This house in the Notting Hill area of London was in a very poor state of repair when the client bought it. The refurbishment project involved major structural work and took eight months to complete.

The work involved:

• complete re-wiring
• re-plastering of walls
• installation of a new central heating system
• installation of a new kitchen and bathrooms
• repair to sash windows
• extensive changes to the plumbing

The client wanted a classic-contemporary interior, with an emphasis on good lighting to compensate for rather poor natural light in some rooms. She wanted a neutral colour palette and the floor and work surfaces to be finished with natural materials, principally wood and stone.

She wanted plenty of bespoke modern but unobtrusive storage and carefully chosen contemporary furniture that would not crowd the fairly narrow living and dining rooms.

This splendid, early Victorian house in north London has been owned for many years by the clients, both well-known actors.

They began seriously to renovate it 10 years ago and last year decided it needed further structural and electrical work, as well as to be modernised in terms of its interior design.

The renovation and re-decoration work took six months.

The huge ground floor, (left) with two adjoining living rooms and a conservatory overlooking the garden, was stripped out and the floors re-laid with wonderful 500-year-old re-claimed oak. This wood has a beautiful patina and gives the area tremendous character as well as elegance. Furniture has been kept to a minimum, with a large cream modular seating system and a glass coffee table.

The master bedroom (left) required repair to the original cornicing and the installation of a new en-suite bathroom.

The clients wanted a light, uncluttered room with capacious bespoke storage.

I designed a large bank of wardrobes in limed oak, with matching cupboards and a console table.

The floor is covered with a custom-dyed wool carpet.