The Green, London, UK

The Brief

The client wanted to honour the Victorian heritage of their London home while creating a space that worked genuinely well for modern life. Rather than a wholesale renovation, they were committed to preserving and restoring the original period features where possible, including the cornicing, decorative mouldings, and fireplaces, and bringing the interiors up to a contemporary standard of comfort and elegance without erasing the character that made the property special. They sought a home that felt both refined and deeply liveable, with a strong sense of warmth and personality throughout.

Constraints

Working within a Victorian property in London brings inherent complexity. The existing architectural fabric, including load-bearing walls, fixed floorplans, and original period details, needed to be respected and worked with rather than removed. Preserving the integrity of the original cornicing, mouldings, and cast iron fireplaces required careful, skilled restoration rather than straightforward replacement, adding time and care to the programme. The design also needed to reconcile the formal proportions of a Victorian townhouse with the warmth and ease the clients required for day-to-day living.

Design Approach

The design began with the architecture. The existing moulding profiles and room proportions informed the palette and material direction from the outset, with painted wall panelling introduced throughout to reinforce the period character while providing a refined contemporary backdrop. Sage green was selected as the primary tone, running through walls, cabinetry, and built-in shelving to create continuity and depth across the home. This colour was chosen to feel rooted in the natural world, anchoring the Victorian heritage in a hue that also felt current and alive. Contrasting accents in mustard, terracotta, and teal were layered in through upholstery and soft furnishings to bring warmth and vitality to each room. Large-scale botanical mural wallpapers were introduced in the bedroom and bathroom to add drama and a painterly quality, echoing the naturalistic theme of the palette. Mid-century influenced furniture forms were selected to complement the Victorian proportions without competing with them, sitting comfortably alongside the restored period features.

Materials & Styling

The palette is anchored in sage green, applied to painted wall panelling, kitchen cabinetry, and built-in alcove shelving throughout. Original warm timber floors were retained and restored underfoot, adding richness and continuity across the ground floor. Dramatic large-scale botanical mural wallpapers, featuring oversized foliage, blossom, and birds in painterly watercolour tones, feature in the bedroom and bathroom, bringing depth and intimacy to those spaces. In the main bathroom, a sculptural travertine vessel basin sits against the floral wallpaper with brushed brass tapware, while a second bathroom pairs ribbed warm timber wall panelling with a circular marble basin and dark hardware for a more graphic, contemporary feel. Brushed brass is used consistently across light fittings, handles, and tapware throughout the home, providing warmth and a period-appropriate finish. A solid walnut oval dining table, warm-toned dining chairs in green velvet, and a dark wood sideboard anchor the dining area, while a bold mustard sectional sofa grounds the living room. Large abstract botanical artworks are displayed directly within the panelling framework, treating the wall as a gallery and reinforcing the home's connection to the natural world.

The Outcome

The completed project achieves exactly what the clients envisioned: a home that wears its Victorian heritage with confidence while feeling entirely suited to the way they live. Every original feature has been sensitively restored and made to feel intentional rather than incidental, forming the architectural framework around which a rich and layered interior has been built. The sage green palette that runs through the home creates a sense of calm and visual continuity, while the considered use of pattern, colour, and texture ensures no room feels flat or formulaic. The result is a home full of warmth, character, and quiet confidence, one that is visually cohesive, deeply personal, and designed to be genuinely lived in and enjoyed for years to come.