An Elegant Yet Comfy Home for Family Life
It was no mean feat to transform a seven-story, five-bedroom house in eight weeks. That’s exactly what interior designer Viki Lander was tasked with when the owners of this home, built a dozen years ago in the heart of London’s Highgate Village, hired her.
“We had only two months to design the house and get all the fixtures, fittings and core furniture delivered,” Lander says. “The owners wanted a turnkey solution to include a full refurbishment, plus furniture, soft furnishings, decorative accessories and full contents of the entire house. The family wanted to move in with nothing but their clothes and personal effects.”
“We had only two months to design the house and get all the fixtures, fittings and core furniture delivered,” Lander says. “The owners wanted a turnkey solution to include a full refurbishment, plus furniture, soft furnishings, decorative accessories and full contents of the entire house. The family wanted to move in with nothing but their clothes and personal effects.”
Photos by Darren Chung
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jane and Andrew Webster; their two sons, ages 6 and 8; and Spencer the cat
Location: Highgate Village, London
Size: Five bedrooms, 5½ bathrooms
Designer: Viki Lander of Ensoul Interior Architecture
The Websters had a clear goal in mind when they contacted Ensoul Interior Architecture for this massive property transformation.
“They wanted to turn what was a very boring, nondescript house with zero interest into an elegant family home that also works for socializing and guests staying over,” Lander says. “Jane knew what she didn’t want too: no minimalism and nothing that looked cold, clinical or contrived. She wanted a warm family home that, when finished, looked elegant but lived-in, comfortable and homey.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jane and Andrew Webster; their two sons, ages 6 and 8; and Spencer the cat
Location: Highgate Village, London
Size: Five bedrooms, 5½ bathrooms
Designer: Viki Lander of Ensoul Interior Architecture
The Websters had a clear goal in mind when they contacted Ensoul Interior Architecture for this massive property transformation.
“They wanted to turn what was a very boring, nondescript house with zero interest into an elegant family home that also works for socializing and guests staying over,” Lander says. “Jane knew what she didn’t want too: no minimalism and nothing that looked cold, clinical or contrived. She wanted a warm family home that, when finished, looked elegant but lived-in, comfortable and homey.”
The original kitchen was always this large (33 by 14 feet), but Lander transformed it with a mix of industrial, reclaimed and contemporary fixtures, including a wood-plank feature wall and cork flooring.
“Gray satin lacquer-sprayed cabinets, a timber wall and stainless steel lighting make this modern kitchen feel luxurious, with an industrial twist,” Lander says. “No walls were removed and nothing was extended, but the entire guts of the house were ripped out.”
“Gray satin lacquer-sprayed cabinets, a timber wall and stainless steel lighting make this modern kitchen feel luxurious, with an industrial twist,” Lander says. “No walls were removed and nothing was extended, but the entire guts of the house were ripped out.”
The random planks add warmth and personality to the kitchen, and they anchor the mood for a low-key industrial vibe with reclaimed features.
“It’s a mix of reclaimed, engineered timber boards with old paint on them,” Lander adds. “It was quite a leap of faith to sell to the client, as it sounds a bit off the wall — excuse the pun — to put timber boards on a kitchen wall. But everyone is thrilled with the result, which proves taking a risk can pay off.”
A glass panel behind the cooktop protects the wood from cooking stains.
Pendant light: Searchlight Lighting via Castlegate Lights
“It’s a mix of reclaimed, engineered timber boards with old paint on them,” Lander adds. “It was quite a leap of faith to sell to the client, as it sounds a bit off the wall — excuse the pun — to put timber boards on a kitchen wall. But everyone is thrilled with the result, which proves taking a risk can pay off.”
A glass panel behind the cooktop protects the wood from cooking stains.
Pendant light: Searchlight Lighting via Castlegate Lights
Simple handleless cabinets in matte pale gray are finished with a warm brown quartz countertop.
A rich burgundy pelmet and a shade in a subtle leaf print add warmth and soften the overall mood.
Unistone countertop in Bruno: Brachot-Hermant; shade fabric:Casson Rowan 7433, Romo
A rich burgundy pelmet and a shade in a subtle leaf print add warmth and soften the overall mood.
Unistone countertop in Bruno: Brachot-Hermant; shade fabric:Casson Rowan 7433, Romo
Lander used two shades of gray for the cabinet doors, with a slightly darker hue on the appliance wall for subtle contrast.
Ovens and coffee machine: Miele
Ovens and coffee machine: Miele
An informal dining space works perfectly for a busy family and a regular stream of visitors.
The handmade table has a chunky, rustic wood top and a steel base. The honey-colored rattan chairs add texture, and echo the look and feel of the wood pendant light.
Table and matching bench: Little Tree Furniture; rattan chairs: Rockett St George
The handmade table has a chunky, rustic wood top and a steel base. The honey-colored rattan chairs add texture, and echo the look and feel of the wood pendant light.
Table and matching bench: Little Tree Furniture; rattan chairs: Rockett St George
The chic pendant light is handmade from Finnish birch for a simple Scandinavian feel, and it filters a soft, luminous glow over the dining table.
The pale gray-brown wall color is used throughout the house for an easy-on-the-eye, harmonious flow.
Owalo 7000 pendant light: Secto Design via Skandium; wall paint: Dash of Soot, Little Greene
Find out what to consider before hanging pendant lights
The pale gray-brown wall color is used throughout the house for an easy-on-the-eye, harmonious flow.
Owalo 7000 pendant light: Secto Design via Skandium; wall paint: Dash of Soot, Little Greene
Find out what to consider before hanging pendant lights
Cork flooring throughout the open-plan space contrasts effectively with the gray cabinetry and the rattan chairs.
“The cork flooring was my idea,” Lander says. “It’s so much warmer than tiles — both aesthetically and to walk on — and it’s something a bit different to a timber floor, which has become omnipresent. It has so many brilliant other benefits too, in terms of acoustics and hygiene. It’s easy to clean and has such beautiful markings.”
Cork flooring: Granorte
“The cork flooring was my idea,” Lander says. “It’s so much warmer than tiles — both aesthetically and to walk on — and it’s something a bit different to a timber floor, which has become omnipresent. It has so many brilliant other benefits too, in terms of acoustics and hygiene. It’s easy to clean and has such beautiful markings.”
Cork flooring: Granorte
The large space is cleverly designed to create three zones: a full kitchen with island, an informal dining space for nine, and a comfortable lounge area with a low-slung, L-shaped sofa.
“The kitchen and family room is my favorite part of the house,” Lander says. “It’s the real heart and workhorse of the home. I love the clearly defined spaces, as well as the mix of furniture and textures.”
Sofa: Dwell; Arco floor light: Achille Castiglioni via The Conran Shop
“The kitchen and family room is my favorite part of the house,” Lander says. “It’s the real heart and workhorse of the home. I love the clearly defined spaces, as well as the mix of furniture and textures.”
Sofa: Dwell; Arco floor light: Achille Castiglioni via The Conran Shop
Retro-style armchairs and a vintage rug inject a gorgeous hit of red-wine color into the space.
“The reclaimed wood-and-steel TV cabinet and leather trunk also work brilliantly to ensure a rich, warm and interesting area in which to kick back and relax,” Lander says.
Armchairs: Camerich
“The reclaimed wood-and-steel TV cabinet and leather trunk also work brilliantly to ensure a rich, warm and interesting area in which to kick back and relax,” Lander says.
Armchairs: Camerich
The entrance hall, with its slight industrial twist, sets the mood for the rest of the house. The 24-drawer chest is a serious storage boon for a busy family, while the pendant light creates a striking feature.
“Our clients really bought into the idea that the hallways and landings should be just as interesting as the rooms off them,” Lander says.
Gunilla pendant light: R & S Robinson via LuxDeco; multidrawer unit: Alexander & Pearl; Cuba engineered-wood flooring: Lamett
“Our clients really bought into the idea that the hallways and landings should be just as interesting as the rooms off them,” Lander says.
Gunilla pendant light: R & S Robinson via LuxDeco; multidrawer unit: Alexander & Pearl; Cuba engineered-wood flooring: Lamett
The space beneath the stairs contains neat and efficient custom shoe storage, which is open-fronted for easy access.
It’s painted, along with the stairs, in a rich brown and offset with a striped runner.
Woodwork paint: Knightsbridge, Little Greene; Rock ’n’ Roll Tainted Love striped runner: Alternative Flooring
It’s painted, along with the stairs, in a rich brown and offset with a striped runner.
Woodwork paint: Knightsbridge, Little Greene; Rock ’n’ Roll Tainted Love striped runner: Alternative Flooring
The formal dining room is a picture of sophistication.
“The brief was to create a space for elegant, adult dinner parties, with a seating area where guests could enjoy drinks before and after,” the designer says. “They also wanted to be able to use the same space for family parties and events such as Christmas.”
Glass medical cabinets from a Polish hospital are offset by a beautiful perforated aluminum pendant light, which throws interesting shadows around the room.
Vintage glass cabinets: The Old Cinema; Aeros pendant light: Ross Lovegrove for Louis Poulsen via Skandium
“The brief was to create a space for elegant, adult dinner parties, with a seating area where guests could enjoy drinks before and after,” the designer says. “They also wanted to be able to use the same space for family parties and events such as Christmas.”
Glass medical cabinets from a Polish hospital are offset by a beautiful perforated aluminum pendant light, which throws interesting shadows around the room.
Vintage glass cabinets: The Old Cinema; Aeros pendant light: Ross Lovegrove for Louis Poulsen via Skandium
The glass dining table with a sculptural anthracite base mixes with buttoned leather chairs and a shiny lacquered sideboard, creating a style that blends contemporary, vintage and reclaimed treasures.
“I opted for a round table, as they’re much better for dinner conversation, and decided to mix up contemporary and vintage pieces for real interest,” Lander says.
The circular rug underneath the table is a custom piece made from a textured weave to add luxury and comfort to the wood flooring.
Octa dining table and leather chairs: Bonaldo
“I opted for a round table, as they’re much better for dinner conversation, and decided to mix up contemporary and vintage pieces for real interest,” Lander says.
The circular rug underneath the table is a custom piece made from a textured weave to add luxury and comfort to the wood flooring.
Octa dining table and leather chairs: Bonaldo
A lime-green velvet chesterfield sofa is an ideal spot for before- and after-dinner drinks or simply for relaxing, and it embraces the vintage-inspired look of the formal dining room.
“I wanted to bring some vibrant color into the room but keep a sophisticated look to it,” Lander says. “And I love mixing textures — hence the linen curtains, woven textured rug, velvet sofa and leather chairs, which contrast with the hard materials in the room.”
Curtain fabric: Casamance; chesterfield sofa: Abode Sofas
“I wanted to bring some vibrant color into the room but keep a sophisticated look to it,” Lander says. “And I love mixing textures — hence the linen curtains, woven textured rug, velvet sofa and leather chairs, which contrast with the hard materials in the room.”
Curtain fabric: Casamance; chesterfield sofa: Abode Sofas
The games room is a space for the whole family to enjoy.
“The brief was to design it primarily for the two boys to watch movies, use their games consoles and play their musical instruments, but it also houses a full-size table tennis table and a [foosball] table,” Lander says.
The custom media unit was designed by Ensoul. It combines closed storage to hide a multitude of toys and books, with open shelving for display.
Chair: Ambient Lounge
“The brief was to design it primarily for the two boys to watch movies, use their games consoles and play their musical instruments, but it also houses a full-size table tennis table and a [foosball] table,” Lander says.
The custom media unit was designed by Ensoul. It combines closed storage to hide a multitude of toys and books, with open shelving for display.
Chair: Ambient Lounge
The games room isn’t too childcentric, however, and the design also works for the owners to enjoy the space with guests after dinner.
One son is an avid soccer fan, so the themed bedroom reflects his love of the Arsenal team — in a stylish, crisp, grown-up way.
“It features fun decals of his favorite player and an inspirational quote by the manager, which can both easily be removed at any time should tastes change,” Lander says.
The vintage-inspired metal desk offers a sturdy area for homework and other pastimes.
Desk and bench: Cuckooland; chair and lamp: John Lewis
“It features fun decals of his favorite player and an inspirational quote by the manager, which can both easily be removed at any time should tastes change,” Lander says.
The vintage-inspired metal desk offers a sturdy area for homework and other pastimes.
Desk and bench: Cuckooland; chair and lamp: John Lewis
The gray velvet carpet and metal furniture are punctuated by red accessories to reinforce the Arsenal theme.
The walls are painted in the same color as the rest of the house.
The walls are painted in the same color as the rest of the house.
A super-size bed in plum suede upholstery is the centerpiece of this luxurious, hotel-inspired master suite.
“The armchairs were the only items the clients brought with them,” Lander says. “They wanted them to work somewhere in the house, so we had them cleaned, and I designed a scheme around them in the master bedroom.”
Bed and bed linens: The Big Bed Co.
“The armchairs were the only items the clients brought with them,” Lander says. “They wanted them to work somewhere in the house, so we had them cleaned, and I designed a scheme around them in the master bedroom.”
Bed and bed linens: The Big Bed Co.
Lander gave the guest bedroom on the ground floor an uplifting gray-and-yellow scheme.