Emma Morris combined light and bright open-plan living with antique treasures and lots of greenery as the basis for the schemes in her family’s Georgian townhouse
Words JO ATKINSON Photography COLIN POOLE
After five years living in California, with plans to move their expanding family back to London, Emma and Tom Morris knew they wanted to find somewhere comparable to the light and bright home they’d left behind in San Francisco. ‘Our house there was very open plan, and we’d spent a lot of time outside, so wanted to recapture this feeling in a new place,’ recalls Emma.
With luck on their side, the couple found their dream house in the desirable De Beauvoir area of London, with just enough time to renovate before the birth of their second child – and with the added bonus of not having to live there while work was carried out. The conservation area in which the property is situated is an oasis of calm, and gave Emma and Tom a sense of community that satisfied their California cravings.
On the first viewing, they were drawn to the beautiful living room with its shutter-flanked French windows, and while the house is listed so a layout change would prove difficult, they both knew it was right for their growing family. ‘After seeing so many properties, for the first time this felt like a forever home for us – and one where we could really make our mark.’
Emma and Tom could instantly visualise how they could introduce an essence of Californian style through the open-plan space on the ground floor, with the kitchen, dining room and conservatory all leading out onto the garden. ‘For inspiration, I thought about where I feel most calm – and that’s when I’m surrounded by nature,’ says Emma. ‘I had also recently bought a beautiful Rebecca Louise Law print of an overgrown greenhouse, which I could look at all day. This led me to start exploring green as a basis for the scheme.’
The couple had used a lot of greys and blues in their previous homes, but wanted something different for this house. The kitchen felt like the darkest area of the ground floor and was starved of natural light, so it was the first on the renovations list. Emma approached deVOL to design the space and opted for a bespoke green hue for the cabinets for a fresh, inviting feel. Light fittings, tiles and stools from the same company
