When shoe designer Vicky bought her Victorian property on North London's Harringay Ladder, it was in need of a complete overhaul. Vicky approached her second renovation with confidence, having already worked with Resi on her previous home in Stoke Newington, and this time she was ready to take on a bigger challenge. The house hadn’t been lived in for years and required a whole house renovation, which included full internal remodelling, facade updates and changes to the roof to create a vaulted loft space. Find out more about Vicky's story by giving her episode of Change of Plans a watch.
Originally Vicky had planned to add a rear extension, which she secured planning approval for. But the property sits on a steep plot, which would have made excavation and level changes costly following contractor tenders. She made the big decision to scale back the project, working closely with her Resi designer to understand how the existing footprint could be reconfigured, which proved to be just as transformative as building out.
We redesigned the ground floor by removing the central wall and chimney breast to unite the kitchen and dining areas. Vicky opted for an L-shaped kitchen to subtly define the space, positioning the sink to face the garden so she can enjoy the view while washing up. The result is a generous space that celebrates the home’s original, distinctive shape while opening directly onto the garden through new bi-fold doors. Rather than building out into the side return, a common decision for this type of Victorian home, she chose to retain the bay window. The window floods the kitchen with natural light, and the side alley provides storage space along the side of the house where things things like bicycles and the barbecue can stay tucked neatly out of sight.
Upstairs, the transformation continued with a complete internal reconfiguration. Walls were moved to create a better flow, two new bathrooms were added, and the loft was vaulted to bring in light and height into the top floor bedroom. Vicky added a Murphy bed into the loft, so the space can easily shift from studio to a guest suite. It’s a self-contained, multifunctional space complete with its own kitchen and bathroom, giving guests privacy and independence when they stay over. In her own bedroom, she added an en-suite featuring a curved wall which subtly guides daylight from the bay window into the room, while a slim reeded glass window allows natural light to filter through into the bathroom without compromising privacy. She also made use of a small nook on the upper floor to create a dedicated laundry zone, fitting in a washer dryer and built-in shelving. This was a small but practical design choice that saves her from carrying washing up and down two flights of stairs.
Through scaling back the project, she was able to invest her budget into quality finishes and craftsmanship, including bespoke joinery, terrazzo-style porcelain flooring and exposed steel beams that echo her Scandinavian and Japanese design influences. In the living room, she stripped away old wallpaper only to find a striking textured wall beneath with marbled tones, and patterns formed by age. Rather than paint over it, she decided to leave it exposed, turning it into a statement feature that adds depth and originality to the space. Throughout the house, Vicky embraced a warm, earthy palette creating a series of connected yet distinct spaces. The soft reds, olives and natural woods create a sense of flow that ties the home together, while letting each space tell its own story.
Photography & Videography by Peter Furlong.
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