Look Around This Nature-Inspired Townhouse
The Property
The house is a semi-detached Edwardian home in Dulwich with a long garden in the back and a tree-lined street in the front. It’s an Australian family’s home that spans four levels, featuring five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a powder room in the main house. Additionally, a studio space at the back serves as a gym, spare room and studio, with a sofa bed and bathroom. The project involved extensive structural work, including reconfiguring the layout across all floors as the home had gone through an unsympathetic renovation in the early 2000s.
The Brief
The design brief involved a full house refurbishment, reconfiguring a dated home with small, disconnected rooms. The goal was to create a practical yet special family home with an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, enhanced indoor-outdoor flow, large glazing and ample storage. The client also wanted a garden room, boot room and a master suite to make the most of the views.
The client, being Australian, wanted to incorporate warmth and texture, which we achieved by focusing on materiality and blending traditional European details with contemporary design. We reinstated classic elements like cornicing, skirtings, and fireplaces to honour the home’s European character, while adding contemporary touches in the joinery and extension. Exposed joists, roof lights, and textured lighting layers, including Lutron lighting and art lighting, added depth and warmth to prevent the new space from feeling sterile.
The furnishings, lighting and rugs were curated through a process of elimination, aligning with the client’s modern, light and fresh aesthetic. A mix of new, vintage and second-hand pieces were used to create a lived-in, comfortable home, balancing practicality with beauty.
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Hallway
We opted for limestone tiles in dark grey and natural beige, as opposed to the typical black and white which can feel quite stark. Seeing as the entrance is raised, the drop-down level and change from checkerboard tiles to floorboards signifies the transition from private to communal living spaces.
Artwork: ‘Untitled 03' oil on canvas by Richard Zinon
Runner: Capitol Carpets
Console Table: Reeded Console Table, Robin Myerscough
Table Lamp: MENU Reverse table lamp, Audo Copenhagen
Mirrors: Pair of antique carved wooden mirrors, Forsberg & Soane
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Open Kitchen, Living & Dining Space
A key part of this project involved lowering the rear half of the ground floor to better connect the house to the garden, paving the way for a ground-floor extension where we created a large kitchen-dining-living space. To enhance the sense of openness in this new addition, we lowered the floor to further enhancing the already generous floor-to-ceiling height.
Full-width, full-height sliding doors seamlessly connect the space to the garden, with minimal framing for an uninterrupted view. We detailed the bronze-toned frame to match internal elements, harmonising with the interior design and garden tones. The space is flexible, serving as both a family and entertaining area.
An Indigenous Australian artwork by Raylene Walatinna and Daisy Barney artwork titled ‘Ngura’ (Country) in the dining space served as the inspiration for this space. Earthy Australian hues like deep reds and browns from the painting can be seen in the Hay Rey chair, Pinch Mead dining table, Objekto Paulistano chair, bespoke sideboard designed by Stuart Indge, vintage handmade ceramic red bowl (on table) and Christopher Farr rug.
The kitchen is in prime position, close to both the dining space and informal living room. Neutral joinery with a green undertone subtly links it to the greenery outdoors, and Calacatta Oro stone makes its mark on the island, waterfall edge and backsplash.
The Living Area
Sofa: Arbour Eco Sofa, Hay
Side Table: Tung side table, &Tradition
Coffee table: Travertine table, Gubi
The Kitchen
Stool: Betty Stool, &Tradition
Table Lamp: Wobble Table Lamp, The New Craftmaker
The Dining Area
Chair: Rey chair, Hay
Dining table: Mead dining table, Pinch
Chair: Paulistano chair, Objekto
Living Room
The client wanted a space that could cater as a formal lounge, but where they could also watch TV comfortably as a family. The room is anchored by the central fireplace, which we celebrated with a framed etching by one of the founding figures of the British Pop Art movement, Joe Tilson RA.
We custom-designed the plush sofa and reupholstered it in Rose Uniacke’s Gingerbread velvet to create a warm and cosy space. Bespoke joinery displays the family’s books and trinkets which they’ve collected over the years.
Sofa: Custom sofa designed by De Rosee Sa, upholstered in Rose Uniacke Cotton Velvet fabric (Gingerbread)
Table: 101 Copenhagen Bow Console Table
Chairs: &Tradition Margas chairs, upholstered in Dedar Karakorum
Ottoman: Custom ottoman designed by De Rosee Sa, upholstered in GP&J Baker House Linen
Mirror: Vintage 1950s Gio Ponti style shield wall mirror
Chandelier: Lostine Five Arm Lola chandelier
Artwork: ‘Earth Earth Earth’ artwork, Joe Tilson
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Main Bedroom Suite
The goal was to create a little bit of luxury within this master suite that celebrated the ritual of getting ready. The open design connects the dressing room to the bathroom, softening the transition and making it feel like one cohesive and inviting space. Calm, earthen tones are carried from the bedroom through into the wardrobe and bathroom, with a bold, brown-toned Viola marble in the en-suite creating a statement against the walnut joinery with silk wallpaper inlay and bronze fixtures.
Headboard: designed by De Rosee Sa, manufactured by Headboards & Ottomans, upholstered in Dedar Adamo + Eva (Argile 135)
Bedside Tables: Fluted bedside tables, Galvin Brothers
Table lamps: Vintage
Rug: Vintage
Dressing table chair: Skirted Seven Chair in Camel, Trove
Children's Room
The bedroom is for a young girl, so it was important that the design could grow with her. She was loosely involved in the process and loves to put on puppet shows for her family. We custom-designed a tasselled canopy as a mini show curtain and kept the palette feminine through a heavy use of pink – yet adaptable with age via ‘grown-up’ accents of mustard and classic striped curtains. She also loves to draw, so a desk overlooking the bay window and greenery accommodates for this, while also accounting for the transition to homework when she's older. We wanted to steer clear of harsh lines. Instead, the the scalloped canopy bulkhead, custom-designed bobble bedside table and lamp lend the room softness. A trundle bed with pop-up legs beneath makes for easy sleepovers, while a bookshelf is perfect for displaying trinkets and books.
Chest of Drawers: Iris Oak Drawers, Rowen & Wren
Table Lamps: Murphy lamp, Pooky, Raffia Scallop lampshades, Matilda Goad
Desk: Perch & Parrow Menorca One Drawer Desk, Perch & Parrow
Bedside Table: Bobbin Bedside Table, Clockhouse Furniture
Chair: Chrome & Cane Dining Chair in Dark Oak, Six The Residence
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