My Houzz: A Classic Victorian Home in London Gets a Colorful Makeover
See how this creative couple transformed a traditional four-story home with bold hues and eclectic finds
This colorful, pattern-filled Victorian in south London is bold and beautiful now, but it was a very different space when Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir and Jamie Lawson moved in six years ago. “It was very neutral when we first saw it,” says Icelandic singer-songwriter Bjornsdottir. “As a space it was fine, but we wanted to add our own personality to it.” Now jewel-colored walls, bold artwork, patterned tiles and cozy textures have brought the space to life, creating a fun and vibrant home for the whole family to enjoy.
Once the floor and ceiling were in place, the couple were able to bring in color and furniture. Bjornsdottir did much of the research for the project online. “Thanks to the internet, there’s now inspiration everywhere,” she says. After spotting the strong blue wall color in a photo and falling in love with it, she tracked down the Belgian paint company that makes it and ordered it for the living room.
Noticing a trend online for painting woodwork the same color as the walls, Bjornsdottir decided to do the same in this room, “even though I was a bit scared,” she says. She asked the builder to paint the baseboards, door frames and doors the same blue as the walls and loves the result. “The room did get a little bit smaller thanks to the darker wall color,” she says, “but as the space is quite tall, it just makes it feel cozy.”
Wall paint: Peacock, by Flamant
Noticing a trend online for painting woodwork the same color as the walls, Bjornsdottir decided to do the same in this room, “even though I was a bit scared,” she says. She asked the builder to paint the baseboards, door frames and doors the same blue as the walls and loves the result. “The room did get a little bit smaller thanks to the darker wall color,” she says, “but as the space is quite tall, it just makes it feel cozy.”
Wall paint: Peacock, by Flamant
Much of the art in the home was picked up by the couple at the Affordable Art Fair over several years. The large canvas above the sofa (seen here reflected in the mirror) is particularly special to the couple. “We bought it in Amalfi while on our honeymoon,” Bjornsdottir says.
Manhattan chandelier: Villaverde
Manhattan chandelier: Villaverde
An unexpected side effect of the strong wall color is that it makes the art and accessories really stand out. “People ask if we’ve got new things, but they are the same things as before,” Bjornsdottir says. “They just look completely different against the dark blue backdrop.”
Montague armchair and footstool: Andrew Martin
Montague armchair and footstool: Andrew Martin
A velvet sofa adds a touch of luxury to the room. The couple knew they wanted a velvet sofa but didn’t like the modern shapes of the ones they looked at. They found and loved this traditional design at the Sofa & Chair Company, but it wasn’t available in the exact shade they wanted. Undeterred, Bjornsdottir tracked down the dark gray velvet she was after and the company used it to upholster a sofa.
Several of the accessories in this room are finds from Jonathan Adler. “It’s my favorite place,” Bjornsdottir says. “I could live in that shop!”
Side table and lamp: Jonathan Adler; sofa: Sofa & Chair Company
Several of the accessories in this room are finds from Jonathan Adler. “It’s my favorite place,” Bjornsdottir says. “I could live in that shop!”
Side table and lamp: Jonathan Adler; sofa: Sofa & Chair Company
In the hallway, Bjornsdottir added a soft gray paint color below the dado rail and a patterned wallpaper above. It was a practical choice in addition to making a visual statement. “The kids are always running up and down the stairs, so wallpaper would get messy with little fingerprints — paint is much easier to clean,” Bjornsdottir says.
Wall paint: Lamp Room Gray, by Farrow & Ball; wallpaper: Tessella, by Farrow & Ball
Wall paint: Lamp Room Gray, by Farrow & Ball; wallpaper: Tessella, by Farrow & Ball
The kitchen has an open layout with a wall of cabinets and a central island. The curved counter doubles as a breakfast bar, and zinc bar stools tuck neatly underneath it.
The kitchen didn’t need as much work as the other rooms. “It was quite new when we moved in,” Bjornsdottir says, “so while it wasn’t exactly our style, it was too good to just rip out and replace. We’ve made a few small changes to update it.”
Read more about this Victorian kitchen with an open-plan layout
The kitchen didn’t need as much work as the other rooms. “It was quite new when we moved in,” Bjornsdottir says, “so while it wasn’t exactly our style, it was too good to just rip out and replace. We’ve made a few small changes to update it.”
Read more about this Victorian kitchen with an open-plan layout
The couple painted the cabinets a dark gray and added shelves to display colorful books and jars. They also tiled the wall above the sink with white subway tiles and used a dark gray grout for a contemporary feel.
Connected to the kitchen is a light and airy family room that features bifold doors opening onto the garden.
Connected to the kitchen is a light and airy family room that features bifold doors opening onto the garden.
A dark gray L-shaped sofa serves the family well, especially with little ones. Crisp white walls keep the space feeling light and airy.
“The things that make me happiest at home are the people in it,” Bjornsdottir says, pictured here with two of her children.
On the first floor is a large and bright master bedroom. The floor-to-ceiling sash windows, polished wood floor and ornate ceiling medallion give the space period character, while colorful and contemporary decor adds warmth.
“This was the first room we decorated when we moved in, so we could then have a base from which to decorate all the other rooms,” Bjornsdottir says.
Balleroy wallpaper: Manuel Canovas at Colefax and Fowler; Henrietta bed: Feather & Black
“This was the first room we decorated when we moved in, so we could then have a base from which to decorate all the other rooms,” Bjornsdottir says.
Balleroy wallpaper: Manuel Canovas at Colefax and Fowler; Henrietta bed: Feather & Black
Also on the first floor is this bold and bright family bathroom. The plan for this room was simple: The couple needed a bigger space to cater to their growing family’s needs, and it had to reflect Bjornsdottir’s love of vintage style and rich Mediterranean color.
Joining two existing rooms created enough space for a walk-in shower, classic tub and elegant vanity.
“The house is old Victorian, so this look fitted in with everything else in the property,” Bjornsdottir says. “It just worked and felt like the right way to go — live modern but keep traditional.”
Read more about this colorful bathroom
“The house is old Victorian, so this look fitted in with everything else in the property,” Bjornsdottir says. “It just worked and felt like the right way to go — live modern but keep traditional.”
Read more about this colorful bathroom
The couple transformed the top-floor attic room into a fun and colorful guest bedroom with bold wallpaper and practical built-in shelving.
The wallpaper is the same Balleroy print as in the master bedroom, but in a pink and gray color scheme.
The wallpaper is the same Balleroy print as in the master bedroom, but in a pink and gray color scheme.
The velvet upholstered sleigh bed in the guest room is also the same as the one in the master. “It’s the best bed in the world,” Bjornsdottir says.
Henrietta bed: Feather & Black
Henrietta bed: Feather & Black
Connected to the guest bedroom is a compact but stylish bathroom. “The room was originally even smaller than this, as the built-in wardrobe from next door encroached on the space,” Bjornsdottir says. To increase the footprint, she removed the closet and extended the wall back to make space for the walk-in shower. She also removed the existing tub.
By using a soft palette of whites and and pale pinks, Bjornsdottir kept the room feeling light and bright. A slim and unobtrusive glass shower door also contributes to the feeling of space.
Illuminated mirror: Philip Oakley Illuminations
Illuminated mirror: Philip Oakley Illuminations
“I was trying to choose between a couple of wall colors for this room, and a friend suggested I go with this pale pink,” Bjornsdottir says.
Wall paint: Calamine, by Farrow & Ball
Wall paint: Calamine, by Farrow & Ball
The children’s rooms are decorated with lots of color too. Here, bunk beds are a fun and practical choice, while a patchwork rug adds warmth and a vibrant touch.
The bunk beds in this room were custom built for the space.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts |Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir, a singer-songwriter; Jamie Lawson, a commodity broker; and their children
Location: Clapham neighborhood of London
Size: 3,000 square feet (279 square meters); five bedrooms, two bathrooms
The main living room didn’t need any major structural changes, as two rooms had already been combined to make one large space. However, homeowners Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir and Jamie Lawson did need to refurbish the ceiling plasterwork and install a new floor before they could start their redecorating.
Moroccan rug: BlueGiGi; mirror: Overmantels