This impressive Victorian villa in southwest London boasts a modern gothic interior

A monochrome palette, a stash of period details and a trunkful of taxidermy put a decadently romantic spin on this Victorian villa in southwest London

Victorian villa in southwest London
(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

THE PROPERTY

A five-bedroom, double-fronted Victorian villa in southwest London. The modern home a living room, kitchen-diner, dining room, sunroom, playroom and WC on the ground floor. The first floor has three bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room, a family bathroom and study. The attic floor houses the dressing room and storage.

See more chic modern homes

LIVING ROOM

A little bit macabre, a little bit moody; that's the vibe of this modern gothic home. This is about more than adding a coat of Down Pipe to the walls and buying a fancy chandelier. The house is full of design decisions that, in fashion terms, take it from the equivalent of a ready-to-wear dress to a couture creation.

Black-and-white monomania is given an adrenaline shot with unexpected colour injections, while details like gilt mirrors, taxidermy peacocks and anatomy prints on the walls honour the era of the property and its original features in a quirky, individual way.The result is a working family home with an industrial edge.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

The feathers of the taxidermy birds glow as brightly as the gilt mirror against the dark grey walls. At night, it looks cosy and in the day, it feels fresh because of the white on the ceiling and floor.

A deceptive, yet clever flourish is the fire surround in the living room, which appears original, but was specially commissioned. Even the flower displays, by florist Rebel Rebel, provide a touch of tangled Dickensian romance.

See Also: Elegant Living Rooms Ideas

KITCHEN

In this plain, pantry-style kitchen the drama is in the detail – the factory-style lights; the subtle gleam of polished wood, marble and plaster; and the painted windows add definition.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

The exposed brick wall in the kitchen, with its whispers of old paint apparently flaking off, is actually a new addition.That juxtaposition of polished-plaster floor, brick and the crystal chandeliers is magic.The surfaces were made bespoke by Chris Brandler, using timber reclaimed from across Europe.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

KITCHEN DINER

The kitchen flows into an informal dining area, where three chandeliers hang in front of an exposed brick wall, excellent inspiration for statement dining room lighting ideas.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

HALLWAY

This opulent, oversized internal door was especially created, fusing traditional wood panelling reclaimed from an 18th-century Polish house with grills sourced from an architectural salvage yard on the Isle of Wight.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

DINING ROOM

The contrast of plain painted floorboards with period plasterwork is plain with blue-blood style.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

PLAY ROOM

Concealed behind chalkboard doors is a utility area for the washing machine and appliances. A great use of space, it helps keep the kitchen next door very minimal.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

CLOAKROOM

The scratched, stone-look walls in the downstairs WC, painted by artist Jason Hawkridge, is the perfect backdrop to the exposed copper piping.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

BEDROOM

The chimney breast was extended to match the exact width of the super-king-size bed and the walls have been distressed and painted to resemble the musty mystique of a flooded château.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

Layers of paint and varnish were added to build up the elegantly decayed look.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

SHOWER ROOM

Floor-to-ceiling metro tiles and a Victorian-style floor put a period spin on this modern shower room.

Victorian villa in southwest London

(Image credit: Photography - James Merrell, Wor)

Photography ⁄ James Merrell

See Also: Stunning shower room ideas - drenched with style

The homes media brand for early adopters, Livingetc shines a spotlight on the now and the next in design, obsessively covering interior trends, color advice, stylish homeware and modern homes. Celebrating the intersection between fashion and interiors. it's the brand that makes and breaks trends and it draws on its network on leading international luminaries to bring you the very best insight and ideas.