone
Tap Dornbracht Vaia
The Nursery
The nursery was always intended to feel magical. From the earliest design stages, the vision centred around a mural that would soften the room and spark a sense of imagination.
A redundant original doorway positioned in the centre of the wall became a feature rather than an obstacle. Instead of removing it, the team transformed it into a secret door hidden within the mural. Integrated into the illustrated landscape, it invites curiosity and wonder, creating the feeling that it might lead somewhere entirely unexpected.
Wallpaper House of Hackney
Woodwork Colour 'Drab Green' Edward Bulmer
Handles MG&Co
The Playroom
Created specifically for the family's twins, the playroom makes the most of exceptional natural light by centring the joinery and play area around the window. Bespoke storage wraps around the room, while an upholstered window seat creates a cosy spot for reading and quiet moments.
Playfulness was a key consideration throughout the design. Hardware from Matilda Goad introduces character and charm, while Schumacher's Leaping Leopards fabric references the WC elsewhere in the house. The vibrant Ball Green joinery brings energy to the room without feeling overpowering against the garden backdrop beyond.
Handles MG&Co
Cushion Fabric Schumacher
Wall Lights MG&Co
Joinery Colour 'Ball Green' Farrow & Ball
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Photographer's credit: Chris Snook
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