Despite being in the process of extending another property, when Sarah Jane and James Kelly spotted their dream house for sale, they jumped at the chance to make it their own.

Sarah Jane and James Kelly were in the process of extending their house in south London, when their dream property hit the market. “It had a large, mature garden, which was something we’d always wanted, and it was nearby, in an ideal location,” Sarah Jane tells KBB journo Jennifer Grimble.

The semi-detached Victorian was well-loved but dated, and other than a loft conversion, little had been done by the previous owners. “It needed work, but we immediately saw its potential to become the perfect family home.”

The brief

The couple sold their existing place, with planning permission secured, and moved into their new purchase. “We were working with Delve Architects previously, and knew we wanted to do so again,” Sarah Jane says. “We gave them a thorough brief, requesting more space, a better internal flow, and to retain and enhance as many of the home’s original features as possible.”

The couple asked for a kitchen and dining space that was large enough for them and their two children, as well as for hosting. “We really wanted to be able to open the kitchen up to a garden patio and create an indoor-outdoor flow that we could enjoy during summer.”

The kitchen-diner

To achieve this, Delve designed a ground-floor extension that stretches the full width of the house’s rear. Doubling the original footprint of the ground floor, the space is home to a generous kitchen-come-diner, connected to the garden thanks to four arched brick openings, finished with steel-framed French doors.

Specifically in the kitchen-diner, the couple opted for a traditional-style Shaker kitchen by Boffe Design. Finished in two shades of eco-friendly wood paint, the cabinets are complemented by Carrara worktops and a dual Belfast sink.

Striking pendant and sconce lights provide illumination for different activities, while the tumbled marble floor tiles, laid in a checkerboard pattern, create a traditional yet imposing finish.

A tall pantry enables the couple to hide away unsightly appliances, and the large island features built-in shelves for their extensive collection of cookery books. A hidden guest toilet sits behind the kitchen, too. “It’s tucked away to one side of the hallway for privacy,” Sarah Jane says. “We used a flush door and planted on dado and skirting profiles, so it reads like part of the wall. There’s a utility and plant room, too, also hidden from sight.”

The dining area and formal lounge

The dining area is defined by a bespoke built-in storage unit that’s perfect for hiding away everyday essentials. From this space, marble steps and French doors open into what was once two rooms.

Now a spacious formal lounge and dining room, the space is finished with refurbished hardwood floors and two symmetrical fireplaces. “We brought over our old antique furnishings that we’ve collected over the years, to add to the home’s heritage charm.”

As for the rest of the interior design, Sarah Jane and James worked through each room separately, creating moodboards and sourcing samples to build their material palette. “We wanted to create a timeless, classic look without it being too stuffy,” Sarah Jane says. “The interior needed to be practical, but also suit the character of the property. We utilised traditional elements and paired them with modern touches.”

The bedrooms and bathrooms

The house has six bedrooms and for each, the couple were keen to create tranquil spaces that allowed traditional elements to shine through. “One of the hardest decisions was what paint colours to choose,” Sarah Jane says. “We tested lots of samples across each room, looking at the different walls and how things interacted.” The home’s original floorboards were carpeted for extra comfort and warmth under foot.

The master bedroom, located on the first floor of the house, features a striking original marble fireplace and antique furnishings, while the loft bedroom boasts bespoke eaves storage – ideal for this family of four.

Finally, the three bathrooms feature wall tiles from Fired Earth and marble flooring from Mandarin Stone. In the master bathroom, an elegant cast-iron roll-top tub takes centre stage. “The bathroom and shower room were designed with a timeless, elegant feel,” Sarah Jane says. “To add luxury, we vaulted the master bathroom ceiling and centred the bath next to the windows, overlooking the garden.”

So, has the dream house the couple envisioned been achieved? “We couldn’t be happier,” says Sarah Jane. “Taking our time during the design stage really paid off and allowed us to make the right decisions. The house works for our daily lives and when we’re entertaining.”

As for their favourite space, the couple loves the reading room. “It faces a mature cherry tree in the front garden, so it’s a lovely place to be.”

As originally told to: Jennifer Grimble | Photography: Chris Snook

This house tour was featured in the January 2025 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

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