Robert Francis has lived in his four-storey London townhouse, built in 1895, for just under a decade. The property, characterised by Victorian opulence, had retained its original character under the care of a mother and daughter for 30 years. Unlike many London homes, it had never been divided into flats, and its structure remained intact. Francis purchased it after leaving a mock-Georgian block in North London, attracted by its potential and proximity to his workplace.
Francis took his time with renovations. He updated essential systems but otherwise lived in the space for six years, allowing its needs to become clear. “I saw it as a project and wanted to wait and live in it for a while and plan exactly what I wanted,” he said.
A chance encounter at a friend’s gathering led him to interior designer Anahita Rigby, who had recently returned from Hong Kong. Though he had been in contact with other designers, her recent small-scale redesigns convinced him she was the right choice. “I immediately knew that I had found the brain I needed to make my dream house come true,” he said.
Rigby’s firm, Anahita Rigby, focuses on creating elegant, functional spaces. Together, they removed non-load-bearing walls, combined smaller bathrooms, and eliminated a bedroom to improve flow. The first floor, previously a series of smaller spaces, was reworked to create a single floor ‘suite’, including a generous principal bedroom, walk-through wardrobe, office and en-suite bathroom. “It’s more than I could have possibly imagined I’d have for myself,” he added.
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Antiques meet modern living
The renovation preserved the home’s Victorian character while adapting it for contemporary life. Original fireplaces, hidden behind walls, were uncovered and paired with antique and modern marble surrounds. “They’ve made the rooms so much more beautiful and complete,” Francis said. One fireplace in his bedroom became the focal point, shaping the room’s layout.
Bespoke joinery was another key focus, thoughtfully designed to have a traditional feel so that the additions to the property complemented its historic charm.
The walls now feature rich colours, with Beata Heuman’s Marbleized wallpaper bringing vibrancy to the hallway. A curtain in Schumacher’s Gainsborough velvet in Crimson adds further depth.
Francis’s art collection, which includes contemporary and inherited pieces, was carefully integrated into the home’s design. The redesign improved functionality as well as appearance, addressing the cramped and dark layouts typical of Victorian homes while preserving their charm.
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For Francis, the house is a source of comfort. “Returning after work feels like stepping into warmth and beauty,” he said. “It’s my little sanctuary in the city.”
The project demonstrates how a historic home can honour its past while serving modern needs. A Victorian property like this one requires careful planning to achieve that balance.
| Photo credit: Ollie Tomlinson