Take a tour around this small artisan cottage in London

Design should be low key, chic and understated, but rich in detail.’ So says the owner of this 19th-century worker's cottage, a designer who applies this philosophy to everything he creates, from a range of affordable bathroom furniture to a red-carpet evening gown. The 1950s have inspired the changes to the house. ‘It's a design era that is infinitely user-friendly,’ he says. The circa 1958 curved chairs originally came from a Norwegian luxury cruise liner.

1/12 Open-plan ground floor

Vintage Scandinavian furniture
Vintage Retro

2/12 Fireplace

On the ground floor, interior walls came down and a small fireplace was removed to allow for the open hearth with its pebble gas fire. ‘I've used a dash of red right through the house. I designed this red, laquered-wood shelf to double as a coffee table and seating for extra guests.’ The owner also designed and made the wooden relief on the chimney breast.

Pebble gas fire
Real Flame

3/12 Guest cloakroom

In reworking the layout of the house, the owner was able to carve out a small cloakroom on the ground floor. Elsewhere, gone are the curves and arches beloved of the original builder and of the previous owner, and in their place the rooms have clean, contemporary lines. ‘I wanted to create the feeling of one big, open-plan space downstairs.’

Afya basin
Ben de Lisi Room Concepts at Abacus Direct

4/12 Guest bedroom

In the guest bedroom, the luxurious silk curtains and bed quilt are framed by alcove shelves laden with a lifetime's collection of black ceramics and glass. The main focal point, however, is the extraordinary hand-embroidered and painted silk wall covering on the chimney breast.

Origami Platinum wallpaper
Fromental

5/12 Guest bedroom storage

A set of stacking boxes cleverly hides a television and DVD units. ‘I couldn't find exactly what I wanted,’ says the owner, ‘so I designed these and had them made.’

Similar storage
Chaplins

6/12 Spare room

The owner decided to keep the second, smaller bedroom as a spare room instead of knocking it and the guest bedroom into one large space. The bespoke-designed shelving and cupboards frame the sofa, which can be converted into a small double bed whenever necessary.

Similar sofabed
The Conran Shop

7/12 Stairwell

Upstairs, a loft extension has taken the house from two to three storeys and houses the main bedroom and shower room. ‘I put in wall-to-ceiling glass panels to replace the windows on every floor at the back of the house.’ The stairs have been kept open to the bedroom for maximum light and the 1950s wall-mounted glass star came from an antiques shop in London's King's Road.

Similar wall stars
At The Ark

8/12 Main bedroom

Piled with pillows and cushions, the owner is more likely to relax on his bed and watch television up here than in the living room. ‘My respite from juggling so much in life is to rest here in the evenings with the remote control and the dogs at my feet,’ he says.

Similar mirror doors
KKS Fitted Bedrooms

9/12 Ceramic collection

Collections of china and glass, including this display of milk-white glazed ceramics in floor-to-ceiling box shelves, are put to striking decorative use around the house. ‘I love the way they look like a modern art installation,’ says the owner.

Similar ceramics
John Lewis

10/12 Bathroom

Tiled in pure white from floor to ceiling, the compact bathroom and shower are an excellent exercise in spatial design.

Sanitaryware
Ben de Lisi Room Concepts at Abacus Direct

11/12 Shower

From the shower room, the owner has a crow's nest view of the surrounding neighbourhood through the plate glass panel fitted into the back wall. ‘Visitors sometimes wonder a little about it, but the steam soon obscures the glass so it is perfectly private.

12/12 Garden

I wanted the garden to be really easy to maintain,’ says the owner. ‘I especially like the mirrored window set into the wall and the way the shed is concealed as a summerhouse.’

Garden design and Jumbo Pot
The Chelsea Gardener

If you liked this, find more inspiring ideas on the Homes & Gardens website. And be first to hear about our favourite new finds on our Facebook and Twitter pages.