Old-world charm. New lease of life

A large family home in Southwest London full of Edwardian character

Breathing new life into a well-loved and well-lived-in family home is a rewarding exercise. Far from being a blank canvas, fresh and unadorned, family homes tend to have emotional resonance. And in the case of Copley Park, a bounty of original Edwardian features too.

This project was about enhancing what this home already had to offer. Fireplaces were refurbished with new tiles and hearths. Rooms were reinvigorated with a varied palette of aged pink, pale toffee, and ruddy red. Bathrooms were reconfigured with bespoke vanities and walk-in showers. The kitchen was reimagined with new units and a restored Everhot stove. And every room was treated to a mix of new, vintage, upcycled, and custom-made furniture and window treatments.

The result is a home reborn and ready for its next chapter.

Hearth and home

A firmly padded mohair lounge chair has been paired with a satisfyingly squidgy sofa and a vintage Jindrich Halabala armchair, which we’ve upholstered in fabrics of densely embroidered leaves and moss-green velvet. The sculptural swoop of the bentwood arms contrasts nicely with the softer pieces in the room. Other vintage finds include a multi-coloured Moroccan Berber rug and a pair of Italian-mirrored side tables.

There’s a riot of accented colour here – evident in collectible artworks by Breon O’Casey, Julian Opie and Sir Terry Frost – which pings all the brighter against the biscuity base palette.

Good enough to eat

Every inch of this space was redesigned to maximise storage, improve flow and create an inviting central point where the family can eat, do homework and catch up on the day’s events.

Textures, too, play their part. Polished stone worktop, painted wood units, enamel pendant light, natural-wood table with slatted base, woven cord seats, and the reassuring heft of a walled steel Everhot stove. These tactile variations are lovely to have in a room dedicated to touching, feeling, smelling and tasting.

Swoon for maroon

A deliciously dark red with mercurial magenta undertones envelops the dining room. This warm and inviting space is perfect for large family get-togethers.

The chalky texture of the walls. The gloss of the fireplace. The high polish of the granite with its cosmos of ivory veins. These surfaces absorb and reflect light in different ways, so that the room is always changing colour and mood from day to night.

Back to nature

The abundant foliage of the Arts and Crafts headboard thrives against the cool grey walls. Add to this the pleated lamp shade, striped bolster cushion, and playful bedside with bobbin-like legs – and you have a room that feels whimsical and spirited.

At first blush

Complementary colours abound in the principal bedroom. The pinky-putty colour of the walls and the plush moss velvet of the headboard are perfect bedfellows. So, too, are the warm and cool textures of wood, wool, ceramic and bronze.

The half-height channels of the headboard extend the full length of the room, covering the chimney breast and amplifying the generous proportions of the space. Levelling the wall this way freed us to put in a super king bed with large bedside drawers and lamps. The effect is both dramatic and cosily inviting.

Well-rounded

The rainbow-like arches of the rust velvet headboard create another feel-good moment in a home full of smiles. There’s so much to enjoy – from the sprouting-flower motif on the ceramic lamp to the animated squiggles of the custom-made bolster and curtains.

The artwork, by Royal Academician Ian McKeever, presides over these diverse elements like a conductor, pulling everything together to create visual harmony.