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This Victorian terraced home is a treasure trove of stylish surprises
This Victorian four-bedroom terraced house in south-east London is home to Chris Seychell, a social media content creator, husband Ross, and their two Boston terriers, Rocco and Saffy.
'Mi casa es su casa,' says Chris, who runs an interiors account on Instagram (@Casa.Curated) and is the proud owner of an opulent Victorian home set within a terrace in Hither Green. Together with his husband Ross, he has created an eclectic interior that's packed full of interest and inspiration – and has their friends and followers poring over every fabulously styled Instagram post. 'We have an ideology of creating a home over time, carefully considering how everything comes together,' explains Chris. 'It's a representation of our personalities that we like to share with others.'
When they purchased the property in 2018, it provided the couple with a completely blank canvas, on which they were able to create their own style. Since moving back to the UK from Barcelona – where they had spent three years when Ross was relocated there for work – they have taken their time carefully renovating every room to bring the house back to its former glory.
Their personal style is all about combining original period features and dramatic colours with mid-century modern furnishings and quirky finds. ‘A key factor in buying the house was its potential to extend both up and out,’ says Chris, having already finished a loft extension.
After buying the property, the couple wasted no time in getting started. ‘Just before we moved in, we knocked through the wall between the two reception rooms to create one large living space more suited to relaxing and entertaining,' explains Chris. ‘We restored the original fireplaces, added grandeur with parquet floors, and created intimacy with walls in Farrow & Ball's Stiffkey Blue.'
The living room is full of character thanks, in part, to its dazzling collection of Fornasetti plates displayed on the dark wall behind the sofa and a 1940s medical cabinet housing all manner of trinkets. ‘We’re avid travellers and enjoy soaking up new cultures,’ says Chris. ‘Our design ethos centres around showcasing unusual treasures, and seeking these out on our travels is a big part of this.’
Once the couple had moved in, they turned their attention to the main bedroom, creating a rich and dark colour scheme in Farrow & Ball’s Railings, complemented by vintage furniture and statement lighting. This eventually became their guest room when they moved into the loft – described by Chris as ‘a dedicated haven just for us’. Anything but the dumping ground or afterthought that is the fate of so many spare rooms, this one has the feel of a boutique hotel in an exotic location. ‘We always strive to a create a home-from-home vibe for guests with a touch of indulgence,’ says Chris.
Next, it was on to the two bathrooms. ‘Both of them have been big investments and labours of love,’ says Chris, ‘so we wanted to create designs that would be timeless. For the ensuite in the loft, we were after a feeling of pure luxury, so we planned generous proportions, a freestanding bath and his-and-his sinks. We combined Italian terrazzo with zellige tiles to give the space texture and contrast. For the family bathroom, we were working with a much smaller space, but we still aimed to create something similarly opulent. We reconfigured the layout to accommodate a double wet-room tiled with honed Calacatta Viola marble, a statement marble sink and unlacquered brass taps that have been developing a natural patina.'
With a spa-like quality achieved in both of the bathrooms, it means that the couple and lucky guests have stylish spaces where they can enjoy feeling pampered.
The two remaining bedrooms were next on the to-do list. ‘As Ross has quite a demanding job, we always planned to turn one of the guest bedrooms into a stylish but practical office, complete with a sit/stand desk and reading nook,’ says Chris. ‘We’ve made the other bedroom a creative space for planning my new business venture, but we added a sofa bed as well as a desk, so the room can be adaptable if extra guests are staying.’
Chris's new venture involves turning his passion for interiors into a career, and he has just completed a diploma in interior design. His flair for creating fantastic spaces is apparent throughout the house, and he’s happy to be the creative lead while Ross supports from the sidelines. But you won’t see either of them with a drill any time soon. ‘We have great respect for all the DIYers out there,’ laughs Chris, ‘but we’re both perfectionists and happy to leave the heavy lifting to the professionals.’
Outside, a small but perfectly formed garden provides welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of busy city life. ‘It’s in constant use by us and our dogs,’ says Chris. ‘We see it as another room for entertaining, plus we’re both keen sun-worshippers – when it comes out. It became even more vital as a space during lockdown, so we made a few improvements ourselves, like painting the fence, buying garden furniture and adding new plants. We plan to landscape it properly down the line and create an inside/outside dining area.’
Full of character and charisma, the property now expresses the pair's personalities and sense of style, while being incredibly comfortable and inspirational for anyone visiting. ‘The thing we love most about the house is the things we have filled it with,’ says Chris. ‘We’ve spent years collecting beautiful pieces together, each with memories that tell a story. We couldn’t part with anything.’
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