Alissa and David Talbot transformed their cramped London maisonette into a beautiful and practical home to house their growing family
TEXT Alexandra Pratt IMAGES Joe Whitmore/Carta Nova
It was the summer of 2021 and Alissa and David were living in London when they decided they wanted to stop renting, and put down some roots.
“We took advantage of the stamp duty holiday,” says Alissa, who works as an account director. “We liked north London and started looking for somewhere that was walkable to a nice high street.”
They found just that in a three-bedroom maisonette on the first floor of a Victorian terrace. The location was ideal, but the flat was very tired. “It had clearly been a rental,” recalls Alissa. “Apart from the period features such as fireplaces, everything was beige and unloved.”
Despite so little initial appeal, the flat did have the potential to be improved, and this was further underlined by the planning permission attached to the attic. Alissa and David instructed a structural engineer before completing the purchase of their new home to ensure a loft conversion was feasible. Once they cleared this hurdle, the couple started looking for an architect to help them realise their dream of a more spacious home, remodelled according to their own needs, with a master suite in the attic.
Although David (who works in public affairs), and Alissa spoke to several architects, some were less than enthusiastic about the project. Then they found Eva Vatzeva, director of Carta Nova online.
“We loved her aesthetic,” says Alissa. “Eva shared our vision. Her design and her approach were what we needed.” Their brief to Eva was to brighten the flat, open up some of the rooms and modernise it, creating a calming and joyful space. In particular, as both Alissa and David work from home at times, they needed an office that could easily be used as a guest room. They also wanted an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room on the main floor.
To achieve all this, they knocked down the wall between the kitchen and the master bedroom, creating a room with windows to the east and west that is now flooded with light. The original living room is now the office and the second bedroom is a nursery. The tiny box room – scarcely big enough for a bed – has been opened up to the entrance hallway through an archway, creating an impression of light and space for anyone coming into the flat, as well as a useful place for outdoor shoes, buggies and wet coats.
“We call it the mud room,” laughs Alissa. “Previously, it had no value, but now it’s a useable space.” Having a dedicated place for all the paraphernalia of life reduces everyday stress and the flat has a calm, intuitive layout that makes much more sense for a growing family.
The biggest change David and Alissa made was the conversion of the loft, but this presented challenges from the start. The existing planning permission expired quickly after the sale was completed and the local planning department refused a new application.
“Alissa and David’s original vision for a spacious loft master suite running the width of the flat didn’t meet planning requirements. So we created a more imaginative and – crucially – more flexible plan that met all of their needs,” explains Eva. “The new loft extension consists of two dormers connected seamlessly by an eaves skylight. The larger dormer is home to a bright master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom in the smaller dormer.”
“The double dormer was Eva’s work-around,” says Alissa. “It has the feel of a single large space, but structurally it’s two.”
With this hurdle successfully cleared, Alissa and David were not expecting another to follow, but the delay of several months caused by the planning refusal resulted in a “drastic” rise in quotes for the building work. This Alissa attributes to the conflict in Ukraine, although prices had been rising for some time following Covid-related supply chain problems around the globe.
“Our quotes went up by £50,000 – £60,000,” says Alissa. “We had to find compromises elsewhere to save costs.” Those trade-offs included not renovating a bathroom and keeping the existing kitchen cabinetry, which fortunately remained in good condition.
“That was a low point,” admits Alissa. “There was nothing tangible to see at that stage and we even considered just doing the project in two stages to see if costs would fall. In the end, we went ahead with the full project, as we felt it would be too disruptive to prolong it.”
Despite the stress of decision-making, the couple were delighted to discover they were expecting a child. Baby Scarlett arrived just three months after they moved into their newly renovated flat in December 2022, and Alissa spent much of her pregnancy living with her in-laws while the flat was stripped back to the studs.
With cost savings in mind, it became David and Alissa’s job to project manage, despite originally wanting Eva to do this. However, “Eva was such a good partner, she understood our priorities and her connection made the process easier,” recalls Alissa.
The couple were also very happy with their builders, who were appointed by Eva. “The experience of being present as the consulting architect while the works took place onsite was exciting for all of us. I gave them useful guides beforehand, and I was available for them during the entire construction phase,” says Eva. “We appointed trusted builders that I’ve worked with before, so I knew we could rely on their expertise and quality of work. The conversation between the contractor and clients was smooth and straightforward, and they felt confident knowing I was there if needed.”
One of the underlying goals of the project was the desire to complete it as sustainably as possible, within David and Alissa’s financial constraints. The loft and windows are well insulated to keep heating costs as low as possible and, along with reusing the existing kitchen cabinets, Alissa and David managed to avoid plastic-based materials entirely.
“While their sustainability choices may not be groundbreaking, they are a thoughtful and realistic benchmark for a lot of families who find themselves renovating period properties on a similar budget,” says Eva.
Alissa also insisted on non-toxic paint, timber flooring and a natural wool carpet on the stairs and in the new master suite. Not only does it help to delineate the spaces, but it’s also a cosy element in the design.
“Period features also make a big difference,” says Alissa. “I like mixing period and new and I ensured there was a good proportion of vintage pieces in the furnishings, some of which have been reupholstered. I didn’t want it to look too ‘catalogue.’” The bright and colourful nursery works perfectly with some reconditioned Victorian furniture. Alissa also chose new fittings carefully, with an emphasis on quality and modern classics. The light fixtures from SoHo Home in particular are “really beautiful,” says Alissa.
Although the heating system did not require an upgrade, David and Alissa also decided not to install air conditioning, “which is a regret,” says Alissa. “It’s not eco-friendly, but we need to use electrics to cool the flat. Air conditioning is too big to install afterwards.”
Despite being very organised, Alissa still found the need to make all the little decisions overwhelming, especially around delivery and lead times.
“We were so fortunate to have Eva, especially as we were living away and working full-time. Eva combines the technical understanding of the planning process as an architect but also has the imagination and style to help you design and furnish the interior. She does all this with a warmth; we needed an architect who believed in our project (plenty did not, it must be said) and who could answer any and all of our many questions, fears and hopes with good grace.”
One area where Alissa found costs ran away from her was in the kitchen. Despite keeping the original cabinetry, the couple did add an island, with a smart countertop from Cosentino, called Dekton. Derived from natural minerals, a proprietary ultra compaction process creates a surface that has no defects, or porosity.
“The one we chose was very expensive,” says Alissa. “But we had set our hearts on it and nothing else was as beautiful. However, we now use it every day and it has become the centrepiece of our house.”
With cost control in mind, Alissa and David were conscious of not ‘over developing’ the flat.
“We didn’t want to over-invest, as it is not big enough to be our forever home,” explains Alissa. “David and I were on the same page with design and aesthetics, so we really considered the expenditure.”
After so many challenges, moving in was a real high point for Alissa and David. Alissa in particular found she felt rewarded for key decisions they had made relating to the layout and for sticking to their guns on what they wanted.
“We’re really proud of what we have brought to life,” Alissa says. “We look around and think ‘wow, we really did that!’”
The flat is a light-filled, welcoming, adaptable home, replacing the cramped old layout of two bedrooms, one bathroom, a box room, and a small separate kitchen and living room. For Alissa, the biggest success of the project is the converted loft, which was always the priority, thanks to the space it brings to their home.
“My favourite thing about the flat now is the view from the loft bed,” says Alissa. “It looks into the green belt, so it is just trees. It changes all the time and there’s tons of wildlife. It’s very beautiful, it feels like you are in a nest.”
Looking back, after a year of living in their new home and baby Scarlett now approaching toddler age, it seems the best decision David and Alissa made was simply to do the project in the first place. A once outdated and cramped flat on just one floor of an old building is now a warm, bright, flexible and generous home for a growing family.
“Our best build decision was to take the punt,” says Alissa. “It all started with making the loft into the primary bedroom and creating open-plan living. It now feels bigger than it is. It’s so rewarding to transform your vision into a success.“