Recalibrating a North London home into an alpine-inspired haven …
There’s much to be said about understated confidence, both personally and architecturally. It’s a quality highlighted in a project overseen by founder and creative director of TXTURED, Simon Mayhew, which he describes as “a quiet recalibration” rather than a dramatic overhaul of the property.
“The house had lovely period features and good bones, but years of small changes had left it feeling disjointed. The brief wasn’t to impose something completely new; it was about bringing cohesion and calm. We worked with what was there, improved how the spaces connected, and introduced materials and colours that tied it all together. It was more editing, rather than starting from scratch.”
He began by thinking about how a home feels as you walk through it and how one space leads into another. Flooring did a lot of that work with chequerboard marble in the hallway flowing into timber flooring in the living areas, which gives the house a sense of continuity. Mayhew believes that once you get foundation right, the rest follows more naturally.
The colour palette – of layered neutrals with warm browns and soft blushes – evolved through discussions with the homeowners. “They’re keen skiers, and we had this alpine-inspired rug that became a bit of an anchor point. From there, we built a palette that felt warm and grounded without being heavy.” Custom design was also added, from stonework in the bathrooms to upholstered headboards and joinery that maximise storage.
“Restraint isn’t about being minimal or cold, it’s about choosing your moments,” says Mayhew. “One of my favourite design surprises is the curved shower enclosure chosen to echo the rounded edges and soft lines of the furniture. These details tie different parts of the house together and are placed carefully, so they feel right, not excessive.”
Every surface brings richness: the stone, chalky walls and linens create a sense of timelessness, ensuring that the house won’t look dated in a decade.
Mayhew firmly believes that good interiors don’t need to shout. “There’s so much noise everywhere now and people want spaces that give them a break from that. This proves that you don’t need big dramatic moves to create something that matters, sometimes the quietest work has the biggest impact.”
