A Victorian terraced house in Hackney reconfigured for modern family life
Instead of merely naming their projects after the neighbourhoods they are in or the roads on which they sit, interior design duo Field Day Studio poetically dubs them with maxim-like phrases that speak to the intentions behind the design. When it came to this Victorian terraced house in East London, the owners – a couple with two young daughters – were looking to reconfigure their home to better suit family life. Co-founders Jessica Gibbons and Kat Turner helped shape it into a place that not only works for the family as they are presently, but also anticipates their future. And so it is named in their files as ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’.
‘They had a lovely idea about how this was where all their family life was going to forever unfold,’ says Jess of the design process for this unassuming Victorian terraced house in Hackney, which began in 2023. It may sound abstract, but it is clear that imagining the passing of time and the evolution of this family in the house has shaped its design. Firstly, a growing family meant the need for a little more space and functionality, so to begin with the house was extended upwards and outwards and a brand new pantry was created in the kitchen. Bespoke joinery provided the family with lots of storage too. Jess admits that creating space was one of the harder challenges as they tried to carve out enough room for everyone to gather together – for the adults to rest and for the children to play.
Indeed the playroom, with its balance of exuberance and maturity, is one of the rooms that demonstrates most potently how the family and the design team think about time in this house. Walls in Paint & Paper Library's rich burnt orange ‘The Long Room’ provide a sophistication and along with the Balineum tiles on the hearth of the fireplace, a stylish nod to the 1970s. In fact there are vintage references all around. The armchair is vintage and has been re-upholstered in a fun and pretty floral from GP & J Baker and a lamp from Retrouvius sits on the mantlepiece. These pieces infuse the room with a sense of worldliness amongst the playfulness. It again seems to look to the future, when it may no longer serve the purpose it does now, by intentionally keeping its aesthetics inline with the rest of the house's design story.
The harmonious juxtaposition of multiple styles and eras can be found throughout the house. Far from having the house's Victorian architecture serve as a mere shell for the mid-century modern interiors the couple favour, Jess found a way to honour the house's original features, which hinged on their willingness to be bolder than they had been in the past with colour. The original fireplaces have been painted in joyful colours: Fenwick's ‘Kelp’, a lively yellow-green in the playroom and a warm buttery yellow in the living room. In said living room, the original cornicing as well as the ceiling have been painted a darker neutral. Throughout the house, the doors and doorways have been painted in glossy reds, vibrant greens, and biscuity browns.
Just beyond the living room, is the extended kitchen which Jess describes as having a ‘utilitarian mid-century vibe.’ It is a space shaped as much by function as by feeling, designed to host everything from hurried breakfasts to long, convivial suppers. Its glazed, white, square tiling from Claybrook is satisfying to look at. The kitchen island is a rustic workbench, bespoke and made of a striking dark oak. In fact, the use of wood throughout this house is notable. There is a real celebration of the honesty of the material, which seems inspired by the mid-century modern's approach to design that anticipates human needs with its ergonomics, symmetry, and lines. ‘We’ve got oak, we've got walnut, we've got teak, we've got all sorts going on in this house, sepale.' Combined, they give a richness to the house, which works particularly well with the brighter splashes of paint around the house. ‘It’s such a cheat code for somewhere feeling warm, homely and attractive,' Jess admits.
Incorporating the family's love of travel also added to how layered these interiors are. Instead of signalling their wanderlust with an abundance of knick knacks, Jess and Kat took a more subtle approach, for example, ‘splic[ing the kitchen] with bit more of a rustic, warm, almost Mediterranean feel’ by installing terracotta tiles from Floors of Stone. Getting the kitchen right was particularly important. In their early conversations, the husband had highlighted the role of the dining table as a place, Jess recalls, ‘where all the important things in your life and all these lovely conversations would happen.’ It is not just in the cosy dining area with its patterned banquette where Jess and Kat have succeeded in creating a beautiful space to experience some of life's most important little moments. This whole house presents a conversation between the past and the present while looking forward to a fulfilling, family-oriented future.
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Dean Hearne1/9The terraced house's original features include the floorboards, as well as the cornicing, which along with the ceiling has been painted in Paint & Paper Library's ‘Canvas V’. The door leading to the hallway has been painted in its ‘Caddie’ as well, while the door to the left is in ‘Dinner Party’ by Benjamin Moore. The sofa is by Andrew Martin and the area rug by Birdie Fortescue. A vintage coffee table sits in the middle of the room.
Dean Hearne2/9The panelled wall in the kitchen dining area has been painted in Farrow & Ball's increasingly popular ‘Dimity’. The wall light is from Soho Home, the terracotta tiles from Floors of Stone. The dining table is vintage and the accompanying chair is from Six the Residence. The cushions on the banquette have been upholstered in Christopher Farr by Andre Upholstery in Cheam.
Dean Hearne3/9The blue-and-white gingham tiling in the pantry sweetly evokes a tablecloth and is by the Mosaic factory, while the floor tiles are by Wiltshire-based Artisans of devizes. The vibrant door frame has been painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Preference Red’.
Dean Hearne4/9The walls of the children's bedroom has been painted in Paint & Paper Library's ‘Stone II’, with the corner cupboard painted in ‘Golden Groves’, a sunshiney yellow by Benjamin Moore. The curtains were made by The London Curtain Girls with fabric from Lana Daya. The sculptural ceiling light is Normann Copenhagen's ‘Bau’ and the fireplace has been painted in ‘The Botanist’ by Paint & Paper Library.
Dean Hearne5/9The bathoom flooring is by Ca Pietra while the wall tiles are from Claybrooks. Both the bath and the sink are reclaimed vintage finds as is the mirror and the wall lights, which are vintage Murano. The cafe curtain was made bespoke by The London Curtain Girls as were the blinds in fabric from Tori Murphy. The bathroom's blue hue is Farrow & Ball's ‘Mizzle.’
Dean Hearne6/9The floor of this guest room has been painted in Little Greene's ‘Puck’ while the walls are in Paint & Paper Library's ‘Sand 3’. The door is a bespoke colour.
Dean Hearne7/9The sink and its brassware are from British manufacturers Lefroy Brooks and the mirror above it is bespoke and cleverly hides storage space. On either side sit vintage Stig Carlsson wall lights. The wood panelling is made from Sapele, an African hardwood. The floor tiles are by Mandarin Stone.
Dean Hearne8/9The principal bedroom is painted in Little Greene's ‘Galette’. A lamp by Birdie Fortescue sits on a vintage bedside table. The ceiling light is by Watt & Veke, while the wall light is from Soho Home. The curtains are made in fabric from Tori Murphy and the rustic looking flooring consists of reclaimed pine board.
Dean Hearne9/9All the joinery was designed by the Field Studio team. A vintage rug sits beneath the bed.
