London Houzz Tour: Natural Finishes Add Texture to a Minimal Home
A Victorian home is restored and given a light, airy feel with beautiful touches of wood and natural materials
Celine Erlam of Indie & Co was involved in the transformation of this Victorian property from day one. “The clients are close friends of mine, and I’d helped them with the living room in their previous home,” she says. “When they bought this Victorian house, it needed a complete renovation – you couldn’t live in it as it was.”
Celine worked closely with architects and builders to gain Planning Permission for a loft conversion, update the wiring and plumbing, and turn the rundown old property into a place her friends could call home.
Celine worked closely with architects and builders to gain Planning Permission for a loft conversion, update the wiring and plumbing, and turn the rundown old property into a place her friends could call home.
The table seats eight people and has been teamed with five wooden dining chairs with leather seats. “The couple were happy to go with the leather, despite having a one-year-old, as it will mark over time and become quite beautiful,” Celine says.
She also designed a bench seat with storage below. “You can pull the drawer from either side of the bench, or open up the top like a chest,” she explains. “It’s where the owners keep their daughter’s toys.”
The couple already had the pendant light, and its banana-fibre shade and copper-coloured flex add another layer of texture to the minimal scheme.
Elm dining table and dining chairs, Viaduct. Pendant light, Pinch.
She also designed a bench seat with storage below. “You can pull the drawer from either side of the bench, or open up the top like a chest,” she explains. “It’s where the owners keep their daughter’s toys.”
The couple already had the pendant light, and its banana-fibre shade and copper-coloured flex add another layer of texture to the minimal scheme.
Elm dining table and dining chairs, Viaduct. Pendant light, Pinch.
In the kitchen, a central island sits in front of a wall of practical units. The worktops are marble, which the couple and designer discussed at length before choosing. “We went through the pros and cons of maintaining marble,” Celine says, “and they decided they’d go with it.
“They’re big foodies,” she adds, “so they sourced all the appliances themselves.”
Above and below the integrated ovens are cupboards, and there was enough storage in the room to allow them to opt for a simple shelf above the base units.
Kitchen units, John Lewis.
“They’re big foodies,” she adds, “so they sourced all the appliances themselves.”
Above and below the integrated ovens are cupboards, and there was enough storage in the room to allow them to opt for a simple shelf above the base units.
Kitchen units, John Lewis.
Celine commissioned her joiner to introduce some beautiful elm features into the room. The wine racks are practical enough to hold plenty of bottles, and there’s a space in the middle for pouring drinks.
The fridge and freezer have been fitted with bespoke doors, complete with clever vents and attractive wooden bar handles.
To the right of the wine rack is a full-length larder cupboard. Celine added the line across the centre to chime with the other horizontal lines in the space.
The fridge and freezer have been fitted with bespoke doors, complete with clever vents and attractive wooden bar handles.
To the right of the wine rack is a full-length larder cupboard. Celine added the line across the centre to chime with the other horizontal lines in the space.
To the side of the L-shaped kitchen-diner is a casual lounge area. “This is where the family hang out and watch TV,” Celine says. The television is integrated into the wall for a streamlined finish.
Black-framed sliding doors lead out to the garden and can be covered with a sheer curtain in the evening. “The track is concealed, so it seems as if the curtains are floating,” Celine says. “They go right up to the ceiling to give a sense of height, and the fabric helps to soften the space.”
Black-framed sliding doors lead out to the garden and can be covered with a sheer curtain in the evening. “The track is concealed, so it seems as if the curtains are floating,” Celine says. “They go right up to the ceiling to give a sense of height, and the fabric helps to soften the space.”
The family’s small cloakroom was the ideal place to be a little more adventurous with their colour scheme.
“We went for a bold wallpaper, copper taps and accessories, a walnut-framed mirror and fun, bird-like wall lights,” Celine says.
Lucellino wall lights by Ingo Maurer, available at Twentytwentyone.
“We went for a bold wallpaper, copper taps and accessories, a walnut-framed mirror and fun, bird-like wall lights,” Celine says.
Lucellino wall lights by Ingo Maurer, available at Twentytwentyone.
In the front living room, Celine focused on reinstating period details. “We restored the cornicing and kept the original flooring,” she says. “We sanded the boards down and applied a soap treatment to make the yellow pine look lighter.”
The team also decided to block up the doorway that led into the hallway, so they could make more use of the space. “With the large opening from the middle room, there was no need to have an extra doorway from the hall,” Celine says.
Walls painted in Flint, Little Greene.
The team also decided to block up the doorway that led into the hallway, so they could make more use of the space. “With the large opening from the middle room, there was no need to have an extra doorway from the hall,” Celine says.
Walls painted in Flint, Little Greene.
The front room was previously dark and dreary.
A simple fireplace with a wood-burning stove has been lined with Moroccan tiles. The team kept the wall fairly simple, as this is where the couple watch films. A projector drops down from the ceiling and casts images onto the plain surface above the mantel (the wreath is removed first, of course).
“We chose not to opt for ceiling lights in most of the house and went for soothing wall lights instead,” Celine says. “In here, especially, it would have got in the way of the projector.”
Tiles, Habibi.
“We chose not to opt for ceiling lights in most of the house and went for soothing wall lights instead,” Celine says. “In here, especially, it would have got in the way of the projector.”
Tiles, Habibi.
The adjacent room is used as an office, so this freestanding, dark wood cupboard works well as overflow storage for files.
The shelving unit in the office was built by Celine’s joiner, with elm that had been white-oiled slightly. “The shelves are used for display,” she says, “while the MDF cupboards below house the printer and stationery.”
The shelving unit in the office was built by Celine’s joiner, with elm that had been white-oiled slightly. “The shelves are used for display,” she says, “while the MDF cupboards below house the printer and stationery.”
A vintage desk adds another layer of warm wood to the neutral space, and a modern office chair is both practical and attractive.
The door to the hallway is large, so sliding pocket fire doors were fitted, rather than hinged ones.
Vintage desk, Vinterior. Modern office chair, Hay.
The door to the hallway is large, so sliding pocket fire doors were fitted, rather than hinged ones.
Vintage desk, Vinterior. Modern office chair, Hay.
The hallway is simply decorated, with a glass pendant, black spindles and white stair treads. “To save some money, the client installed the panelling himself,” Celine says. “It runs all the way up to the top floor.”
Opposite the cloakroom, the designers opened up the space under the stairs to provide coat storage.
Opposite the cloakroom, the designers opened up the space under the stairs to provide coat storage.
The before photo shows where a door led into the living room. This was filled in and a wider opening now goes into the middle room.
A bespoke headboard provides a soft surface in the master bedroom, while two recessed shelves either side are ideal for bedtime essentials. There are also switches in these recesses for the wall lights beside the bed and on the other side of the room.
Wool fabric on headboard, Kirkby Design.
Wool fabric on headboard, Kirkby Design.
The chest of drawers is a family heirloom, and the curtains have been custom-made from linen. The curtain rail has a hammered beeswax finish.
Chairs, Vinterior. Wall art and throw, Bohemia Design. Basket, Dassie Artisan.
Chairs, Vinterior. Wall art and throw, Bohemia Design. Basket, Dassie Artisan.
The couple were keen to have their own bathroom that could only be accessed from their bedroom. Celine accommodated this with a clever wardrobe design. The wall of closets opens up to access storage for clothes and accessories – but one of the doors reveals the bathroom behind.
In the en suite, Celine installed a freestanding bath and a walk-in shower. She applied a frosted film to the window for privacy.
The brushed chrome fittings go with the simple palette of black and white, while the copper hanging planter, milk stool and vintage sideboard opposite bring in warmth.
Bath, Lusso Stone.
The brushed chrome fittings go with the simple palette of black and white, while the copper hanging planter, milk stool and vintage sideboard opposite bring in warmth.
Bath, Lusso Stone.
Celine’s team created a double vanity unit from a vintage sideboard. “We asked a stone professional to cut out holes in a marble top,” she says. “We also had to make space for pipework inside.”
Two countertop basins sit on the marble surface, and the taps are mounted on the wall.
Each of the large porcelain floor tiles is a slightly different shade, which gives the floor an interesting texture.
Mews floor tiles, Domus. Rug, Holly’s House. Pendants, The Conran Shop. Basins, Lusso Stone.
Two countertop basins sit on the marble surface, and the taps are mounted on the wall.
Each of the large porcelain floor tiles is a slightly different shade, which gives the floor an interesting texture.
Mews floor tiles, Domus. Rug, Holly’s House. Pendants, The Conran Shop. Basins, Lusso Stone.
The client was very involved in decorating the nursery and chose most of the pieces in here. She wanted to add colour while maintaining a light, bright feel, so Celine suggested a two-tone paint effect.
A built-in wardrobe has been fitted with brass handles. “We used brass for most of the door handles and window fittings throughout the house,” Celine says.
A built-in wardrobe has been fitted with brass handles. “We used brass for most of the door handles and window fittings throughout the house,” Celine says.
The scheme is a combination of dusty blue and pink. “They kept it quite simple, as it gets colourful once toys start appearing,” Celine says.
The client didn’t want to buy a changing table that wouldn’t be needed later, so they turned this vintage chest into a changing station instead.
The family bathroom is located right next to the nursery and was in bad condition before the renovation.
Celine chose a monochrome colour palette with a hint of mint. An African basket beneath the basin is a key piece in this room, as it helps to give the minimal scheme more depth.
The basin is off-centre, providing a space at the side for beakers and soap.
Celine used slim matt metro tiles around the shower area, which give an architectural look that resembles a brick wall.
Glo wall light, Flos. Shower curtain, Ferm Living. Basin, Duravit.
TELL US
What do you like about this light, airy home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
The basin is off-centre, providing a space at the side for beakers and soap.
Celine used slim matt metro tiles around the shower area, which give an architectural look that resembles a brick wall.
Glo wall light, Flos. Shower curtain, Ferm Living. Basin, Duravit.
TELL US
What do you like about this light, airy home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A couple with their one-year-old baby
Location Brixton, south London
Property A semi-detached Victorian house
Size Four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Celine Erlam of Indie & Co
Photos by Anna Stathaki
Celine’s clients love a pared-back, minimal aesthetic, so they went for streamlined, flat-fronted units, a pale colour scheme and a sleek, polished-concrete floor in their open-plan kitchen and living space. To warm up the cool tones, Celine introduced natural accents in wood, jute and leather.
“The dining table was the inspiration for all the joinery in the home,” she says. “It’s made from elm and was the first thing we chose for the house.”