Open Minded

Fionnuala and Matt Oomen threw out the rule book by adding elements of their loft-living past to their Victorian home

- Jo Leevers

When Fionnuala and Matt Oomen left their central London factory apartment for a more family-friendly home, they took their sense of style with them. ‘We moved here from a big, open-plan loft-like space that was interrupted only by pillars,’ says Fionnuala. However, once their first child, Lorcan, came along, rooms without borders became more of an issue. ‘We needed a different kind of home for life with a toddler – and we longed for a garden, too.’

Now, with Lorcan, 6, and second son Elis, 3, the couple live in a five-bedroom Victorian house in south London, which has given them ‘space to breathe’. The couple loved its classic double-fronted proportions, wide hall and period features. But Fionnuala and Matt were not ready to ditch their love of contemporary art and furniture for a traditional look. ‘A Victorian house doesn’t mean you have to emulate period style,’ says Fionnuala. ‘We liked the idea of something creative – adding a slightly more contemporary character to this lovely frame.’