Home tour: A charmingly renovated family home in St Albans, England

The nearby kitchen is another example of Sanford’s ingenuity. The original kitchen had beautiful pieces, yet needed to be modernised. They focused on more matte textures and refreshing tones of blue and green, which provided a refreshing break from the home’s more traditional features. 

Sanford recalls the design process for this space fondly, as the team’s plan occurred in reverse. “We started with the placement of the appliances and the eating area before structuring the space around them,” she says. 

To enhance the kitchen’s functionality, Sanford created a recessed wall for the cooking area. This prevented it from feeling too flat or overly exposed to the hallway. She also designed the countertops to meet the walls rather than stopping abruptly in the middle of a space. 

In case you missed it: How to heat-proof: 7 smart ways to keep your home cool this summer

Sanford also takes pride in the staircase. “At the time, this was a big change in the house; however, it feels completely natural to it now,” she says. The team removed the old staircase, widening the ground floor hallway and pushing the staircase to the right. A yellow spare bedroom is another addition, easily accessible through the new staircase. This provided an unexpected yet welcome light source, as the lantern on the roof illuminates the house. 

She was also particularly proud of the hallway, an area that would otherwise be overlooked. Instead of leaving it plain, she created a bold, inviting space to pass through and lounge in. “It was a bold design choice that initially took some convincing,” she admits. “Finding the perfect shade was a challenge—it needed to strike a balance between being warm and inviting without feeling overly sweet or dull.”

She also took a unique approach to the wallpaper. “To complement the color, we chose a small-scale Veere Grenney wallpaper. With so many walls, simply painting everything felt too simplistic, whereas the wallpaper introduced a layer of texture and interest. The delicate pattern is soft on the eye while adding just the right amount of character to the space,” she says. 

The hallway then branches off into the home’s bedrooms. In the master suite, Sanford and her team introduced an arched doorway from the hallway and a second arch leading into the bedroom. “These subtle architectural details not only improved flow but also enhanced the overall elegance of the suite,” she says. “It feels like you have entered a new zone.” 

The home is bursting with colour and texture, laying the groundwork for a young family to create memories together. “Spaces naturally evolve as homeowners settle in, adding personal touches and collecting new items,” says Sanford. “The best-designed spaces, much like people, should age gracefully, adapting to the lives of those who inhabit them. Seeing that natural evolution is always a joy.” 

NOW READ

Home tour: A contemporary Beijing home that melds natural light and unique architecture

These new luxury villas in Thailand, where ‘The White Lotus’ was filmed, can be yours now

Home tour: A family’s modern, light-filled home in Ozamiz City, Philippines