Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was the catalyst that brought minimalism into the mainstream. Although not a new concept, the minimalist lifestyle has grown in popularity over the last few decades, making stark walls, serene colour schemes and understated finishes the standard motif of a contemporary home.
But, for those who favour personal taste, character and individuality over simple design, maximalism offers an enticing alternative. The trend seeks to liven up interiors with colour, patterns and objects, and one house on Priory Road is a standout example of this.
This Victorian terrace house is more like a museum than a modern home. Filled with antiques and folk art dating back to 1750, entry to the house is through a hallway painted deep red and adorned with photographs, pictures and fairy lights that give it a carnivalesque feel.
Although there is a double reception room on the first floor, the highlight of the house is undoubtedly the lower ground living area. Decorated with Turkish carpets and lined with shelves of old books and hand-painted objects, the space has a charming and cosy feel. A thick tapestry curtain separates the living area from the study, where an old fashioned typewriter can be found lying on a dark wooden desk.
The home’s indigo kitchen is further along this floor and features glass panelled burgundy cabinets filled with vintage tins and utensils. A skylight at one end of the room brings lots of light into the space, while a large door opens out onto a courtyard patio with enough room for a table and chairs. This outdoor area then extends further, through a trellis arch, to a beautiful white summer house.
One storey up, there’s the principal bedroom suite painted in vivid yellow and purple hues. Furnished with antique paintings and a variety of colourful cabinets, the room also has an original Victorian fireplace. An adjoining bathroom offers an integrated wood panelled bathtub and a mosaic-tiled shower. There’s also a second bedroom on the top floor which has wall to wall bookshelves and a reading nook that overlooks the garden.
Rory Crawford-Drake, Director of Dexters Clapham says, ‘This unique London home is a maximalist's dream. Offering in excess of 1,440 sq. ft, the property is also just five minutes from Stockwell station and the Brazilian bars and many bakeries of Little Portugal.’
