Houses

An Edwardian house in south London by Alex Dauley

Working with the owner of this Edwardian house in London, interior designer Alex Dauley has created just the right balance of old with new, minimalism with warmth, and elegance with practicality to achieve her client's vision.
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Handmade cabinetry, painted throughout in Little Greene's 'Obsidian Green', gives a cohesive feel to this large, open-plan space. The island's walnut worktop tones with the vintage oak table and chairs and salvaged station bench, all from Sunbury Antiques Market. The 1970s leather sofa and a cowhide rug add textureMICHAEL SINCLAIR

'A client providing a moodboard is pretty rare. It's the only time it has happened to me,' says Alex Dauley with a laugh, referring to the presentation supplied by the owner of this Edwardian house in south London. It gave first and second choices of schemes for each room. 'It was a real curveball. Usually, clients offer me a blank canvas or a few key words, then I have to dig down to find out what they want.'

In this case, the challenge was different. The owner – a fashion stylist Alex met on the set of Channel 4 show The Great Home Transformation – had a look and a palette, but did not know how to pull it all together. 'My job was to take this strong aesthetic and make it work – to elevate the owner's ideas without moving away from her vision. When I ask how she found the experience, Alex reflects for a moment before admitting, 'It clipped my wings slightly in terms of creative input, but if I'd been given free rein, I don't think I would change anything. It is stunning.'

Reclaimed stained oak parquet sets off a 1970s marble coffee table from Anna Unwin's AU, the colours of which are picked up by the Afra & Tobia Scarpa 'Soriana' sofa for Cassina in cream bouclé wool, found on 1stDibs, and an 'Ellis' chair in pewter mohair from Soho Home. A 'Mantis BS2' wall lamp from Haus hangs above the 1950s lounge chair in oak and leather

MICHAEL SINCLAIR

It is refreshing to hear a designer credit a client, but this is characteristic of Alex's down-to-earth approach and lack of ego. She never intended to become an interior designer. Even when she signed up for a short course at the KLC School of Design, it was just for fun. 'My husband Gareth suggested it, because of my obsession with home-interest magazines and property programmes.' But from the first lesson, she was hooked. Alex then went on to complete the Certificate in Residential Interior Design, finding a mentor in tutor Evey Dunbavin-Hands, whom she shadowed to learn about the business side of being a designer before setting up her practice in 2016. 'I was too old to join someone else's company as a junior and, though I didn't feel hugely confident, I knew I had to do it, as this is what I love.'

She started small, doing single room schemes for friends and mothers at her daughters' school. Initially, I didn't earn any money – I just ploughed everything back into the business,' she says. It was an expensive hobby, but I was so happy. Her work spoke for itself and the business grew steadily by word of mouth. Today, Alex is undertaking two house renovations in Wimbledon, a newbuild project on Guernsey and an office redesign at the Old Bailey.

Walls painted in 'Black Blue and woodwork in 'All White', both by Farrow & Ball, echo the monochrome floor tiles in a Victorian-inspired pattern, from Original Style, and the wool 'Highgate' stair runner in chapel harvest from Gaskell. The antique marble bust and Georgian oak table from Curio Corner create an elegant focal point. The sputnik light was sourced from Vinterior

MICHAEL SINCLAIR

As if this was not enough, she has found time to establish, alongside Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby, United in Design, a charitable foundation that creates opportunities in interior design for talented individuals from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities. 'It's been so successful for everyone involved and is the thing that makes me most proud,' she says. This year, Alex has also realised long-held ambitions to be one of House & Garden's Top 100 Interior Designers and to have a project featured in the magazine.

This tightly controlled, quiet and sometimes minimalist four-bedroom house is an eye-catching introduction to her work. Perhaps the most striking of its spaces is the kitchen, which was remodelled and extended to create a light-filled space that feels at once bold and serene. "There is lots of storage in the pantry, so there was no need for overhead cabinets. It makes it airy and clean,' she notes. The other significant structural alteration to the house was a double-height side extension. This includes a gym and storage room (with space for the suitcases and the rails of clothes that the owner uses for fashion shoots) on the ground floor and, on the first floor, the main bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe, dressing room and en-suite wet room.

The main bedroom features simple wooden furniture from Curio Corner and Soho Home's 'Joni Arc' floor lamp

MICHAEL SINCLAIR

Elsewhere, the layout has remained unchanged and the period features, such as the cornices and intricate plasterwork in the hall, have been preserved. "The design had to be contemporary, but sensitive to the age of the building,' says Alex. 'We used traditional-style radiators, reclaimed parquet for the sitting room floor and limewash paint throughout, which gives the walls depth and movement.' Furniture is a mix of antique, vintage and new - pieces with patina and age soften the more polished ones.

For the owner, the look of the house was absolutely paramount. When I go back to visit, it is exactly as it was when it had just been finished, which is almost unheard of,' says Alex, who explains that functionality comes first. 'My job is to make spaces work and then wrap them in a beautiful aesthetic. Good design is transformative; it improves people's lives. All my clients say their house feels so much better afterwards - that they are calmer and happier.' You can't ask for more than that.

Alex Dauley: alexdauley.com, United in Design: unitedindesign.com

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    Stripped original oak floorboards and walls in Bauwerk's 'Quiet' limewash provide a calm backdrop in the main bedroom

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    Polished plaster, JTP 'Vos' fittings and a Zara Home mirror create a spa-like feel in the main bathroom

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    In the en-suite, Calacatta Viola marble showcases a Lusso 'Picasso' stone bath

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    Alex.

TopicsCityContemporary CityCity HousesModern HousesLondon HousesQuiet Interiors
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