Houzz Tour: An Oxfordshire Townhouse is Reinvigorated With Bold Colour
Vivid colours and vibrant patterns are used with conviction in this listed Georgian townhouse for beautiful results
Lara Sargent
31 January 2020
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
It requires an experienced creative eye and a gutsy approach to design to take a traditional Grade II listed Georgian townhouse and transform it with bold colours and prints. When given the opportunity, that’s exactly what interior designer Caroline Newsome, owner and director of Arq-A Interiors, did to her own home in Henley-on-Thames. ‘Decoratively, the house was quite traditional with a neutral palette,’ she says. ‘I’m a big fan of colour and texture and enjoy mixing styles of furniture to create interesting spaces.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Designer Caroline Newsome, her partner, Alex Boyd, and their two cockapoo dogs, Ginger and Monty
Location Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Property A Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, built around 1820
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Caroline Newsome of Arq-A Interiors
When Caroline Newsome and her partner, Alex, bought this Georgian townhouse, it was structurally sound but a little tired decoratively. The layout and the way the rooms were used didn’t work for the couple, either, so they made some structural changes to suit their lifestyle.
‘A wall was removed on the ground floor to create the open-plan living space,’ says Newsome, ‘and the kitchen was moved to the extension, which was previously a garden room and bathroom.’
Who lives here Designer Caroline Newsome, her partner, Alex Boyd, and their two cockapoo dogs, Ginger and Monty
Location Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Property A Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, built around 1820
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Caroline Newsome of Arq-A Interiors
When Caroline Newsome and her partner, Alex, bought this Georgian townhouse, it was structurally sound but a little tired decoratively. The layout and the way the rooms were used didn’t work for the couple, either, so they made some structural changes to suit their lifestyle.
‘A wall was removed on the ground floor to create the open-plan living space,’ says Newsome, ‘and the kitchen was moved to the extension, which was previously a garden room and bathroom.’
Each room is peppered with one-off finds and personal treasures, creating a series of fascinating and beautiful spaces for the owners to live in and guests to admire.
‘Because the house is Grade II listed, some original features needed to be retained,’ explains Newsome. ‘These included the fireplaces in each room, the panelled doors, skirting boards, window shutters and original stair balustrades. Basically, all the original “material” of the house needed to be preserved.’
The bird statue on the fireplace was picked up in a junk shop in Battersea, while the Art Deco lamp is from an antiques store in Richmond.
Corner sofa, Sofa.com.
‘Because the house is Grade II listed, some original features needed to be retained,’ explains Newsome. ‘These included the fireplaces in each room, the panelled doors, skirting boards, window shutters and original stair balustrades. Basically, all the original “material” of the house needed to be preserved.’
The bird statue on the fireplace was picked up in a junk shop in Battersea, while the Art Deco lamp is from an antiques store in Richmond.
Corner sofa, Sofa.com.
The built-in bookcases were installed during the building work; the yellow paint on the interior also appears in the kitchen, to link the rooms and create a sense of harmony.
Newsome used Dulux Trade paint throughout the interior. The artwork above the fireplace is by David Goodman.
Bookcases painted in yellow 60YY 45/382, Dulux.
Newsome used Dulux Trade paint throughout the interior. The artwork above the fireplace is by David Goodman.
Bookcases painted in yellow 60YY 45/382, Dulux.
New hard flooring was laid throughout: timber on the upper floors and slate on the ground floor and in the basement. There’s a utility room and bathroom in the basement, an open-plan dining room, living room and kitchen on the ground floor, a bedroom and study/living room on the first floor, and an en suite master bedroom on the second floor.
Most of the eclectic, colourful pieces of furniture are a mix of vintage and antique items. They create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere, described by Newsome as ‘individual boutique style’. The chaise was bought from an antiques store in Bermondsey and reupholstered in a bright Manuel Canovas fabric.
Walls painted in grey 30YY 56/060, Dulux. Hand-polished slate floor, Ceramica & Stone.
Most of the eclectic, colourful pieces of furniture are a mix of vintage and antique items. They create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere, described by Newsome as ‘individual boutique style’. The chaise was bought from an antiques store in Bermondsey and reupholstered in a bright Manuel Canovas fabric.
Walls painted in grey 30YY 56/060, Dulux. Hand-polished slate floor, Ceramica & Stone.
‘Most of the furniture came with us from previous homes, but the sofas were re-covered and we bought new accessories to complete the design and bring it together,’ says Newsome.
The vintage reclaimed timber and metal dining table and chairs came from an antiques shop in Brussels. The contemporary chairs in bold tangerine offset the rugged wooden table.
Orange chairs, Kartell.
The vintage reclaimed timber and metal dining table and chairs came from an antiques shop in Brussels. The contemporary chairs in bold tangerine offset the rugged wooden table.
Orange chairs, Kartell.
Flashes of colour, along with Newsome’s knack for using new and old pieces side by side, create warmth and individuality throughout the home.
The modern pink acrylic pendant light contrasts brilliantly with the reclaimed timber table. The blue horse’s head is from an antiques shop in Henley and the screen print is by Sarah Hubacher.
Fl/y pendant light, Kartell. Angel wings, Rockett St George.
The modern pink acrylic pendant light contrasts brilliantly with the reclaimed timber table. The blue horse’s head is from an antiques shop in Henley and the screen print is by Sarah Hubacher.
Fl/y pendant light, Kartell. Angel wings, Rockett St George.
The one-wall layout of the kitchen utilises the extension space effectively. Shaker-style units topped with a granite worktop create a neutral backdrop for the yellow walls, colourful artwork and shiny copper pendant lights.
The door at the end of the kitchen leads to a walk-in larder for storing packaged food and the bins. ‘There are also some baking dishes and wine glasses on the shelves in the dining area, so the kitchen actually spreads out quite a bit,’ explains Newsome.
Kitchen, Howdens Joinery. Granite worktop, Ceramica & Stone.
The door at the end of the kitchen leads to a walk-in larder for storing packaged food and the bins. ‘There are also some baking dishes and wine glasses on the shelves in the dining area, so the kitchen actually spreads out quite a bit,’ explains Newsome.
Kitchen, Howdens Joinery. Granite worktop, Ceramica & Stone.
‘I was really keen to keep the kitchen as relaxed as possible and didn’t want it looking overly “kitchen-y”, hence no wall units and the framed picture,’ says the designer.
The shelves are slimline (around 150mm deep) so as not to hang over the worktop and cast a shadow. The yellow walls and polished slate floor create a visual link with the adjoining ground floor living space.
Artwork, Paris flea market. Copper pendant lights, Habitat.
The shelves are slimline (around 150mm deep) so as not to hang over the worktop and cast a shadow. The yellow walls and polished slate floor create a visual link with the adjoining ground floor living space.
Artwork, Paris flea market. Copper pendant lights, Habitat.
The first floor living room/study is a bold, celebratory space. ‘The red is a traditional Georgian colour to match the architecture, but I also wanted the room to be warm and cosy, and contrast with the view of the hills and trees through the windows,’ says Newsome.
The style of the ground floor continues in here, with a considered mix of antiques, such as the desk, which was picked up in an antiques store in Truro, and contemporary, shop-bought pieces.
Walls painted in Juicy Red, Dulux. Tolomeo Mega floor lamp, Artemide. Armchair, Graham & Green.
The style of the ground floor continues in here, with a considered mix of antiques, such as the desk, which was picked up in an antiques store in Truro, and contemporary, shop-bought pieces.
Walls painted in Juicy Red, Dulux. Tolomeo Mega floor lamp, Artemide. Armchair, Graham & Green.
The designer’s love of colour is balanced with grey tones on the walls and woodwork for an elegant, neutral backdrop throughout the house.
‘The skirting boards, doors, window frames, balustrades and architraves are all the same dark grey colour,’ explains the designer. ‘It’s a very practical colour for scuff marks, and works well with the overall palette of the house.’
Walls painted in Mid Lead Colour, Little Greene. Woodwork painted in grey 30YY 20/029, Dulux. Mirror, Heal’s.
‘The skirting boards, doors, window frames, balustrades and architraves are all the same dark grey colour,’ explains the designer. ‘It’s a very practical colour for scuff marks, and works well with the overall palette of the house.’
Walls painted in Mid Lead Colour, Little Greene. Woodwork painted in grey 30YY 20/029, Dulux. Mirror, Heal’s.
The master bedroom and en suite bathroom are on the top floor of the house and offer amazing views out over the town, framed perfectly by the original sash windows.
Ceramic pendant lights, Rockett St George. Blinds, made from Manuel Canovas fabric.
Ceramic pendant lights, Rockett St George. Blinds, made from Manuel Canovas fabric.
The wall colour is on the bluer side of grey in the bedroom, allowing the black French rattan bed to become the focal point of the scheme.
The boutique-style bedroom is a blend of antique and new pieces, with sumptuous bedding to boost the comfort factor.
Wall painted in 50GG 55/049, Dulux. Bed, Sweetpea & Willow. Bedding, The White Company.
The boutique-style bedroom is a blend of antique and new pieces, with sumptuous bedding to boost the comfort factor.
Wall painted in 50GG 55/049, Dulux. Bed, Sweetpea & Willow. Bedding, The White Company.
The built-in cupboards are painted the same colour as the walls so they meld seamlessly with the rest of the room. The Victorian mahogany, bow-fronted chest of drawers brings a richness to the muted scheme.
Another screen print by Sarah Hubacher hangs comfortably next to an industrial-style, metal table lamp above the drawers.
The inspiration for the bedroom’s colour scheme came from the solid carved and painted timber stools either side of the fireplace, which came from India.
Art above fireplace, David Goodman.
Another screen print by Sarah Hubacher hangs comfortably next to an industrial-style, metal table lamp above the drawers.
The inspiration for the bedroom’s colour scheme came from the solid carved and painted timber stools either side of the fireplace, which came from India.
Art above fireplace, David Goodman.
An elegant grey colour palette runs throughout the room, from the concrete-look porcelain floor tiles and crackle glaze metro wall tiles, to the beautiful floral wallpaper (coated in a matt wallpaper varnish to protect it). The result is sophisticated with a vintage vibe.
The traditional-style shower control in chrome and ceramic is set away from the shower slightly so it can be turned on without the bather being sprayed with cold water.
Shower and bath fittings, Lefroy Brooks. Wallpaper, Ralph Lauren. Floor and wall tiles, Stone & Ceramic Warehouse.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Georgian townhouse? Share you thoughts in the Comments below.
The traditional-style shower control in chrome and ceramic is set away from the shower slightly so it can be turned on without the bather being sprayed with cold water.
Shower and bath fittings, Lefroy Brooks. Wallpaper, Ralph Lauren. Floor and wall tiles, Stone & Ceramic Warehouse.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Georgian townhouse? Share you thoughts in the Comments below.
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I. LOVE. THIS. HOME. !!!!!
Fabulous, wouldn't change a thing...! Well done!