◆PALE & INTERESTING A

PALE & CHARLOTTE AND CHARLES HOW TOOK A THOROUGHLY UNLOVED PROPERTY IN FULHAM AND TRANSFORMED IT INTO A PRISTINE ALL-WHITE interesting HOME, DESIGNED WITH CREATIVITY AND CARE

Our builder thought we were crazy for PAINTING the entire house WHITE, but I am so glad I listened to my gut because I love how LIGHT and BRIGHT our home is ”

CHARLOTTE HOW, HOMEOWNER

Living room

‘This is what we call our

“adult living room ” , where we go if we have guests over for drinks or want some quiet time. ’ BUY THE KEY PIECES

Relaxed Lounge chairs, £595 each, Cox & Cox. Try Allie Frame coffee table, £199, Wayfair. Hempy square jute rug, £335, La Redoute, is similar. Accessories, Stone + Wood. For hallway mirror (le) try Arcus, £195, William Wood

T

he London terraced house that Charlotte and Charles bought in 2019 was certainly ripe for a radical renovation. But the project became even bigger than they had ever imaged once the builders had surveyed the property…

HOW DID YOU FIND THIS HOUSE? ‘We had been living with my parents while we saved up to buy our own property and spent two years looking around London before we just happened to find something we liked on the same road. When we bought the house, back in 2019, it was completely derelict. It had bright-blue carpet throughout and damp on all the walls. I remember thinking, “Wow, this is a huge job” , but we put in an offer anyway. And although it was originally rejected, the agent later called us back to say that it had been accepted. We took that as a sign that it was the right house for us. ’

WHAT PLANS DID YOU HAVE FOR THE RENOVATION? ‘Initially, we were only going to restore the property and extend to the side, the rear and up to the loft. But when we showed our builders around, they suggested knocking the entire house down and starting from scratch, from the ground up. We started the demolition in October 2020. ’

WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE DURING THE BUILD? ‘We were very lucky that our builders were able to continue work during the pandemic. ere were slight delays due to the lack of materials, such as timber and cement, but we ploughed on. My husband managed the logistics while I focused on layouts and interior design. I have always enjoyed being creative and taught myself how to do CAD (computer-aided design) drawings so we could visualise the house in 3D. As we were staying just ten doors down, the poor builders had to put up with us coming on site every single day. I was pregnant during this time and would worry everyone by climbing up ladders. We finally moved in during August 2021, six months after Clemmie was born. ’

WHAT MAKES YOUR HOME PERFECT FOR FAMILY LIFE? ‘When we started planning the house with the architect, we were very keen to remove the splitlevels on the ground floor as we were starting a family and wanted to make sure there weren’t too many stairs. We love that now it’s very child friendly and it’s been great for Clemmie when she was learning to walk. My favourite room would have to be the kitchen/living space, as this is where we spend all of our time. Our dog Cooper, an Irish Doodle, likes to hang out with us there all day too.

HOME NOTES

WHO LIVES HERE?

Charlotte How and her husband Charles, a surveyor, with daughter Clemmie, two. Charlotte is the founder of homeware brand Stone + Wood and luxury dog bed brand Teddy London. THE PROPERTY

A four-bedroom terraced house in Fulham, west London, built on the footprint of the original property.

THE LAYOUT

At the front of the house, glass doors open to a formal living room. The hallway leads back to an open-plan kitchen/dining/living area, plus loo and utility room. Upstairs is the main bedroom, Clemmie ’ s bedroom, study and family bathroom. On the second floor are two further bedrooms and a shower room.

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

SECOND FLOOR

BEDROOM

STUDY

LIVING AREA FIRST FLOOR

KITCHEN/ DINING AREA

UTILITY ROOM

MAIN BEDROOM

LIVING ROOM

Hallway

‘As soon as you step inside, our house appears light and bright, thanks to the pale schemes and large glass doors. Our style is very neutral but with lots of texture from wood, stone and woven natural fibres. ’ BUY THE KEY PIECES

Henley oak console table, £1,340, Neptune. Hempy handwoven jute runner, £99; woven baskets, from £99 each, all La Redoute

EXTRA-WIDE ENTRANCE

Creates plenty of space for arriving and departing with a buggy in tow

GLASS PENDANTS

Crystal-clear designs combined with steel fixings create a modern, elegant yet industrial look

Kitchen area

‘I didn ’t want a visible extractor fan over the island, so chose the Bora hob that sucks away cooking fumes. We also love all the storage we have and our spacious pantry. I like order!’ BUY THE KEY PIECES

Kitchen, price on request, Tom Howley. Hoxton Bullet pendant lights, £130, Garden Trading. Basic combined cooktop and extractor, from £2,400, Bora

METAL-FRAME DOORS

Allow natural light to flood the main living space and provide easy access to the garden

‘The island unit is our favourite part of the kitchen, as it’ s so sociable.’ Uish high stools, £279.95, Sklum Fez Clay tiles, from £87sq m, Porcelain Superstore. Fusion tap, £2,020, Quooker

Living area

‘There was no compromising here, as we knew it would be the heart of our home. I wanted marble worktops but was advised against it. I’ m pleased we went for a look-alike quartz instead – much more practical. ’ BUY THE KEY PIECES

Try Anais walnut table with marble top, £2,999, Heal’ s. Uish dining chairs, £194.95, Sklum. Kamran Ivory Opal rug, £359, Ruggable

We ’ re still QUITE precious about keeping the house

PERFECT, but we are a FAMILY and so wear and tear is inevitable ”

PANELLED WALL

Subtle detail for a little extra character in a pale interior

‘A neutral scheme makes us feel peaceful – perfect for the bedroom ’

Relaxed Lounge sofa, £995, Cox & Cox. Try Rattan handles, £10.95 each, Home Luxe Co Interiors ‘I love having a dedicated dressing area.’ Jute pouffe, £99, Benuta

FOCUS ON… A TOTAL REBUILD

Knocking down a property and building your home from scratch is a daunting but exciting prospect, as Charlotte and Charles discovered

WHAT IT COSTS It’ s hard to believe but it’ s oen cheaper to demolish and rebuild than to undergo a full-house renovation. To ensure you make the right choice, do a full-cost analysis with the advice of an architect. Remember to include demolition costs, VAT and the expected end value of the property.

THE CHALLENGES Obtaining planning permission for your desired home can be a large and difficult hurdle, especially if the property is in a conservation area. Appoint a design team from the start to help you create realistic plans, and to assist seeing your application through the lengthy process.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? As well as having a home designed to your precise specifications, a rebuild usually also means making the property more energy-efficient and more likely to stand the test of time.

Main bedroom

‘Charles was nervous about using so many white and pale tones but he loves it now we have added texture and a little accent colour.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Molly padded headboard bed, from £1,244, Love Your Home. Aldwych bedside drawers, £950, Neptune

Bathroom

‘The symmetry of double basins and two towering mirrors creates a luxurious hotel vibe here.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Bathroom, EMH London. Dorchester unit, £1,395, Lusso. Archway mirrors, £250 each, Oliver Bonas. Dar Hadano wall lights, £57.99, Lighting Direct

Study

‘There’ s something really calming about this space; I’ m very productive when I’m in here. I’ m always on the hunt for amazing artwork – this piece is by Swedish artist Sofia Lind. ’ BUY THE KEY PIECES

Teak dining chair, £249.95, Sklum. Meet Me At Jaurés print by Sofia Lind, £75, The Poster Club. Try Watson picture light, £69, Lampsy WOVEN CHAIR

An attractive alternative to a conventional office chair

PERFECT PERCH Cane rattan bar stool, £395, Six The Residence

Clemmie’ s room

‘I wanted the décor to be half panelling, half wallpaper. That way, for a new look, we can simply replace the wallpaper. I love sitting in here with Clemmie before bath time. ’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Modern recliner, £1,099; Stella table, £249, both Pottery Barn Kids. Try Galerie Apelviken 2 Pink Floral Woodland wallpaper, £72.95 a roll, B&Q. Cam Cam Harlequin shelf, £91.10, Scandiborn

FAMILY MUST-HAVES

INSPIRED BY CHARLOTTE’S HOME

TOUCHABLE TEXTURE Hallee pillow, £59, Stone + Wood Homeware

WIPE CLEAN Aria marble and brass coffee table, £279, Cult Furniture

BEDSIDE STORAGE Elements Arja drawers, £169, Dunelm