After a dispiriting search for the perfect property, Purvi Harlalka and Jyothish George were ready to give up. So, when details for a tired, multi-occupancy house in north London landed in their inbox, expectations were low. Upon viewing, George's whispered verdict was damning: "There's no way we're going to buy this dump!"
However, Harlalka saw past the warren of small rooms and neglect. She was captivated by the abundant natural light and the potential of the garden. Convincing her partner of its possibilities, they embarked on a transformative journey to create their spacious, light-filled dream home.
Architectural Vision: Creating Space and Light
Their brief to architect Jo Edwards of Edwards Rensen was clear: achieve a sense of spaciousness throughout by delivering fewer rooms but more usable space. "One of the attractions was that the clients didn't want to squeeze every bit of space out of it," Edwards explains. "They just wanted to make a beautiful family house."
This philosophy guided key structural decisions. Instead of cramming extra rooms into the loft, the ceilings were removed to create expansive double-height volumes, allowing the bedrooms to soar into airy apexes. The previously cramped basement, once divided into multiple cells, was completely opened up.
Now, a sleek kitchen flows across one side of this lower-ground floor, with dining and seating areas opposite. The entire space is dissected by a contemporary steel staircase and opens directly onto the garden through full-height glass doors. Clever design hides historical quirks; the full-height kitchen cupboards appear as a simple run but are individually sized to accommodate the bulging wall and old fireplaces behind them.
A Global Tapestry of Art and Design
Interior designer Edwina Boase was enlisted to inject personality and a playful yet practical aesthetic. Together with Harlalka, they commissioned a bespoke collection of global artworks, turning the house into a curated gallery of personal stories.
The collection is truly international: a painting by Thim Rohde from Denmark, a silk artwork from the Netherlands, a piece by Holly Addi from Utah, USA, and another by Rubeena Ratcliffe from Canada. In the sitting room, a pair of large-scale photographs by South African artist Kgomotso 'Neto' Tleane, discovered at the LagosPhoto festival in Nigeria, set the decorative colour palette.
Harlalka's meticulous eye for detail shone through. On a trip to India, she took a tracing paper template to ensure fabric for the sitting room blinds perfectly matched the terrazzo design on her console tables. She also personally designed the art deco-style routing for a sideboard, spending hours perfecting the groove spacing.
An Exotic Garden and a Happy Ending
If the interior is a masterpiece, the garden is its breathtaking companion. Designed by neighbour Declan Buckley, it bursts with evergreens and hardy banana plants, evoking the couple's childhoods in India. A straight staircase from the entrance, an idea conceived by George, ensures the garden is visible from the front door.
From a dismissed "dump" to a deeply personal sanctuary, the project is a testament to vision and collaboration. Against his initial misgivings, George ultimately provided the final, perfect touch—proving that with the right team and a clear dream, any space can be transformed.
