Within the walls of a classic three-story Victorian home in London lies a strikingly modern interior. An exciting palette of colors, rich woods, and artisanal furniture create an inviting atmosphere that truly captivates.

Designed by Tom Morris, this project exemplifies his distinctive approach, which leans towards warm, earthy tones while avoiding excessive stylization. He embraces a diverse array of elements to craft a harmonious space.

The client, having resided in the home for a while, sought a more cohesive look and improved storage options. Tom responded with a thoughtfully curated color scheme, custom cabinetry, and carefully selected bespoke Danish furnishings.

a red painted victorian living room with high ceilings and a bay window. a lime green couch is styled with a blue striped rug and blue sheer drapes at the window

Living Room: A vibrant green sofa energizes the space. Navy blue piping ties in with the Japanese boro cloth artwork and cushions. The bespoke sofa features Old Flax in Catalpa Green, trimmed by Houlès. Vintage pendant lighting. Rug by Jaipur Rugs. Cushions from Lola & Mawu. Artwork by Sauce

Color flows seamlessly through the home's design, enhancing its modernity. In the lively living room, hues draw inspiration from artist Frank Auerbach, celebrating color diversity.

“We aimed to introduce beautiful warm earth tones,” Tom explains. “Auerbach often utilized darker palettes contrasted by vibrant shades, which led us to incorporate a bespoke pistachio green sofa and rich indigo accents.”

a london living room with dark red alcove units and blue sheer drapes at the window

Living Room: Custom cabinetry painted in a matching earthy red enhances the cozy ambiance. Walls and joinery are finished in Masai by Paint & Paper Library. Curtains made from Hamac sheer by Métaphores.

To address the clients' need for more storage, Tom crafted custom-built cabinetry in the same earthy red as the walls, flanking the living room fireplace. This multifunctional storage solution doubles as a stylish drinks cabinet, enhanced by rich wooden details. “I aimed to make it practical yet visually striking,” Tom shares. The ply backdrop mirrors the beautifully treated original floorboards, creating a cohesive design.

A Josef Hoffmann chair in chestnut blends seamlessly with a sleek leather armchair, both vintage Danish pieces. “I wanted to maximize impact with minimal elements, ensuring each piece contributed to the overall design while maintaining openness,” Tom remarks. For window treatments, he chose a simple sheer fabric, allowing light to filter through while providing texture. Japanese boro cloth artwork and cushions introduce pops of indigo, enhancing the eclectic vibe.

a blue london dining room with danish vintage table and chairs and a red striped table runner. at the end of the room are external double doors wit striped drapes

Dining Area: The early-20th-century anthropological prints discovered by Tom find a perfect home here. Prints from Quindry. 1950s teak and oak chairs sourced from Chase & Sorensen. Table and runner provided by the client. Curtain crafted from Fil-à-Fil by Inga Sempé for Kvadrat. Artwork, Ashoka panel by Robert Kime. Walls painted in Hawksmoor, Mylands.

The blue and red theme continues into the adjacent kitchen, where softer tones of blue and pink offer a refreshing contrast. “We intentionally chose colors that harmonize with the living room without clashing,” Tom notes, enhancing the overall flow.

Bold fabrics, including striped curtains and blinds, draw attention, while an exquisite fabric by Robert Kime serves as framed artwork. The existing dark wood cabinetry connects with the walnut in the living room, maintaining the thread of iconic Danish design through mid-century Chase & Sorensen dining chairs.

a london bathroom with soft green walls, a yellow relaxed roman blind, green marble tile halfway up the wall, and a freestanding green bathtub

Bathroom: This calming green retreat is Tom's favorite space. “The expansive bath, placed under a bright window, is incredibly serene,” he shares. Rockwell bath from The Water Monopoly. Kelly floor lamp, Porta Romana. Blind in Primrose linen by Volga. Lyon limestone tiles from Mandarin Stone. Walls painted in Wattle V by Paint & Paper Library.

This grand Victorian home is characterized by its spacious proportions. However, Tom faced obstacles on the first floor due to an open-plan layout that exposed the bedroom to the bathroom.

To enhance privacy, he installed stud walls and repositioned the door for a more impressive entrance, relocating the bed to the fireplace wall while adding joinery on either side to improve sightlines to the bathroom.

a walk through dressing area in a bedroom in london with mirrored closet doors and blue drapes

Dressing Area: Curtains distinguish this area from the bedroom and bathroom. “We featured them with double-sided fabric,” Tom explains. Curtains made from Burnley Ticking (two colors back to back) sourced from Howe at 36 Bourne Street. Grasscloth wallcovering, Nobilis.

Tom designed a dressing area with mirrored doors to enhance light flow and used double-sided fabric curtains to separate the bedroom, dressing area, and bathroom when needed.

“This approach creates a focal point while softening the transitions, using color to delineate spaces without discord,” he concludes.

a neutral london bedroom with a bed place on the chimney breast, alcove bookcase and cupboard, yellow drapes at the window, and a green patterned custom upholstered headboarrd

Bedroom: The Indian carving left by previous owners was restored and now hangs above the bed as a striking feature. Zettel’z pendant by Ingo Maurer. Curtains in Laundered linen by Warwick. Quilt made from Yoruba indigo cloth by Adire African Textiles. Custom upholstered headboard and cushions in Obernai jacquard, Pierre Frey. Grand rug from Moss by Nordic Knots.

The home's generous scale lends a contemporary feel to the interior, which aligns with Tom's design philosophy. “The space allowed us to combine various styles and eras, resulting in a truly unique creation,” he reflects.