Clapham family home
Complete renovation of a handsome London townhouse including full dig out to provide additional entertaining space and reconfiguration throughout, and restoring plenty of character & personality for a young family.
We restored many original details into the upper ground floor entrance to the house, and managed to retain the original joinery dividing the initial porch to the hallway. Wallpaper by Soane sets the tone for style and pattern of the home there-in.
The bespoke kitchen cabinetry (made & installed by DeVOL) was kept relatively pared back & feminine to contrast the weight of the tall joinery, and we added a full width splash back in zellige tiles to further soften the space & add a tactile element. Antique pendant lighting also helps to soften the space and contrast the ’new’.
“There are plenty of family-friendly decorative elements. In the kitchen, a skirted, armless sofa features a joyful mix of patterns and stripes, durable enough”, says Emma, to “withstand the rigors of jam sandwiches in front of the TV.”
Emma Ainscough for Homes & Gardens
(August 2025, words by Emma Page)
“I wanted to differentiate the spaces, staying true to the architecture of each, without creating anything jarring,” Emma says. “As a result, the sitting room has a more refined color palette, while still featuring playful pops of colour – like the powder blue cabinetry in the playroom beyond.”
Emma Ainscough for Homes & Gardens
(August 2025, words by Emma Page)
The children’s playroom is a space that can adapt as the kids grow, with built in storage around a sofa nook with bespoke upholstery in a favourite Josef Frank print. A pair of under-counter curtains on the opposite wall hide low level IKEA toy storage drawers, with a desk area above, suitable for the kids’ drawing / craft play.
In the small utility room, we lent into the ‘utilitarian’ feel with a modern play on the checkerboard concept, adding a tactility and a certain luxury to an otherwise simple space.
The brief in the master suite was to create a serene space, an oasis away from the clients’ young children, soft without being too feminine to appeal to both husband and wife.
The guest bedroom is painted top-to-toe in a celadon tone, giving a really calming feel, balanced with a strong dark aubergine mohair and botanical patterned accents.
To make use of the generous half landings on the main staircase, we added a reading nook around this window overlooking the garden, painted in a dark olive green (matching the stair treads & spindles) to create a cosy, layered feel.
For the children’s bedrooms at the top of the house, we maximised these small spaces in the eaves by adding little nooks for dens, and carving out storage wherever we could. Colour played a big part of the feel of these spaces, using strong, beautiful tones to excite and create a really whimsical vibe.
“A key goal was ensuring that every room would be used to its fullest – nothing was to be reserved for special occasions. We wanted to retain a sense of playfulness, creating spaces that were visually cohesive while exploring possibilities with pattern and color,” Charly explains
Client, for Homes & Gardens
(August 2025, words by Emma Page)
“We live fairly casually, but we also enjoy a balance of beauty and utility. We wanted that to be reflected in the design of this house.”
Client, for Homes & Gardens
(August 2025, words by Emma Page)