London Houzz Tour: A Warm, Calm Palette Creates a Welcoming Home
Soft reds and soothing greens combine to make a city townhouse feel like a cosy cottage
The busy owners of this London townhouse were keen to create a home where they could unwind. “They wanted a cosy, relaxing place where they could be together and have guests to stay,” says Joy Flanagan, who was brought in to redesign the lower ground-floor living space, guest bedroom and bathroom, plus their daughter’s bedroom. “We wanted to create a flow from room to room and a real sense of place.”
With a simple change of layout, a warm, calm palette and some clever design tricks, the house now feels bright, cosy and comfortable.
With a simple change of layout, a warm, calm palette and some clever design tricks, the house now feels bright, cosy and comfortable.
Cream Silestone worktops above the perimeter units contrast with the oak on the island. “The oak brings a real warmth to the kitchen and adds an interesting layering of materials,” Flanagan says.
There’s also a piece of Silestone in the island, which houses an electric hob. “In the summer, the family turn off the Aga and use the electric hob and the oven below,” she explains.
Flanagan went for a curved edge on the island overhang. “We really wanted to soften the delineation between the rooms,” she says. “So when you move from one space to the other, it feels very soft and relaxed.”
Tiles, Fired Earth. Oak worktop and flooring, Trunk Surfaces. Cream worktop, Silestone. Fabric on blind, Harlequin. Pendant lights, Curiousa & Curiousa.
There’s also a piece of Silestone in the island, which houses an electric hob. “In the summer, the family turn off the Aga and use the electric hob and the oven below,” she explains.
Flanagan went for a curved edge on the island overhang. “We really wanted to soften the delineation between the rooms,” she says. “So when you move from one space to the other, it feels very soft and relaxed.”
Tiles, Fired Earth. Oak worktop and flooring, Trunk Surfaces. Cream worktop, Silestone. Fabric on blind, Harlequin. Pendant lights, Curiousa & Curiousa.
The dining room, which was previously the kitchen, is the perfect size for the family’s table. “The top ties in with the oak theme in the kitchen, but the modern base and transparent chairs add a contemporary feel,” Flanagan says.
“The chairs also reflect the light from the garden, which helps, as the area doesn’t have its own window,” she adds. “The glass pendant shades tie in with the colours we used in the space.”
The walls have been painted in a white with a slight green tone. “It actually appears quite creamy in the space,” says Flanagan, “which complements the cream hues in the fabrics and furnishings we selected.”
Fabric on curtain, Harlequin. Artwork, The Affordable Art Fair. Louis Ghost chairs, Philippe Starck. Walls painted in James White, Farrow & Ball.
“The chairs also reflect the light from the garden, which helps, as the area doesn’t have its own window,” she adds. “The glass pendant shades tie in with the colours we used in the space.”
The walls have been painted in a white with a slight green tone. “It actually appears quite creamy in the space,” says Flanagan, “which complements the cream hues in the fabrics and furnishings we selected.”
Fabric on curtain, Harlequin. Artwork, The Affordable Art Fair. Louis Ghost chairs, Philippe Starck. Walls painted in James White, Farrow & Ball.
The wall nibs between the dining room and seating area were taken right back to open up the space. “We wanted to make a connection with the outside, so we chose soft greens again as a visual link,” Flanagan says.
“We kept the furniture playful and modern, with a good sense of scale in the small room,” she adds. “We had fun with the fabric on the sofa by choosing a pattern for the back.”
Flanagan also played with scale in the room, choosing tall lamps and taking the curtains right up to the ceiling. “It’s not a big footprint, so we emphasised the vertical space,” she says.
Radiator cover, Cool Radiators. Sofa and footstool, Designers Guild.
“We kept the furniture playful and modern, with a good sense of scale in the small room,” she adds. “We had fun with the fabric on the sofa by choosing a pattern for the back.”
Flanagan also played with scale in the room, choosing tall lamps and taking the curtains right up to the ceiling. “It’s not a big footprint, so we emphasised the vertical space,” she says.
Radiator cover, Cool Radiators. Sofa and footstool, Designers Guild.
In the small guest bedroom, Flanagan used some clever tricks to make the most of the space. “The owners already had the twin beds, but I added curved headboards to soften the angular space,” she says.
“We used pattern to unify the small area, and picked a diamond design that works with the angled walls.
“It was important to pick the right scale of pattern,” she adds. “Also, the owners aren’t drawn to florals, so this pattern gives the room a traditional feel while pushing it towards contemporary.
“The space either side of the window isn’t even, so we thought through the layout in order to help the eye accept it’s not symmetrical,” Flanagan explains. “The bedside table is higher to help that balance, and the patterned surfaces draw attention away from the architecture.”
Les Rêves Collection wallpaper and fabric by Nina Campbell, available at Osborne & Little.
“We used pattern to unify the small area, and picked a diamond design that works with the angled walls.
“It was important to pick the right scale of pattern,” she adds. “Also, the owners aren’t drawn to florals, so this pattern gives the room a traditional feel while pushing it towards contemporary.
“The space either side of the window isn’t even, so we thought through the layout in order to help the eye accept it’s not symmetrical,” Flanagan explains. “The bedside table is higher to help that balance, and the patterned surfaces draw attention away from the architecture.”
Les Rêves Collection wallpaper and fabric by Nina Campbell, available at Osborne & Little.
“The guest bathroom is simple and easy to clean and use,” Flanagan says. “Function was paramount.”
Mirrored cabinets provide useful storage, and additional recessed shelves have been given an accent with glass tiles.
As this room was a new addition to the house, the team could fit opaque glass into the window. “It adds a soft light without creating privacy problems,” Flanagan says. “The timber frame is sealed and painted to protect it from water damage.”
All tiles, European Heritage.
Mirrored cabinets provide useful storage, and additional recessed shelves have been given an accent with glass tiles.
As this room was a new addition to the house, the team could fit opaque glass into the window. “It adds a soft light without creating privacy problems,” Flanagan says. “The timber frame is sealed and painted to protect it from water damage.”
All tiles, European Heritage.
The couple’s daughter was keen to have a cosy space that reminded her of the ocean. “I had a fun time doing this room,” says Flanagan. “We took out a wardrobe to create a nook for the bed. She’s an avid reader, so this is a space for her to read, study and feel cosy and tucked in.”
The headboard fits in the corner and has LED lighting behind it, which changes colour. To the side of the headboard, the team designed a hidden bookshelf, with shallow shelving for teddies, toys and her alarm clock.
“The armchair was given to her by her grandmother, so we had it re-covered for her,” Flanagan says.
Lights, Original BTC. 04910/04 Salina Epices fabric on blind and small cushions, Colefax and Fowler. 04945/02 Rhodes Caraibes fabric with red and orange fish, Manuel Canovas at Colefax and Fowler. Brighton Stripe fabric on armchair in Aqua, Thibaut.
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The headboard fits in the corner and has LED lighting behind it, which changes colour. To the side of the headboard, the team designed a hidden bookshelf, with shallow shelving for teddies, toys and her alarm clock.
“The armchair was given to her by her grandmother, so we had it re-covered for her,” Flanagan says.
Lights, Original BTC. 04910/04 Salina Epices fabric on blind and small cushions, Colefax and Fowler. 04945/02 Rhodes Caraibes fabric with red and orange fish, Manuel Canovas at Colefax and Fowler. Brighton Stripe fabric on armchair in Aqua, Thibaut.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
Who lives here? A couple with their daughter
Location West London
Property A Georgian townhouse
Size Three bedrooms and four bathrooms
Designer Joy Flanagan of Joy Flanagan Design
Photos by Mark Williams
The kitchen in this west London townhouse is located where the dining room used to be. “We changed the two rooms around to have a larger kitchen and to provide space for an island,” Flanagan says. “It’s now a more expansive place to sit, chat and cook.”
The starting point for the layout was the Aga (stove), which was placed in the chimney breast. Flanagan designed a shelf above and shallow cabinets either side for oils and spices.
The green tiles behind the oven reflect the red and green colour scheme in the rest of the space. “And the colour responds well to the light in the room,” Flanagan says.
The owners chose to have shelves rather than wall units, as they liked the idea of being able to display items and wanted the kitchen to feel light and open.
Kitchen units, Magnet.