Islington

“A lesson in punctuation” 

This Victorian House boldly mixes old and new, chaste white and bursts of searing colour, to create something quite unique. Say hello to mid- 19th- century modernism

“I’m all about framing moments” 

This is a house that treasures memories and perfectly frames the many moments of family life. The biggest task was to replace the 1970s extension to the rear of the house with one of their own, creating a fluid living, dining and kitchen space that opens out onto their garden and pulls light in from all directions. But far from leaving the original house alone, Irenie has put her stamp on the spaces throughout. As well as balancing old and new, Irenie also balances colour and calm to great effect. Simple flooring and white walls create a blank canvas for each space, lending a great degree of flexibility to the many rooms of the house, something Irenie sees as being key in a family home. What starts out as a studio can become a bedroom for a growing boy; a den and an office can combine; spaces can evolve. 

Lastly, the house is full to the brim with storage space, but it is placed so cleverly, you could easily miss it. Irenie took every opportunity to carve out space in every room: there are shelves, cupboards, and recesses wherever you turn. It means that everything the family needs is close at hand, yet the house feels anything but cluttered. But while the everyday essentials are tucked away, plenty of surfaces and spaces are dedicated to the stuff everyone wants on show – ensuring this family home frames the moments that matter.