A bold townhouse by Suzy Hoodless, filled with Nordic colours and mid-century design

It was a desire to add some more vivid brushstrokes to a largely classical canvas that prompted the owners of this four-storey north London town house to turn to designer Suzy Hoodless. A year-long renovation had seen the property’s Victorian bones sensitively restored, but a true revival required some left-field flourishes. ‘I like the contrast between classic architectural features and contemporary interiors,’ says the owner. ‘We had a beautifully traditional backdrop, thanks to the neoclassical approach of our architect Liam O’Connor, but I wanted to mix things up a bit.’

The fact that this is an end terrace gave the couple lots of scope. ‘There aren’t a million and one options when it comes to reconfiguring traditional London houses,’ says the owner. ‘But we benefit here from light on three sides.’ They decided to play to that strength by having a large side extension built, complete with east- and west-facing terraces, adding a conservatory at the rear and comprehensively reworking the internal space. This included returning the kitchen to the basement and introducing an elegant living room and library space to the ground floor. Throughout, cornicing has been reinstated, doorways have been widened and copious integrated storage has been added to manage the demands of a growing family of three young children.

The owners have a preference for mid-century pieces, wood, metal, stone and a ‘Nordic colour palette’. By the time the wife met Suzy, she had gathered a few key items, but felt she had run out of steam. ‘We had plenty of design references as common ground, including an appreciation of the works of Giò Ponti and Fornasetti,’ says Suzy. ‘But the owners hadn’t really lived with print, pattern and bolder hues before, so I knew I could add a playful touch.’

Like the bones of the house, the pieces that Suzy inherited provided a solid framework for the ensuing schemes. The owners had a dining table and bench by Valentin Loellmann, defined by their tactile shape, and a pair of geometric rugs in the living room and library. Suzy took these prompts and scaled up, adding simple but eye-catching lines, including Fritz Hansen’s classic ‘Favn’ sofa and a vivid chartreuse ‘Papa Bear Chair’ by Hans J Wegner in the living room, complemented by leopard print and graphic cushions. Suzy’s robust scheme fulfilled the owners’ brief that fabrics must be ‘indestructible’ to withstand small hands and feet. ‘I love the natural rhythm throughout the house and its surprising spikes in colour,’ says Suzy. ‘Everything here has earned its place.’

The house is studded with statement pieces, yet each is incorporated in an understated way. In the basement dining room, Muuto ‘Nerd’ chairs in an array of hues expand the colour palette, while above a marble-topped kitchen island, a trio of pendants by Michael Anastassiades brings the look up to date. The first-floor children’s bedrooms have plenty of fun touches, including a vivid blue painted mural in the son’s room, as well as bold fabrics and wall hangings. Suzy allayed the owners’ fear that they might tire of these accent colours. ‘Accessories can always be switched to dial down the look,’ she says. ‘The biggest danger lies in not taking a risk at all.’

The second floor, housing the main bedroom, a bathroom, a shower room and two dressing rooms, signals a change of pace with its scheme of soft greys. Here, everything has its place. Shelving in the bedroom and bathroom houses more books from the owners’ collection, while a concealed jib door in the bathroom opens to reveal the wife’s dressing room. The other, belonging to the husband, is connected to the shower room.

It was a matter of adding in places and pulling back in others to get the balance just right, explains Suzy, pointing out that walls are painted mostly in Little Greene’s low-key ‘French Grey’. ‘I can always judge the success of a project by how it makes me feel, and I would love all of these pieces in my own home.’ As for the owner, she is enjoying her introduction to colour and pattern. ‘I love living with bold, graphic print – it gives me pleasure every day,’ she says. ‘This house doesn’t have aspirations above its station; the children use every space freely, but utility hasn’t taken over. These are comfortable rooms to be enjoyed and that’s just what we wanted’.

Suzy Hoodless: 020-7221 8844; suzyhoodless.com | Liam O’Connor: 020-7250 1983; liamoconnor.com

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