FADED grandeur

CREATIVE COUPLE GEMMA RUSE AND XAVIER SHERRIF HAVE JUXTAPOSED THE PATINA OF AGE WITH STYLISH CLEAN LINES IN THEIR VICTORIAN-MEETS-MODERN HOME

- MARY WEAVER, CARRIE MITCHELL

HOME NOTES

WHO LIVES HERE?

Gemma Ruse and Xavier Sherrif live here with their four-year-old son Raffi Together, the couple run global design agency StudioXAG.

THE PROPERTY

A large four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in east London.

THE LAYOUT

The property is arranged over four main floors. The ground floor has a large living room, kitchen with playroom/snug area and an internal courtyard. Stairs lead up to a half floor with Raff is bedroom and to the first floor with the main bedroom, dressing room and en-suite shower room. Above, another half floor has the family bathroom and laundry. The top floor has two bedrooms/studies, plus a shower room. Finally, the flat in the basement (not shown) is rented out.

Gemma Ruse and her partner Xavier Sherrif had been living in a maisonette in east London for 10 years while building up their business, when they embarked on a lifestyle change which saw them getting married, buying the house and having a baby – all at the same time.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A RENOVATION?

‘As our family was growing, we wanted more space and we had seen many beautiful homes in the area that gave us inspiration for layouts and ideas for when we finally bought this one. We managed to move in for six months to get a feel for the space, find an architect, get planning permission then move out just before building work commenced and I gave birth!’