W
ith its
glossy
marble
floor andgleaming chandelier, the hallway of
this family home in Wimbledon
elegantly announces the style of the
open-plan interiors: welcoming,
subtly glamorous and with more
than a nod to the Art Deco era.
When the owners bought the housein 2008, however, the interior felt
very different. What is now the
kitchen and dining area was a clunky
two-storey Seventies extension
housing a garage and a bedroom,
accessed via a separate staircase and
positioned on half levels to the rest of
the house, with a disconnected feel.
Five years after moving in, theowners approached architect
Jonathan Plant of Lipton Plant
Architects, whose plan was to replace
the extension with a three-storey
addition, effectively doubling the
width of the house. Clever use of
light wells has brightened the
building’s core, and expanses of
glazing in the dining area and the
family room help to connect the
house with its large garden.
One of the owners, who has a
demanding job as a restaurateur,
enlisted the help of her friend,
interior designer Joy Flanagan. In the
sitting room, she has sourced tactile
fabrics to revive existing pieces,
including sofas and Italian armchairs.
Elegant lighting, mirrors and
paintings add to the richness of the
scheme, as does the mix of antiques
and vintage and contemporary pieces.
It’s no surprise that the owner had
a lot of input in the kitchen design,stipulating a generous island for
entertaining. Sleek cupboards in white
high gloss and timber veneer offer a
neutral backdrop to the dining area,
where tomato-red leather chairs
surround a walnut table and a
chandelier is reflected in antiqued
mirror on the chimney breast.
On the first floor, the master suite is
a true sanctuary, with a soft scheme
of watery blue-greens punctuated
with raspberry pinks. The architect
carved out two bathrooms, one clad
in bookmatched Arabescato marble,
sourced by the owner and architect
on a trip to a quarry in Italy, as was
the stone for the cloakroom vanity
unit and the hallway’s floor. ‘I think
it is this attention to detail that
shines through,’ says Joy. ‘It has
been tailored to its occupants, so
that they can enjoy it to the full.’HALLWAY
A bespoke sitting area was
put in to create a place for
getting ready or reading.
Window seatby interior
designer Joy Flanagan.HOME OFFICE
Striped paper hung
horizontally gives the
study a smart look.
Flitter W6763-05wallpaper,
Osborne & Little. AK 1340
desk, Staffan Tollgård.&INSPIRATION