Space to entertain: how this north-west London couple turned their old wreck into a rock 'n roll party house

Built in 1908 and untouched for decades, the house in north-west London that was bought by interior designer Audrey Carden and Andrew Mansi had a lot of small spaces at the back.

But with her expert eye, Carden could see the potential. In 1996, she co-founded her business, Carden Cunietti, with Eleanora Cunietti, and today they work internationally, masterminding the interior design of homes ranging from chalets in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains in France to houses in London and the English countryside.

Their work is often described as having a rock’n’roll edge, and Carden’s own house, like their work, illustrates immense flair, imagination and attention to detail.

It was a desire for more space that prompted Carden and her husband to move from nearby Queen’s Park in 2013. “We wanted one big entertaining space, which is hard in London terrace houses, which tend to have long, narrow rooms,” says Carden.

While not an enormous house, this one was fairly stout — a little wider and deeper than many built in the same era. With the addition of a new extension at the back and side and floors lowered by one metre, the space now has the proportions of a warehouse apartment.

The house is built on a slope, so the newly lowered sitting room in the extension is flush with the back garden, and the ceilings soar.

White walls are hung with large-scale artworks and are topped with shadow gaps where they reach the ceiling. “There was a lot of engineering involved,” adds Carden.

The first floor, which is dominated by the open-plan main bedroom and marble-clad bathroom, has a wonderfully indulgent dressing area.

The mood is luxurious here, with blue, paper-backed, suede-effect fabric on the walls of the bedroom and dressing area, and a tray ceiling in the bedroom painted in the same shade.

There are silk curtains in emerald green, and honey-toned mid-century furniture. The look ties in with the style of the dining room at the front of the ground floor, which is painted a gloss blue.

Throughout the house, vintage pieces mingle with the contemporary. Their budget was healthy but Carden found ways to make savings.

The patchwork of stone tiles on the kitchen floor was designed using offcuts from various suppliers, and the striking carpet on the stairs is actually a few inexpensive runners from contemporary homewares and décor company CB2 sewn together.

The entire renovation took just nine months. Carden’s secret weapon is preparation: “Everything was designed and bought beforehand, so as soon as the builders needed something, it was there.”