A Victorian London flat filled with jewel box colours and heirloom pieces by Laura Stephens

To strike the right balance, Laura wove the story of the old house into the new one, retaining some key pieces that had real emotional value. ‘I went to the original family home and it was stuffed full of antiques. We went through everything and decided what should come to the new place and what should stay.’ It was a process that meant Laura and her client got to know one another ‘quite intimately.’ Certain items, like the framed embroidery behind the sofa, became very significant in the scheme. ‘The client had picked up the tapestry with her husband on their travels in India,’ explains Laura. ‘We ended up using the colours in it to create a colour scheme for the living room.’

Working with the client's pre-existing pieces was wonderfully freeing for Laura too. ‘I just love working with people at this stage in their lives,’ she says. ‘Their furniture is often a jumping off point that helps you to understand who they are and what they like. They bring all these meaningful pieces with them that clients don't have when they are that much younger.' Though Laura and the client were keen to repurpose as much of her furniture as possible, they also wanted to ensure that the interiors didn't make her 'feel like an old lady.’ To that end, dark wood furniture was balanced with more contemporary pieces, and soft furnishings were reupholstered in more exciting fabrics, like purple leopard print and graphic stripes.

Even with the driving desire to keep things feeling fresh, the duo were conscious to future-proof the flat. ‘This is going to be the last move for the client, so we wanted to make sure it will work just as well in twenty years or so as it does now,' says Laura. Designer and client worked together to ensure the flat was designed for usability, whilst keeping things pleasingly stylish. A walk in shower was implemented, and the graduated steps from the hallway into the primary bedroom were reduced. ‘We also made sure we had sturdy bannisters where needed.’

The blue on the window's timber frames reflects the blue of the tiled splashback. They are painted in Paint and Paper Library's ‘Salvia’. The kitchen units are bespoke by Laura Stephens, painted in Paint and Paper Library's ‘Bronze' gloss. The stools are upholstered in Marvic.

Paul Massey

Laura was also tasked with making this flat work for the client's many grandchildren. ‘In her previous home, the client had hosted family meals every Sunday,’ says Laura. ‘She wanted to be able to get all nine of her grandchildren there at once!' No small feat for a two bedroom London flat. ‘We started by zoning the open living space, creating a kitchen that had loads of storage, with units at the back. We also opted for a banquette, because you can squash lots of little bottoms on it!' It transpires that Laura's magic worked perfectly, as the client is ‘always sending photos of everyone there. One had about 50 people in it!’ The client now refers to it as ‘the ever-expanding flat.’

‘This is one of the best projects I’ve ever worked on,' says Laura. ‘The client is so appreciative and I’m so happy I could make this into a proper home for her.' Ultimately, it works because the ‘soul feels the same as her former home, because it’s filled with all this wonderful stuff. We brought all the best elements of that house into this property and made it her own for this next stage in her life.' Perhaps no one has put it better than the client's daughter, who said ‘it’s like the flat has always been here, just waiting for her the whole time.'

Clever joinery, modern tweaks and warm jewel tones breathe new life into this Victorian townhouse

10 Photos

By Lotte Brouwer

View Gallery