Transforming an untouched home in nearly four decades, the family embraced the challenge enthusiastically, resulting in a delightful blend of time-honored tradition and modern charm.

A Fresh Start: Charly and Jonny's Renovated London Home

Charly and Jonny, along with architects Smith Brooke Architects and interior designer Emma Ainscough, have breathed new life into a London home that had been untouched for nearly four decades. The renovation, which included the removal of an old conservatory and the addition of a new side entrance for bikes and strollers, as well as a lower-ground-floor extension with graceful arches, has transformed the property into a modern and functional space.

The design of the renovated house is both personal and practical, with every room intended for full use and a balance of beauty and utility. The kitchen, which was moved upstairs and combined with the dining area, now opens onto the garden, while the extension houses the sitting room, study, utility room, and playroom.

In the sitting room, Emma Ainscough used one of her signature patterns, a checkerboard, in the rug. The room has a more refined color palette compared to other spaces, while still featuring playful pops of color. The study features delicately patterned Howe wallpaper, contrasting with the graphic line of a frameless window.

The kitchen, on the other hand, boasts a skirted, armless sofa with a joyful mix of patterns and stripes. The playroom beyond the sitting room features powder blue cabinetry, adding a splash of colour to the space.

Charly expressed that the home's decorative elements symbolize a new stage in their life and express greater design confidence. The clever use of space under the eaves in the children's bedrooms combines storage with whimsical touches like colourful reading nooks.

A unique touch to the bathroom and dressing area is the entrance, which was framed with custom-made Delft tiles. The tiles feature meaningful designs such as an ice cream cone, a bear, a martini and fries, a cat, and Queen Elizabeth II. A Neptune library cabinet from their old house was repurposed with a new architrave and paint finish, now used to store bags and shoes in the dressing nook.

Period features such as cornices, sash windows, and high ceilings were kept or reinstated in the renovation, adding a touch of charm to the modern space. Charly's love of curves influenced the design of the lower-ground-floor extension, creating a flowing and inviting space.

Overall, Charly and Jonny's renovated home is a testament to the power of design and the transformative effect it can have on a space. The home's decorative elements not only reflect the couple's personal style but also express greater design confidence and symbolize a new stage in their life.

Transforming an untouched home in nearly four decades, the family embraced the challenge enthusiastically, resulting in a delightful blend of time-honored tradition and modern charm.