A renovated and expanded Victorian house in London with a “To Die For” kitchen
Discover this renovated and expanded Victorian house in London with its 7-meter-high extension, dream kitchen, and Italian-style garden
From the outside, nothing gives away what lies behind the brick facade of this renovated and expanded Victorian house. Although the deep black window and door frames, which stand out against the stone, suggest that the renovation has modernized it. The house blends in with the row of classic townhouses on the street. It doesn’t catch our eye… And yet, as soon as you step through the door…
The owners undertook a complete renovation here, including a rear extension and an attic conversion. The total living area of the house now spans 181sqm, including its 40sqm basement. Although the garden is only 61sqm, it seems much larger thanks to its landscaping. What immediately catches your eye when you enter the house is the kitchen.
With a seven-meter-high ceiling, Crittall-style glass panels along the entire rear facade, and a skylight that lets light in through the roof, it’s an incredible space. It brings to mind a greenhouse or an old chapel. This room measures approximately 25sqm and opens directly onto the garden through large windows with black metal frames.
The architect played with verticality to create a cathedral-like effect. You get a real sense of space and volume, something rare in an ordinary London townhouse.
The kitchen occupies the lower part of the space. A central island made of marble veined with gray and brown serves as the centerpiece. The material is a solid slab visible on all four sides. This choice contrasts sharply with the cabinet fronts, which feature a dark, almost black finish and brass knobs.
Above the island, several chandeliers are suspended. They evoke those of Second Empire balls, dusted off and reinterpreted in a contemporary style. Bouquets of dried flowers also hang from the ceiling.
A two-meter-tall tropical plant sits in the corner, an antique walnut chest of drawers runs along the opposite wall, and a brass basin takes pride of place on the countertop. There is a true diversity of objects, which lends real personality to this space.
The herringbone parquet floor runs throughout the house. It’s a cohesive choice that ties together the Victorian reception area at the front and the contemporary kitchen at the back.
The reception room at the front of the ground floor retains all its Victorian features. The intricately profiled cornices, wall panels, and high baseboards have been carefully preserved. Paint is chosen in soft cream tones. A large sofa with dark floral velvet cushions, an antique pink armchair, and a red Persian rug adorn this living room. All of this coexists with works of art in various sizes.
This room truly captures the spirit of the house. It possesses a unique and eclectic soul, created by a blend of antiques and contemporary pieces. It’s a very English way of decorating homes. Every object seems to have a story, and above all, every object has been carefully selected.
On the first floor, the master bedroom is a unique and splendid space. The ceiling has been covered with botanical-patterned wallpaper in shades of khaki green and gray. The walls are painted a matte sage green. Its carved, white-lacquered Baroque bed is undoubtedly the focal point of this, it must be said, sumptuous room.
The rug on the floor features Asian motifs. Khaki velvet curtains hang from floor to ceiling. It almost looks like a bedroom in one of those palaces in Central Europe, in Budapest or Vienna. Certainly not what one would expect to find behind the modest facade of a London townhouse. The custom-built walk-in closet, in deep English green with brass knobs, is perfectly in keeping with the room’s decor.
The adjoining bathroom is covered in dark, almost black floral wallpaper featuring pink and white roses. A freestanding bathtub with white carved legs takes center stage. The faucets are brass. With a console table on white columns and a solid brown wooden mirror, the decor is splendid right down to the bathroom fixtures.
The staircase is painted entirely black, including the steps and railing. Against the white walls, the contrast is striking and very modern. A spherical lampshade made of almond-green blown glass hangs down into the stairwell. The attention to detail found throughout the house is evident here as well, no space has been overlooked.
The blurring of the boundary between indoors and outdoors is one of the extension’s greatest successes. The 61sqm garden is laid out in terraces. A black-and-white mosaic floor borders the house. Stairs made of exposed concrete lead up to a landscaped level. A wooden pergola awaits its climbing roses and wisteria. Low hedges define the space. Mature trees filter the light and provide privacy.
Clapton, in the borough of Hackney, is one of those London neighborhoods that has undergone rapid gentrification yet retained its character. Victorian brick houses stand alongside converted studios and community gardens. Hackney is a neighborhood that blends the upscale with the working-class. It’s particularly popular with creatives looking for space without straying too far from central London.
What the owners have done in this home could inspire us when renovating any townhouse, even a row house, in other countries. The facade, which has retained its classic style, and the extension into the garden that increases the living space, are two essential features. The house, which appears discreet from the outside, becomes a completely different place on the inside, spacious, luxurious, and unique.
This renovated and expanded Victorian house is for sale at Aucoot for £2,600,000
An extension that changes everything
The owners undertook a complete renovation here, including a rear extension and an attic conversion. The total living area of the house now spans 181sqm, including its 40sqm basement. Although the garden is only 61sqm, it seems much larger thanks to its landscaping. What immediately catches your eye when you enter the house is the kitchen.
With a seven-meter-high ceiling, Crittall-style glass panels along the entire rear facade, and a skylight that lets light in through the roof, it’s an incredible space. It brings to mind a greenhouse or an old chapel. This room measures approximately 25sqm and opens directly onto the garden through large windows with black metal frames.
The architect played with verticality to create a cathedral-like effect. You get a real sense of space and volume, something rare in an ordinary London townhouse.
The kitchen and its marble island
The kitchen occupies the lower part of the space. A central island made of marble veined with gray and brown serves as the centerpiece. The material is a solid slab visible on all four sides. This choice contrasts sharply with the cabinet fronts, which feature a dark, almost black finish and brass knobs.
Above the island, several chandeliers are suspended. They evoke those of Second Empire balls, dusted off and reinterpreted in a contemporary style. Bouquets of dried flowers also hang from the ceiling.
A two-meter-tall tropical plant sits in the corner, an antique walnut chest of drawers runs along the opposite wall, and a brass basin takes pride of place on the countertop. There is a true diversity of objects, which lends real personality to this space.
The herringbone parquet floor runs throughout the house. It’s a cohesive choice that ties together the Victorian reception area at the front and the contemporary kitchen at the back.
Living room and its moldings
The reception room at the front of the ground floor retains all its Victorian features. The intricately profiled cornices, wall panels, and high baseboards have been carefully preserved. Paint is chosen in soft cream tones. A large sofa with dark floral velvet cushions, an antique pink armchair, and a red Persian rug adorn this living room. All of this coexists with works of art in various sizes.
This room truly captures the spirit of the house. It possesses a unique and eclectic soul, created by a blend of antiques and contemporary pieces. It’s a very English way of decorating homes. Every object seems to have a story, and above all, every object has been carefully selected.
The master bedroom
On the first floor, the master bedroom is a unique and splendid space. The ceiling has been covered with botanical-patterned wallpaper in shades of khaki green and gray. The walls are painted a matte sage green. Its carved, white-lacquered Baroque bed is undoubtedly the focal point of this, it must be said, sumptuous room.
The rug on the floor features Asian motifs. Khaki velvet curtains hang from floor to ceiling. It almost looks like a bedroom in one of those palaces in Central Europe, in Budapest or Vienna. Certainly not what one would expect to find behind the modest facade of a London townhouse. The custom-built walk-in closet, in deep English green with brass knobs, is perfectly in keeping with the room’s decor.
The adjoining bathroom is covered in dark, almost black floral wallpaper featuring pink and white roses. A freestanding bathtub with white carved legs takes center stage. The faucets are brass. With a console table on white columns and a solid brown wooden mirror, the decor is splendid right down to the bathroom fixtures.
The black staircase
The staircase is painted entirely black, including the steps and railing. Against the white walls, the contrast is striking and very modern. A spherical lampshade made of almond-green blown glass hangs down into the stairwell. The attention to detail found throughout the house is evident here as well, no space has been overlooked.
An optimized city garden
The blurring of the boundary between indoors and outdoors is one of the extension’s greatest successes. The 61sqm garden is laid out in terraces. A black-and-white mosaic floor borders the house. Stairs made of exposed concrete lead up to a landscaped level. A wooden pergola awaits its climbing roses and wisteria. Low hedges define the space. Mature trees filter the light and provide privacy.
An old London neighborhood that has been gentrified
Clapton, in the borough of Hackney, is one of those London neighborhoods that has undergone rapid gentrification yet retained its character. Victorian brick houses stand alongside converted studios and community gardens. Hackney is a neighborhood that blends the upscale with the working-class. It’s particularly popular with creatives looking for space without straying too far from central London.
What this renovated Victorian home inspires in us
What the owners have done in this home could inspire us when renovating any townhouse, even a row house, in other countries. The facade, which has retained its classic style, and the extension into the garden that increases the living space, are two essential features. The house, which appears discreet from the outside, becomes a completely different place on the inside, spacious, luxurious, and unique.
This renovated and expanded Victorian house is for sale at Aucoot for £2,600,000
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