A London Victorian Townhouse Brought Back in Time—and Modernized—in a Top-to-Bottom Renovation by Mark Lewis Interior Design
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The Victorian townhouse in London’s Primrose Hill had been “nailed by contractors,” says project manager Emily Girling. This was not intended as a compliment. Girling is a member of the small team at Mark Lewis Interior Design, and grand resuscitations with a historic bent are Lewis’s specialty: see, for instance, A “Modern Victorian Loft” in Hoxton Square and Mark Lewis’s Inspired Reinvention of His Family’s North London Row House.
This four-floor renovation for a couple with kids and dogs (he’s the CEO of an advertising agency) became the firm’s pandemic project. “Very few original details remained, so it was a case of reinstating features, such as fireplaces, cornices, and parquet floor,” continued Girling. And of rethinking the layout: “The lower floor was a rabbit warren of rooms. We built a small extension at the rear and opened up the space into a huge open-plan kitchen-living area.”
To see the house now is to go back in time to an era of brick hearths and generous Aga stoves—and forward to our own century’s sunny, free-flowing interiors and “American-size” refrigerators. Scroll to the end to see Before and After floor plans.
Photography courtesy of Mark Lewis Interior Design.
Garden Level Kitchen
Above The garden level of the house was completely opened up says Mark of the new extension with Crittal windows and a raised ceiling The owners asked the firm to add details that feel original to the house and to create a sense of calm comfort and organization
The French oak parquet floor was sourced from UK salvage specialists Lassco. The white paint used throughout is Linen Wash from Little Green (emulsion on the walls, eggshell on the woodwork). The new back stair has a painted runner (Dead Salmon from Farrow & Ball) and tongue-and-groove-paneled under-the-stair storage plus a WC.
Above The large island was requested by the clients Its not the usual Mark Lewis kitchen feature but it incorporates his signature design details such as ventilated produce drawers inspired by apple crates each drawer is three slats deep The cabinets are a new finish that the firm developed for the project its hand painted wood with an aged waxed finish The countertops are oak and Carrara marble<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 872 class=ezoic adpicker ad>Above The blush pink ER7 series 100 Aga is electric with a gas hob module on the side The surrounding hearth was built from salvaged white Suffolk brick which reappears in several other rooms The Encaustic Tiles used as the backsplash are from Milagros a London store that sells handmade Mexican products<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 868 class=ezoic adpicker ad>Above Brass faucets from Ashton Matthews are paired with a Shaws Edgworth double sink The sink side ceramic pots are from the Mark Lewis Home Store a collection of hard to find design details that Lewis has started manufacturing and offering via his website <span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 873 class=ezoic adpicker ad><span style=font size16px>Above The waxed finish on the wood cabinets looks like patinated metal The cast bronze <span>Moray Cupboard Pull Handles<span style=font size16px> were designed for the kitchen and are a new addition to the Mark Lewis Home Store The islands <span>Avery Bar Stools<span style=font size16px> are from Pinch in leather from Howe<span>Above The Moray Dishwasher Pull is another new cast bronze design created for the house<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 875 class=ezoic adpicker ad>
Garden-Level Living-Dining Room
Above The kitchen flows into a dining living area The pine table was the clients own we just sanded and refinished it with a clear oil finish says Girling The Avery Dining Chairs by Pinch are a companion design to the bar stools The Ledbury Skinny Ribbed Glass Contemporary Wall Lights used here and in just about every other room are by Fritz Fryer The pendants are Fritz Fryers Skinny Wye Valley Railroad Lights<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 876 class=ezoic adpicker ad style=displayblockimportantfloatnoneline height0margin bottom15pximportantmargin left0importantmargin right0importantmargin top15pximportantmax width100importantmin height90pxmin width728pxpadding top15pximportanttext aligncenterimportant>Above The rooms re created fireplace has a surround of reclaimed Suffolk brick a hearth of reclaimed York stone and a Charnwood stove Ceilings in the lower ground floor didnt allow space for a cornice so the floor to ceiling paneling adds a touch of grandeur notes Girling Theres a television tucked behind the double doors<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 877 class=ezoic adpicker ad>Above The Delft style hearth tiles in green rather than the traditional blue are the work of The Douglas Watson Studio and include portraits of the familys two dogs Gimble shown here is a Brussels Griffin<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 878 class=ezoic adpicker ad>Above A window seat is upholstered in a Robert Kime velvet<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 879 class=ezoic adpicker ad style=displayblockimportantfloatnoneline height0margin bottom15pximportantmargin left0importantmargin right0importantmargin top15pximportantmax width100importantmin height90pxmin width728pxpadding top15pximportanttext aligncenterimportant>
Parlor Floor
Above The design team reconfigured the floor to create one long entrance hall so theres a view from the front door to the back garden The marbled encaustic tiles came out of a palace in Seville they were sourced Lewis tells us from a super cool guy called Chris who runs Mailtland Poate a London company specializing in antique cement tiles<span id=ezoic pub ad placeholder 880 class=ezoic adpicker ad style=displayblockimportantfloatnoneline height0margin bottom15pximportantmargin left0importantmargin right0importantmargin top15pximportantmax width100importantmin height90pxmin width728pxpadding0text aligncenterimportant>
The stair has a new Victorian-style hand rail made of sapele, a hardwood that resembles mahogany. The jute runner is from Tim Page Carpets.
Above A newly painted antique bench by the front door provides a place to take off shoes and store them For more ideas see 10 Easy Pieces Storage Benches
Front Room
Above The combination living roomstudy is more formal than the downstairs living space The velvet sofa is a George SmithAbove The living room is divided from the study by a semi glazed partition with a doorAbove A built in bookshelf and hearth for storing firewood in the study
Main Bedroom
Above The second floor is the parents quarters and the kids rooms are on the top floor The velvet headboard is a custom design with a border of bronze studs The floor notes Girling is one of the only finishes in the house that we didnt install ourselvesAbove The new fireplace is composed of old brick and salvaged encaustic tileAbove The custom cabinet in Farrow Balls De Nimes blue houses a TV The slipper chair is a side of the road rescue reupholstered in a Kate Forman duck egg velvet The curtains are made of Robert Kimes Avebury linen a pattern inspired by a 19th century French scarf
Main Bath
Above A chimney breast was opened up to fit the double sink from Aston Matthews UK specialists in classic bathroom fittingsAbove Reclaimed Spanish tiles cover the shower area from floor to ceilingAbove A paneled divider sets off a clawfoot bathtub from Drummonds another UK company that sells traditional bathroom designs Drummonds has an NYC showroom Read about wood paneling in Remodeling 101 The Ultimate Guide to Shiplap Beadboard and V Groove PanelingAbove The shower has a Carrara marble step and shelves The brass shower fixture is from Aston MatthewsAbove Mark Lewis is a stickler for detailsAbove A brass Hot Water Towel Warmer from Aston Matthews
Before and After Floor Plans
Above The lower ground floor the garden level of the househad been divided into small rooms The design team inserted a structural steel column that enabled the creation of a combination living area and kitchen the latter is located where the TV snug once was Note the new yoga room extension with a view of the gardenAbove The ground floor was reconfigured so you can see right to the end of the house from the front door says Lewis These sight lines were made possible by new windows and the glazed partition that divides the study from the living roomAbove The main bedroom has a reinstated fireplace The walk in closet was reduced to make room for the new bathroom with walk in shower and bathtubAbove The childrens quarters on the top floor were redecorated but otherwise largely preserved as was
