This Victorian terrace in southeast London is given a drama injection with a dark colour palette

THE PROPERTY

A two-storey Victorian terrace in southeast London. The ground floor of this modern home has an entrance hall, two living rooms, an open-plan kitchen/dining space and a cloakroom. Upstairs are three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

HALLWAY

This once-dowdy Victorian house has been transformed into a thoroughly 21st-century home.

The house was wide, but not deep. However, there was room to push out into the garden, so with the help of Minifie Architects, the owners knocked two reception rooms and a galley kitchen into one big living space, incorporating tall, steel and glass doors to the hall, and built a rear extension to house a new kitchen, dining and family area. Upstairs remains truer to the property’s Victorian roots, with the only structural change being to subsume a small fourth bedroom into a tiny bathroom to create a luxurious wash space.

KITCHEN

An all-dark background punctuated with pops of jewel colours creates a modern classic look with added drama.

The kitchen features concrete worktops and screed floors and tin tiles along the sides of the kitchen island.

A soft-industrial vibe sees scaffold boards juxtaposed with exposed copper pipes, screed flooring with concrete surfaces and, everywhere, an abundance of green and leafy foliage.

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DINING AREA

One end of the kitchen-diner is devoted to a cosy seating area, complete with plush velvet sofa and eye-catching cushions, that’s perfect for relaxing after mealtimes.

LIVING AREA

The living room is another dark, cosy space.

The sofas in the living room were‘veganised’ by having them filled with foam instead of feathers and covered in animal-friendly fabrics rather than leather.

A mix of flooring, including antique parquet, modern screed and traditional tiles, coexists happily with architectural elements, such as the steel and glass doors.

CLOAKROOM

A profusion of exotic palms adorns the walls in the cloakroom – a fun, unexpected contrast to the dark block colours that are used elsewhere.

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LANDING

Blanket coverage with a single paint colour makes a bold design statement. Faux flowers both relieve and enhance the dark and moody colour schemes.

LANDING STAIRWELL

Leafy green foliage and sunny yellow blooms juxtaposed with the inky walls provide a vibrant pop of colour and echo the garden beyond.

MASTER BEDROOM

Softly crumpled bedding and textured throws create a comforting, welcoming vibe.

Gilt-framed antique mirrors add a touch of boudoir-style glamour as do the many vases and vessels filled with extravagant faux plants and flowers.

A smoky grey wardrobe and chair complement each other perfectly. The wardrobe is covered in a mural wallpaper.

BATHROOM

The enveloping dark background is relieved by splashes of green foliage and black and white floor tiles, the traditional pattern giving a nod to the property’s Victorian heritage.

Photography ⁄ Paul Raeside

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