Have you ever seen a home like this? I know I haven’t! From the glass floors, parquet-clad stud walls, Art Deco bedrooms, industrial elements, Mid-century furniture, yellow and petrol blue kitchen cabinets, and a fireplace that wouldn’t look out of place in the 60s sci-fi cartoon classic The Jetsons. (No one could ever say this decor was boring, that’s for sure!) It’s a complete mishmash of cool, and I love it.
But what I also admire is that, despite the different cocktail of design elements, homeowner Lucy Kemp (@victoria_road_restoration) has created a family home that flows seamlessly from room to room, showing off her and her husband Dan’s personalities to a T.
The mater suite is Lucy and Dan’s sanctuary inspired by hotels and stays away
Lucy tells me that when they finally got the keys to the property, it was in a dire state of affairs. The Victorian home had to be stripped back to its bare bricks, and they certainly found a few problems along the way – including the structurally unsound, too small foundations holding up the rear of the property. At one point, only the outer shell was standing.
The ensuite flows seamlessly with the bedroom
However, the most reconfiguration happened on the third storey, which has become Lucy and Dan’s boutique-style open-plan master suite. Which is super dreamy. Originally the space was compiled of two bedrooms, a landing and a kitchenette. They decided to take the walls down and then put up the parquet-clad stud wall our bed sits against.
The ensuite has been designer for two, and includes a luxurious double shower
I ask where the inspiration for the incredible decor came from, to which Lucy explains it was a combination of nice holidays and hotels they stayed in over the years. They knew they wanted a big bedroom with plenty of storage and a bathroom that would act as a sanctuary. I mean, who can blame them?
The parquet-clad wall is a real statement
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Dan and Lucy can access the ensuite – which has been designed so they can use it together, with the double basins and a twin shower – from either side of the bed. The colour scheme, a striking combination of teal and pink, was also a joint effort. Some fine teamwork there!
The family bathroom features Lucy and Dan’s favourite colours – blue and yellow
As for the kitchen, daring to go big was their motto – and with a 10 x 6.5m rear extension, it seems like they stuck by it! She explains they wanted it to be a contemporary space, perfect for entertaining. Also on the list of must-haves was a large island, a concrete worktop, and steel-framed glazing. (She explains that as they are interiors obsessed, this wishlist was non-negotiable.)
The teals and pinks have been picked up in the spare bedroom
The kitchen was created by a local joiner, with caracasses bought from off the shelf but with bespoke colourful plywood fronts. She chose yellow, as it’s her favourite colour, and Dan wanted petrol blue, which is his, and they drew out where they wanted each shade. (More fantastic teamwork).
Lucy wanted the space to be big – and with a 10m extension, she certainly stuck to her brief
Despite the large cooking zone, the kitchen also has enough space for a snug with an L-shaped sofa and
a 12-seater table – made from the old roof beams – directly below a lightwell. Incredibly, the island was covered with a concrete worktop so heavy it took 16 men to install, which is complemented by the concrete-effect large-format floor tiles that help connect the three zones.
Lucy describes herself as ‘interiors obsessed’ – I think this is clear in how she’s designer her kitchen
With the renovation complete, apart from small bits and bobs, a strong theme is visible throughout Lucy’s home. I love how everything connects, from the yellowd and blues from the family bathroom floor, picked up in the kitchen cabinets, and the pink and teal of the master suite also used in guest bedrooms.
The three distinct zones are brought together by the concrete-effect flooring
But what is fantastic is that Lucy says it was all a happy accident – but that she basically discovered she really likes the colour yellow. I have a feeling it’s up there on my favourite list now as well. It just shows, being bold really can pay off…
Photography: Chris Snook
Featured image: Lucy Kemp wanted a bold, colourful and spacious kitchen