LONDON HIGHGATE

Location: London, United Kingdom 
Photography: Sunphol Sorakul

Located in North London, this substantial country-style home overlooks the famous Highgate Ponds and offers far-reaching views over Hampstead Heath. 

The clients, a young couple, brought in Dorothee Junkin to lead the process of making the home more functional and family-friendly. The objective of the project was to honor and preserve as much of the original details and craftsmanship as possible, gently blending the old with the new in a thoughtful as well as efficient way. With a close eye on not disrupting the family’s busy lifestyle, construction was condensed into stages and carried out during the family’s travels throughout the year. 

Drawing from the color palette of the surrounding gardens and the Heath, shades of green are the leitmotiv of the interior concept for many of the spaces. In the kitchen dark cabinets were refinished and transformed into the client’s vision of a lighter English country kitchen. Referencing the client’s Scandinavian heritage, floral upholstery adds color to the cheerful center of the house. A previous dining room was converted into a family room and library. Its worn wood paneling was restored and matching shelving was introduced to house the family’s extensive book collection. 

The clients had only brought a few furniture pieces from their previous home and so there was some urgency to furnish the primary spaces and make the family more comfortable. Most of the eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary pieces was sourced in person throughout London. The client and designer embarked on several furniture hunts in the hopes to bring home a few more furnishings the same day. An exception was made for a few custom pieces, such as the suede sofa of the family room, to ensure the furnishings most used would be very comfortable and just right.