‘Knocking Down Walls Made This House Flow'

Nicole and Lester Leviton created big, open spaces connected with a cohesive palette of greys and white – with a few surprises thrown in…

Supersize sofa

‘I fell in love with this sofa after sitting on it at my interior designer friend’s house,’ says Nicole. ‘The wall painted in Farrow & Ball’s Off Black warms the room and the yellow gives it a bit of life. I have my eye on a neon light for the dark wall and an industrial-style drinks trolley. They’ll finish the room off.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Hay Mags sofa, £3,885 (for a similar combination); Hay Yellow ottoman, £495, both Clippings

Nicole and Lester played the long game to buy their house, after earmarking just three roads where they wanted to live, in a conservation area. The couple, who were born and bred there, liked the wide, detached houses and leapt into action when, after years of waiting, one came up for sale. ‘Our existing home was further out and I was fed up with getting in the car to go everywhere,’ says Nicole. ‘This house is near a bus stop and local shops.’

They dismissed the Seventies decor, tiny kitchen and cluttered floorplan, and visualised open spaces. They didn’t rush in: ‘We had to live there for a while, to get an understanding of the space,’ says Nicole. Being in a conservation area meant navigating a rigorous planning procedure to get permission for a double-storey rear extension. ‘Our goal was to create more downstairs space and have a big kitchen-living space at the back. Upstairs, we wanted four double bedrooms – two with en suites – so my sister and her family, who live abroad, could stay with us comfortably.’ However, permission for a loft conversion was refused. ‘We were prepared to compromise as the extension was more important.’