Brae House by Georgina Jeffries

Testament to the transformative power of colour, interior designer Georgina Jeffries calls on a palette of deep blues and cool neutrals illuminated by warm metals to bring contemporary elegance to this 1920s Californian bungalow.

While it may have been tempting to knock down some walls and create a series of bright, white and open spaces, Jeffries instead reimagined the century-old charm of this home through a modern lens. Through its coffered ceilings, ornate plasterwork and panelled walls, the home keeps its unique, heritage style, while the addition of modern yet sensitively chosen paint finishes and a collection of sculptural furnishings keep pace with the homeowners’ busy lives.

Large scale artworks add to the fresh contemporary style of the rooms, while the panelled walls painted in shades of eggshell blue and grey help to retain its heritage character.

Taking colour cues from the original stained glass windows, Jeffries combined a collection of antique and mid-century furnishings with key modern pieces, such as the dark blue Tufty Time sofa and a pair of Grazia & Co Ivy coffee tables in the living space. Large scale artworks add to the fresh contemporary style of the rooms, while the panelled walls painted in shades of eggshell blue and grey help to retain its heritage character.

Similarly, traditional elements bend to modern sensibilities, with original shelving restored and used to display contemporary glass, metal and ceramic pieces, while in the hallway, a Den Holm console with various turned legs seems chosen for both its sculptural look and its handcrafted detailing reflective of the home’s architecture. Balancing the moody colourways, the white lofty ceilings ensure these spaces are filled with light, while the blue and grey palette emanates a cool calmness throughout, enriched by brass and terracotta detailing. This palette also carries through to the bedrooms, where soft blue linen is paired with textured velvet headboards.

Throughout the home, lamps are chosen for their modern forms, with white, curvaceous shades used in most rooms.

Throughout the home, lamps are chosen for their modern forms, with white, curvaceous shades used in most rooms. A departure from the cool palette seen elsewhere, the dining room brings in a rich, terracotta red in the form of a gleaming lacquered sideboard alongside subdued, soft grey walls, while the study goes in for chromed metals with a USM Haller E Shelf used for record storage and an iconic Eames Aluminium Group Element chair is ready at the desk.

The success of this juxtaposition between old and new comes down to considered choices, both in terms of the timeless modern furnishings that go beyond passing trends and an artful array of colours that work to a sophisticated theme, giving this home the capacity to continue shining for at least another century.

Interior design by Georgina Jeffries.