WAYS TO GIVE YOUR VICTORIAN PROPERTY A CONTEMPORARY TWIST

1. WAYS TO GIVE YOUR VICTORIAN PROPERTY A CONTEMPORARY TWIST

2. BRING IN BOLD HUES Colours play a huge role in not only making your house a home but honing its style and atmosphere. While many period homes embraced rich tones, it can be tempting to stick to neutral tones that add light and space (such as timeless, subtle grey tones). This then provides the opportunity to inject personality via bold jewel tones on your upholstery, window treatments and accessories, such as the accents of green and yellow shown here. Pattern play. Tap into the spirit of the era by layering modern patterns. Team period features such as this ornate marble fire surround with a retro-print sofa, geometric rug or boldly-striped throw.

3. KEEP IT WHITE It’s not just the colour you use in your period property, but the way in which you use it. The living room walls in this Victorian conversion were painted floor-to-ceiling in this natural blue shade – including the alcoves, shelving and cabinetry – giving it a modern feel and also letting the marble feature fireplace take centre stage. Why choose one rich colour when you can choose two? Here a contrasting accent colour, a rich emerald green, calls attention to the velvet sofa upholstery and giving the overall scheme the extra wow-factor.

4. INTRODUCE A STATEMENT WALLPAPER Wallpaper is an easy way to elevate a room. It occupies prime real estate and offers instant texture, colour, and pattern – and for a period property, it’s a vibrant and clever way to add a contemporary twist. With so many designs out there, the possibilities are endless. Moody oversized floral designs will add period drama the modern way, while Chinoiserie patterns are having a blossoming moment right now. For kitchens and living spaces, botanical, leafy wallpaper designs bring vitality and warm, shimmering florals can be soothing and uplifting in the bedroom.

5. OPT FOR BLACK FITTINGS Tile talk. If you’re in love with traditional tiles in the bathroom but want to give your room a more modern feel, choose dark grouting to emphasise the lines and modernise the look. You could also bring tiles to half height and paint a rich inky tone for a neat look with contemporary contrast. In this bathroom in Kensington, elegant stone tiles are paired with a rich tone in blue for an understated but beautiful scheme, with a classic dado to nod to the home’s period heritage.

6. …OR BRASS FITTINGS The warmth of brass marries perfectly with a natural palette and other earthy elements such as timber and stone, and will give your space a welcoming and homey feel. Like other metals, brass can come in various physical finishes that give the metal a different appearance depending on what style you’re going for. The most common variations (for less or more shine) are brushed, matt and polished, as well as faux-ageing for an antiqued look.

7. ADD QUIRKY LIGHTING Why choose a vintage chandelier or a traditional wall sconce in a Victorian home when there are so many modern-day alternatives to put an altogether different slant on things? Big lighting fixtures are great in the tall ceilings in period houses and can provide an excellent focal point for a room. In this kitchen in Queen’s Park, a group of large cage pendant lampshades create an industrial-style feature that zones the cooking zone in an open-plan space.

8. TRY BRIGHT ENCAUSTICS Celebrate the playful pattern of 19th century geometric and encaustic tiles, but with a modern twist, by choosing punchy shades and modern shapes. This is a great way to showcase your home’s history, whether you’re having to part-restore flooring or add a new nod to its heritage. Powder panache. In smaller schemes, making a feature of your floor can add interest without impacting the sense of space. In this listed townhouse in Kensington, the owners chose to use a traditional patterned tile in a vibrant and contemporary palette of greens, oranges and blues, which stands out proudly all the more thanks to the mint green pale backdrop.

9. HANG MODERN ART Displaying modern prints is a popular and pain-free way to sky rocket a period property straight into the 21st century, without sacrificing or damaging any original features – and what’s more, it couldn’t be easier to change up. Mix old and new by hanging a modern print in a traditional, gilded frame and if you’re lucky enough to have a dado rail and picture rail, be sure to hang it between – that’s what they’re there for after all.

10. INSTALL A WOOD-BURNING STOVE As much as you might relish the idea of an open roaring fire after a hard day at work, the reality is that they take a lot of upkeep, can waste heat and can release toxic fumes into the home. Instead, embrace the traditional surround and call in the professionals to install an electric wood-burning stove. It will offer easy maintenance and maximum heat efficiency, as well as adding a contemporary touch to a period space.

11. LOOKING FOR A PROJECT MANAGER? Be inspired by more of Huntsmore’s latest projects in our photo gallery. Plus, if you’re looking to start your own unique project, we invite you to book a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced design experts who will advise you on how to turn your ideas into reality. 96 Kensington High Street, London, W8 4SG www.huntsmore.com hello@huntsmore.com +44 (0) 20 7484 5745