Inspiration for a home renovation can come from many places, but it was the flooring that set the tone for the complete modernisation of this property…

Having lived in this wonderful Edwardian house with her husband, two children, and their adorable Havanese, Maggie, for almost five years, interior designer Fiona Duke loved its quaint aesthetic. Still, she always knew it would need a major overhaul somewhere down the line.

“On first viewing, we fell in love with the proportions and period feel of the home,” she says, “but it hadn’t been cared for over many years.”

So once the family were able to undertake the renovation, and with Fiona herself at the helm, nothing would stop them – not even the world still recovering from a forget-life-as-we-know-it pandemic.

“Starting the project only a few months after lockdown had ended was quite challenging,” says Fiona. “Lead times and access to some materials were still very problematic, and we had to work several months ahead of planned phases in order to ensure that all elements needed for the design were there in time.”

The renovation of the Edwardian house

The project itself involved a complete reconfiguration and extension of the ground floor and second floor layout to create a new kitchen-living-dining space and more bedrooms and dressing rooms. Interestingly, the flooring in the entrance hallway is what set the tone for the entire renovation of the Edwardian house.

“I really wanted something special in the hallway, and I had my heart set on reclaimed tiles. These were purchased a good year or so before I even started on the building work, but their design, pattern and colours really were the starting point for the whole house,” explains Fiona. “As soon as I had these, I was able to work on how all the other areas would flow from this main entrance hall. It then becomes a bit like a jigsaw, as you put all the other pieces together.”

The new kitchen

The original kitchen was so small there was no room for a dining table. So, it was transformed into a new utility room and bootroom, while the new, open-plan kitchen is an extension of one of the former reception rooms.

The space now adjoins a living-dining area, its centrepiece being an impressive bespoke corner banquette, framed by white Crittall windows. As for the kitchen layout, Fiona made it her mission to make it look good from every angle.

A long run of wooden cabinetry with visible finger joints makes up the main preparation and cooking zone, boasting a Gaggenau hob, with the controls placed within the furniture.

An island sits opposite, and includes a large sink area and plenty of storage. Finally, a busy terrazzo floor – which ties the colour palette all together – is complemented by a more simple marble quartzite worktop.

The master suite

When it came to renovating the family bathroom, fitting a bath and a shower into such a small area proved no easy feat, with the layout having to be worked to great detail to create a sense of space. The slim metro wall tiles are minimalist and beautifully understated, while the basin vanity unit offers ample room for storage.

To add depth and a touch of drama, Fiona went for statement green-and-cream checkerboard flooring. The master ensuite is just as chic, softly blending green wall metro tiles with terrazzo.

The outcome of the refurbishment speaks volumes – a sophisticated mix of contemporary and vintage design elements that make for an inviting, effortlessly elegant house.

Fiona wouldn’t change the challenging parts, either. “Anyone who has undertaken a large renovation project knows it can get quite tough at times, emotionally and financially. But every time we walk into the house, we are absolutely delighted by how it looks.”

Photography: Anna Stathaki

This house tour was featured in the July 2024 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

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