The city break at Stockholm’s Ett Hem, a boutique hotel designed by Ilse Crawford, became an inspiring turning point for Sam and Rob Hartung who were halfway through planning a major renovation of their new modern home in North London.
“We were in the dream-planning stage, but that firsthand experience of modern Ilse Crawford’s Scandi in vintage and traditional style, was a luminous moment,” says Sam. “Its intricate detailing and contrast in materials are just great, but most importantly comfort is key too – everything we wanted to achieve in our home.”
Unusually, Sam, a doctor and Rob, who works in finance, were able to rent the beautifully proportioned Victorian villa in north London, before buying it. “Our former property was long, narrow, and located in an old, well-established community, where we didn’t fit in with our growing family (then three boys and two cats),” she says. “When a college friend suggested we rent this home-detached, with a quieter vibe and more lateral flow, we jumped at the opportunity.”
Two years later, they “pressed” to let them buy it…
Living room
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
Although he was not in bad shape, by living there Sam developed a vision of making it serve the family better. The business began in 2014 with an initial focus on practicality and stylish storage ideas. “It’s hopeless if it’s not practical,” Sam says.
There are seven of us (fourth son Kate born in 2017) residing here including the nanny who lives where Rob travels for work and I do night shifts. It should have been so practical and super wearable, but we’d all be glad to return to it at the end of each day.
The stapled ball friezes and arrows have been painstakingly restored and left unpainted so that their detail is more visible. Shades of green are a feature throughout the home, chosen for their calm, earthy quality. “Having quiet walls means we can get away with the premium art, which we often find on our travels,” she says.
kitchen
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
“The design of the house is very clever spatially, again thanks to Sam knowing this well before the renovation. Feet and inches were stolen here and there – smaller corridors to make rooms bigger, the interior nanny suite was carved out of an area behind the idea of the Critall-style kitchen pantry, and at the top From the house, there were three bedrooms and a family bathroom.It was created by extension to the eaves and out to the landing.
“I avoided using wall units on this side so I could have a display shelf that personalizes my ever-changing vases and objects,” she adds.
The store
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
“This was a necessity for me and I stubbornly refused to let the architects take it off my wish list—I spent hours fiddling with the layout of the kitchen and adjacent shower room for the nanny to get enough space for both,” he explains. Toxic.
If a pantry is on your wish list, or you’re lucky enough to already own one, be sure to read our travels on how to organize a pantry.
dinner room
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
A basement cellar has been reclaimed for storage, a wine cellar and a confined utility area next to the toilet. “They were relatively small changes but they improved every room that was affected,” Sam says. It is important to know how to properly plan a basement extension before you begin because it is a massive task but it can add a lot of value and much needed extra space.
The main space gain was the cantilevered extension of the lower ground floor to the outdoor patio. Without beams, the view from the dining area to the garden is seamless. “It required a lot of structural planning as well as having massive steel between ground level and basement that raises the back of the house,” she smiles.
Floor warmers throughout the dining room are lackluster but more practical than they look, and they happily withstand the hard blows of family life.
master bedroom
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
Near the end of the renovation, interior designer Charlotte Griffin called in to help realize some ideas. “Charlotte understood exactly what I was trying to achieve, and I always model it within that framework,” Sam says.
I also worked with her mother, Susan Blair, a garden designer, to reconfigure the outdoor space to accommodate soccer games and an in-ground trampoline (“which I can’t recommend highly enough”) disguised with new plantings right up to the house. ‘I only cared about gardening so much about 10 years ago,’ says Sam, ‘but now I find it’s the equivalent of treatment but much cheaper – offering exercise, creativity and hours of quiet meditation.
“With beds like this cramped, our bedroom is a haven to escape to with a seating area,” she adds. “When we get a moment!” Discover more neutral bedroom ideas for a calm and relaxing bedroom plan
boy’s bedroom
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
This space has been reworked with skylights and carpentry specifically designed to easily evolve as children grow.
main bathroom
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
It was important for our bathroom to be a quiet place, so we created plenty of storage space to help keep it that way. “Although the main color scheme is soft and calm, I like the sharp contrast of metallic black to give it an edge.
See more: This London Terrace is a lesson in blending traditional styles, heritage forms and modern art