ORIGINAL thinking

Daring to be different, the owner of this Victorian terrace embraced all of the house's quirks to ensure that every design decision honoured its history

- WORDS VIVIENNE AYERS | PHOTOGRAPHY PAUL WHITBREAD

This space was re-envisioned with a classic aesthetic, creating a room that feels established, brighter and imbued with a welcoming, airy charm. A textural backdrop was created with a plaster wall with a beeswax finish. Bespoke cabinetry painted in Cord, Farrow & Ball. Horn wall lights, Charlotte Packe. Range cooker, Bertazzoni.

The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely,' declared Louisa May Alcott, and that dictum could apply to the owners of this Victorian terraced home in north London with its interior that nods to the Japanese art of wabi-sabi.

Interior designer Anna Haines was tasked with reimagining the three-storey property, undertaking a considered renovation that focused on honouring the home's historic character while at the same time injecting modern functionality. Original mouldings and features were carefully restored with natural and reclaimed materials woven in for authenticity and sustainability, and unique finds judiciously introduced, resulting in a home with its own distinct personality that celebrates its imperfections. 'The client really embraced the quirks of the house he didn't mind the wonky floors,' explains Anna.