A former vicarage in south London enlivened for a new chapter of life
The rural areas southwest of the Thames were developed into residential neighbourhoods between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with rows of detached and semi-detached houses gradually enveloping what were once villages on the fringes of London. But within this web of anonymous streets lie unexpected gems, often hidden from view. The house recently renovated by Sarah Vanrenen and Laura Hanbury under their new studio, Vanrenen Hanbury, is one of these – an old vicarage of grand proportions set within a generous plot of land. ‘It's a very large house and it sits slightly off-line from the rest of the street,’ says Sarah of its unusual angle.
‘When you arrive, you come off the street and through a gate in a wall, then into a walled garden, with a little path lined with roses and olive trees leading to the front door. It’s so magical, you really feel like you’re in the countryside,’ she remarks. ‘The house is surrounded by trees on all sides, so the only thing you can see is greenery. It has such a unique and calm atmosphere, really solid yet full of light.’
The owners, for whom the interiors duo had previously worked on another residence in the countryside, have lived there for over a decade. But as their children are now in their twenties, it felt like the right time to embark on a refresh. What began as the desire to create a comfortable ensuite bathroom soon evolved into a larger project involving the reconfiguration of the first-floor layout. ‘I don’t think the initial brief was really about structural changes, but as soon as we walked through the house, we realised we could improve the way they used the space,’ says Laura.
And that was not the only thing that needed an update. The interiors did not live up to the potential offered by the rooms’ tall ceilings and graceful proportions. ‘The house was in great condition overall,’ she continues, ‘but it hadn’t been touched for years and felt a little tired. It was very neutral, and with few pieces they really wanted to keep, it became the perfect blank canvas.’
The long-standing trust between the clients and their decorators allowed for a confident use of colour and texture throughout. It was an exciting, if unexpected, step for the owners, at times almost a leap of faith, as Sarah recalls. ‘They told us at the start that they wanted us to help them be brave with their choices, and in some cases we really had to hold their hand. But they were amazing, very open and trusting.’
Painted in dark green, the small lobby introduces a decorative scheme that feels calm yet characterful. The long hallway that follows is covered in a densely patterned Grenades wallpaper by Antoinette Poisson that turned out to be one of the moves that strengthened the collaboration, as Laura notes. ‘They loved the idea and were a bit unsure how it would feel day to day, but we reassured them that the architecture was strong enough to hold its own. It has now become one of their favourite parts of the place.’
The drawing room sits at the front of the house and had been little used before the redecoration. Sarah and Laura introduced a darker patterned wallpaper that gives the room depth and keeps it in balance with its generous proportions. Bright cobalt-blue accents, such as the window frames and striped sofas, add ease to the space, which now provides the perfect setting for both family moments and entertaining.
The curtains were left plain so that the couple’s artworks could take focus. Sarah is keen to remember how the owners’ collection helped guide the decoration process. ‘It’s always a blessing when clients have great art. We’d seen some of the artworks hanging in the house before we started, and they bought new pieces during the process. They have some lovely pieces, which really enhance the spaces.’
At the heart of the ground floor is the kitchen and dining area, conceived as an open space for cooking, eating and relaxing. A sofa and a pair of armchairs are grouped around an ottoman in the middle of the room, while the dining table sits at the far end in front of tall windows overlooking the garden. ‘It’s quite unusual to have the seating in the middle of the kitchen,’ notes Laura. ‘But it works brilliantly because the dining area sits in the brightest spot – it feels as though the room opens out towards the garden.’
One of the cleverest additions is a false chimney breast that resolves a practical problem. ‘There was some pipework running up through the middle of the room,’ says Sarah. ‘We decided to widen it and turn it into a proper chimney breast so the TV could sit neatly inside rather than on the wall.’ Panels covered with colourful works on paper slide aside to conceal and reveal the screen as needed.
Upstairs, the changes were more substantial. ‘The entrance to the main bedroom was very close to the guest bedroom door, and the circulation felt awkward,’ Laura explains. ‘We moved the door further along the landing so that, when you walk in, there’s now a small lobby that connects the bedroom, bathroom and dressing room in a much nicer way.’
The master bathroom became one of the project’s focal points. Forming part of the new suite, it occupies what was once a much smaller space, now extended and reworked for better flow. ‘The bathroom was about half the size it is now, and you used to have to go round the back through a small dressing room to reach it,’ says Sarah. ‘By reworking the doors, we managed to open it all up and give the bedroom, dressing room and bathroom a much nicer connection.’ Painted in a soft pink plaster tone, the room feels calm and luminous – a private retreat that completes the sense of balance established throughout the house.
The old vicarage now feels ready for the next stage in its owners’ lives – comfortable, assured and entirely their own.
Dean Hearne1/18The dining area occupies the brightest spot beside the garden. The red leather chairs are by William Yeoward, while the table was already owned by the family.
Dean Hearne2/18A corner of the dining area, with curtains in Indigo Block Madder by Sarah Vanrenen.
Dean Hearne3/18The false chimney breast cleverly conceals the pipework and television.
Dean Hearne4/18In the sitting room, walls painted in Muga by Paint & Paper create a warm, cocooning feel. The L-shaped sofa from Love Your Home is upholstered in Bitter Chocolate fabric by Sarah Vanrenen.
Dean Hearne5/18‘That bright blue painting works beautifully against the mustard-yellow walls,’ says Sarah. ‘We definitely had that combination in mind when decorating this space.’
Dean Hearne6/18The walls in the downstairs loo are covered in Parker & Jules’s ‘Eversley Cinnamon Tobacco’ wallpaper, while the Roman blinds are in Paolo Moschino’s ‘Melba Stripe’.
Dean Hearne7/18In the main bedroom, walls covered in Serena Dugan’s ‘Jacinto’ grasscloth wallpaper bring warmth and texture to the space. A bespoke four-poster bed anchors the room, and the rug is Peter Page’s ‘Labyrinth’ in a natural cream shade.
Dean Hearne8/18A detail of the main bedroom, with the headboard covered in Sarah Vanrenen’s ‘Ziggy’.
Dean Hearne9/18A glimpse from the main bedroom into the dressing room.
Dean Hearne10/18In the dressing room, the walls are covered in a ‘Matches Grass’ fabric by Sarah Vanrenen.
Dean Hearne11/18The joinery in his dressing room is by Vanrenen Hanbury, and the walls are upholstered in a ‘Pine’ wallpaper by Whiteworks.
Dean Hearne12/18‘One of the lovely things we did during the renovation was add the arched doorways in the main bathroom,’ says Sarah. The walls are painted in Edward Bulmer’s ‘Jonquil’.
Dean Hearne13/18The vanity unit is a bespoke design, and the lights are from Felix Lighting.
Dean Hearne14/18‘The orange spare bedroom is brighter and warmer – a space our clients imagined for their grandchildren or younger guests,’ says Laura. The antique lamp and shade were sourced by Vanrenen Hanbury, and the rug is from Tate & Darby.
Dean Hearne15/18The walls are painted in ‘Malahide’ by Edward Bulmer.
Dean Hearne17/18Edward Bulmer’s ‘Azurite’ shade brings a cool touch to this bedroom. The headboard is covered in Penny Morrison’s ‘Sketched Gold Stripe’.
Dean Hearne18/18The headboard in this guest bedroom is upholstered in Le Manach’s ‘Balmoral Bleu’, and the rug is from Tate & Darby.
