Interior Design Of A Family House In Dulwich

Dulwich is a popular area for London families. Many of the projects I embark on locally are to work on the interior design of a family house, updating the decor to suit the taste of the new homeowners.

This family home is typical of a Penman Interiors project. Located in west Dulwich and newly purchased by the homeowners, it fulfils many of their requirements for the perfect home. As a young family with a toddler this home near good schools that will not only grow with their family but that also has plenty of room for visiting relatives perfectly fits the bill. However the large 4 bedroom (victorian/edwardian) house which benefits from 3 reception rooms and 3 bathrooms was in need of a full update and refurbishment.

The homeowners came to work with Penman Interiors through our trusted relationship with building firm Deva Design and Build. The project started August 2018 and was completed in January 2019.

The brief for the design style was to deliver a contemporary, modern take on luxury throughout this interior design of a family house. A stylish and practical kitchen for a client who loves to cook. Bathrooms with luxury finishes to create a sanctuary for relaxation.

Planning The Interior Design Of A Family House

To start the planning the design we looked at the current configuration and how to best make use of the space in the home for modern family living. This includes changes to the existing layout such as losing a smaller fifth bedroom to create a walk-in ensuite for the master bedroom. The en-suite required some structural works including removal of an internal wall. A replacement doorway and stud wall create the new layout. Additionally new plumbing was required to feed the en-suite. All of this was carried out under the supervision of a structural engineer.

I liaised with the client to draw up the kitchen and bathroom plans. Alongside these plans the lighting and electrical design plans enable the client to visualise every aspect of the layout through this stage of the design. With these plans approved the build started in earnest. It took around 6 months to complete the project. In the early stages I visited the site almost daily to keep informed of the progress of the build. Weekly meetings were then held with the client to keep them updated, review the plans and get sign offs and approvals was each stage progressed.

The Design Details

Meanwhile alongside the construction work to create the layout, I was busy working to create the concepts for the interior design of a family house to the taste and style of the new owners.

The inspiration for the design lay in the clients love of a rich and dramatic colour palette. Cocooning rich chocolate, deep navy blues and walnut floors with accents from pops of brighter colour. A timeless style mixed with a few modern statement pieces to create the chic modern look the home owners love.

Clients view the conceptual ideas through design presentation boards. These include imagery and the style of furniture. It is so important that clients get a real feel for the end result. To help visualise this we present illustrations for the living rooms and master bedroom to visualise the layout and furniture ideas.  Our design boards also include samples to show the wall colours, wallpapers and fabrics. Being able to see and feel the fabrics and wallpapers together helps the client confidently make their final choices especially when specifying bespoke pieces for a design.

The Kitchen Design

The kitchen is always the heart of the home. For a client who loves to cook this room is one of the most important in the interior design of a family house. A timeless traditional kitchen style with an L-shaped layout maximises the storage area across two sides of the kitchen.

On one side tall cabinets to hide integrated, fridges kitchen gadgets and eye level ovens. Adjacent are lower level cabinets house the hob and sink. Additionally a large central island features as a focal point for gathering the family together in this room.

A bold monochrome colour scheme is accented by beautiful brass hardware in the cabinet handles and taps.

The Living Spaces

In the main the living rooms there’s a timeless style with classic furniture to suit a traditional period home.

However a few luxurious modern pieces add drama in these spaces. An oversize wall mural featuring a traditional still life painting adds a touch of maximalist style. Two beautiful navy Ligne Roset Chairs, a classic investment in style, grace the living room.

In the bedrooms deluxe upholstered beds, luxury patterned wallpapers and the rich finishes of the dark furniture combine to create a sanctuary of elegant luxury.

The Bathroom Design

High end finishes were key to getting the bathrooms in keeping with the rest of the property. Each bathroom had a character of it’s own.  Although in keeping with theme of elegant luxury there was plenty of marble and touches of brass.

The End Result

The clients were extremely pleased with the end result of their project, here’s what they said.

Overall the update to this house enabled them to enjoy all the comforts of modern living in the character of a traditional period home. As well as this the improvements have added a significant increase in the value of the property. If you are looking to improve the interior design of a family house in Dulwich or the surrounding areas come and talk with us to see how we can help.