FADED grandeur

CREATIVE COUPLE GEMMA RUSE AND XAVIER SHERRIF HAVE JUXTAPOSED THE PATINA OF AGE WITH STYLISH CLEAN LINES IN THEIR VICTORIAN-MEETS-MODERN HOME

- MARY WEAVER, CARRIE MITCHELL

HOME NOTES

WHO LIVES HERE?

Gemma Ruse and Xavier Sherrif live here with their four-year-old son Raffi Together, the couple run global design agency StudioXAG.

THE PROPERTY

A large four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in east London.

THE LAYOUT

The property is arranged over four main floors. The ground floor has a large living room, kitchen with playroom/snug area and an internal courtyard. Stairs lead up to a half floor with Raff is bedroom and to the first floor with the main bedroom, dressing room and en-suite shower room. Above, another half floor has the family bathroom and laundry. The top floor has two bedrooms/studies, plus a shower room. Finally, the flat in the basement (not shown) is rented out.

Gemma Ruse and her partner Xavier Sherrif had been living in a maisonette in east London for 10 years while building up their business, when they embarked on a lifestyle change which saw them getting married, buying the house and having a baby – all at the same time.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A RENOVATION?