Welcome to Flower Lane by Studio Duggan. This house required an archaeologist, not only an interior designer, to breathe life into its foundations. It is now a living reminder of the inner harmony that comes from an expert’s eye mixing and matching two eras and weaving together two attitudes that are typically hard to pair.
Tiffany Duggan, Founder and Director of Studio Duggan and TROVE adopted an approach that used an archaeologist’s preservation mindset with a more modern approach that looks towards the future.
As the holistic energy flows from Flower Lane, Studio Duggan has successfully combined very different eras into a collective pool as gorgeously azure as the subtle pastel blues radiating from the property’s staircase. The bespoke Jute Stair-runner from Coral and Hive, is a first for the rug-maker, grounds the palette, introducing an earthy tone that is coarse-yet-golden, turning the staircase into a snapshot of wheat fields illuminated by the dawning light.
Each element of Flower Lane conveys the knowledge that they have been expertly chosen to not only respect the Client’s brief but to riff off it, adding casual notes and tones that tie the bow of beauty on the gift that is not just a family’s new home but a family’s new way of seeing themselves.
Located in the suburbs of North London, an area bursting with diverse architecture as well as people, Flower Lane acts as a summary and a calling card for what is possible for those wishing to combine the old with the new.
The Clients, a family formed of a property developer, his wife, and their two young children, wanted cohesion within their home. They needed spaces to flow, interlink, and communicate with one another. Furniture needed to cooperate with the architecture of the property. Immediately struck by the illuminating glow of the patterned Edwardian tiles within their entrance hall, the Clients knew that these tiles were to set the tone for their new way of living.
Cheerful and uplifting pink, tan, and mustard tones were weaved into the fabric of the entire home. This mixture succeeded in aligning all the rooms with a colour palette that expressed a desire for an understated beauty sprinkled within the functionality of a family home.
The two eras that Studio Duggan were tasked with combining together were the original Arts and Crafts architecture of the house and the clients’ adoration of Mid-Century design. It took some time to achieve but, as Tiffany notes,“everything fitted in naturally and organically” once the Edwardian tiles were chosen as the fountains of inspiration and cohesion.
Tiffany and her team integrated the practical utility of the Arts and Crafts architecture with a controlled flood in the form of new colours and textures in abundance. Now, as the house has had time to truly become a home, the energy of the palette acts as a rhythmic pulse that calmly introduces visitors to who the family is and how they see themselves.
The living room’s incredibly high ceilings create an environment where the furniture and artwork can relax into the spaces they occupy. Stretching its presence from the very top of the ceiling down to the ground-level of the travertine coffee table, the room interlinks a contemporary feel with the originality of the period property.
The travertine coffee table rests upon the cascading elegance of the terrazzo floor. The floor’s elegance is amplified even more by the bespoke mohair Coral and Hive rug balanced across it. Carefully crafted flecks on the rug mimic the tones of the Edwardian tiles whilst complementing the classic Togo sofa’s aesthetic.
Hints of classicism and traditionalism are dotted throughout the home. From the Togo sofa and Coral and Hive rug to the Sputnik pendant that literally reaches out into the space as if expressing a craving to form a holistic whole. Classical elements are carefully weighed against the Clients’ desire for more modern and Mid-Century touches.
Where these newer styles seep in, they work to confidently convey a dancing aestheticism that adds a lyrical counterpoint to the foundations around them.The bold-yet-beautiful TROVE Duquette bed and its accompanying Rara skirt-like valance are examples of this, where they harmonise with the environment to craft a mise-en-scene of pure unity.
As we move into the front reception room, we are greeted with a commissioned piece by Jessica Yolanda Kaye, the artwork representing the Clients’ family. If one looks hard enough, even the family dog is included.
Going even further, more personal touches emerge. Guy Lowndes, an exceptional photographer and a good friend of the family, has his photos of Mallorca displayed above the blue chairs, chairs that invite you to sit and experience first-hand the sentimental attachment the family has to this location.
Tiffany states that it was the openness and flexibility of the Clients and their family that made working with them so enjoyable and fulfilling. Statement pieces and a diverse colour palette were welcomed due to the trust the Clients had with Studio Duggan. A personal touch in a home will never come across without a personal connection to those helping the Client bring their vision to life.
Photography by Mariell Lind Hasen
