Lucy Goldbart Reworks a Cold, Dated London Home into a Warm, 1970s‑Inflected Family House

# Project overview Lucy Goldbart Interior Design completed a full renovation and extension for "Project Ten," a London family house that previously felt cold and dated. The original interior featured stark white walls and painted white floorboards that worked against a cozy domestic atmosphere. The practice's brief was straightforward: transform the house into a warm, striking home that nods to 1970s earthy palettes and retro shapes, while delivering an elevated look on a more approachable budget.

# What shaped the design Goldbart's team leaned into warm, earthy tones and a laid‑back mood inspired by 1970s interiors. The final aesthetic blends the practice's "effortless, California‑cool" sensibility with rich caramel tones, deep ochres and sculptural furniture to give rooms personality and depth. The palette and forms were used across interior architecture, furniture and soft furnishings so the whole house reads consistently.

# Major interventions and practical choices The project combined a layout update with an extension and a full specification of interior architecture and furnishings. Key practical moves included:

• Reworking the layout and adding an extension to enlarge and reconfigure cramped areas, notably transforming the master bedroom into a light‑filled, generous space with floor‑to‑ceiling windows.

• Using sculptural furniture to introduce retro shapes and visual interest without relying solely on pattern or ornament.
• In small bathrooms, creating impact through large‑format stone (Patagonia slabs in the master ensuite shower) and deep ochre paint on remaining walls to add warmth without overcrowding the compact footprint.

# Challenges and outcomes

# Recognition and context Lucy Goldbart entered the SBID Awards, reflecting the practice's long‑standing membership and desire to share work with a wider, international audience. The project was noted in SBID's Project of the Week series and was tied to Goldbart being a 2025 SBID Awards finalist. For the practice, finalist recognition offers credibility with prospective clients and personal motivation to continue exploring creative options in residential design.

# Practical takeaways for similar projects

• Use colour and material changes first: swapping dominant white finishes for warmer paints and stone can shift the mood without heavy structural work.
• Emphasise single large‑scale materials in small rooms: a single large slab or a bold paint choice can provide drama without clutter.
• Combine modest structural change with thoughtful furnishing: an extension or reconfiguration paired with sculptural furniture and soft furnishings can make a compact home feel larger and more considered.

# Credits Design practice: Lucy Goldbart Interior Design. Project title: Project Ten. Location: London. Photographer: Taran Wilkhu.