INSPIRING
The journey from hipster living in one of the capital’s trendiest boroughs to family life in a leafy area with a villagey feel has seen its fair share of upheaval for one couple. But it has all been worth it as they enjoy the peace and beauty of their stunning home, which is exactly what – and where – they want it to be
OUTDOORS
Left The sunken terrace has steps up into the garden. Porcelain tiles in the same colour and texture as those used in the kitchen give a seamless, harmonious look
HOME PROFILE
WHO LIVES HERE Phu Truong, who works in global partnerships for Google, Aaron Le Marquer, a lawyer, and their seven-year-old twins Khai and Felix
THE PROPERTY A Victorian three-bedroom, semi-detached house in East Dulwich, south London
KITCHEN
Oak veneered plywood and pale tones help keep the area bright and airy while a wall of cupboards houses the utilities and storage. The mid-century style dining furniture was custom-made in Thailand, bought when the couple were living in Asia n 2011, Phu Truong and Aaron Le Marquer were enjoying life in east London’s trendy Hoxton when an opportunity came up for them to move to Asia. They jumped at the chance, and for seven years lived in Thailand and Singapore. During this time the couple embarked on an even bigger adventure and had twin boys via surrogacy. When, in 2018, a job offer came up in London, the family decided to return and soon realised there just wasn’t enough room for them all in their hip apartment in Hoxton. So began a search for a new family home.
‘At first, we stayed in Clapham, but it just didn’t feel like us,’ says Phu. ‘It was pleasant, with excellent schools and great transport links, but it lacked edge. Then we explored a bit more and one day ended up in East Dulwich in south-east London. We were sitting in a cafe and noticed the energy and openness – lots of different types of families, with diverse ethnicities and other same-sex couples – it had a good vibe. We loved the villagey feel, the green spaces, good schools, proximity to nearby Peckham, and the great independent shops on Lordship Lane, so we approached estate agents and began to search for houses. The moment we walked into this one we knew it was for us, and we put in an offer as we drove home.’
Previously belonging to empty-nesters who were downsizing, the house was perfectly sound, but it didn’t reflect Phu and Aaron’s style. They also wanted more space, a study, an improved flow and better garden access. Luckily, they had a good friend who is an architect, David Money (davidmoney.com), who came on board to offer his design perspective. ‘David has a fantastic aesthetic,’ says Phu. ‘It’s one that we share, and this enhanced the project immensely.’
The initial plan wa
