Neon lights

A playful approach to colour and a willingness to try new things combine in this beautiful London home of two architects and their children.

WORDS Nicky Guymer PHOTOGRAPHY French + Tye

How do you make a home perform for all stages of your life? Architect Jean Dumas seems to have nailed it perfectly in the London flat he has made his home for the last 16 years. Located on the top two floors of a stucco-fronted townhouse, synonymous with this area of Notting Hill, the two-bedroom apartment was initially bought for Jean alone but has evolved over the years as a flat-share with friends, his first home with wife Navjeet, and now a family home following the addition of their young sons, Quentin and Rémi.

Bathed in vast amounts of natural light from huge sash windows, the upside-down layout was the flat’s biggest draw. The apartment is somewhat unique on the street as permission was granted to extend upwards in the 1970s, although this was made illegal in later years. The result is a lofty living space without direct neighbours and the perfect set-up for Jean’s ‘open house’ policy for the convivial social life he experiences in his native France.

Meeting through work when Navjeet, also an architect, was on a work placement in London, the flat became their haven, always full of creative people and very European in its vibe. When Navjeet moved in permanently after seven years studying abroad, they started making their shared plans for the flat’s design. “The flat had been pretty bare up to this point, so we were always thinking up ideas for renovations,” says Jean.

Inevitably life and work took over, and the overhaul that was planned for 2012 didn’t get started until 2018. By this point, Quentin and Rémi had arrived. “When the kids came along, we realised how un-child friendly the space was. We had no balustrade on the stairs. Quentin adapted well but, when we had friends and their kids over, it was pretty scary!”

Recognising that their life had changed quite radically, the couple knew their home had to adapt to keep up. The design was dominated by the need to make the space work for them as a family, whether that was through storage, tweaks to the layout or remedying safety issues, all while showcasing their unique style.

“It’s an amazing exercise to design your own space, and obviously we knew the space really well so we could address every single issue that we had,” says Jean, although the couple were not opposed to spontaneity and the opportunities it brings. “We began by taking the property back to bare brick. It’s only when a space is stripped bare that you get to make new decisions, on the spot,” Navjeet explains, still bubbling with excitement at the prospect, whilst demonstrating a renovation strategy that would typically drive an architect to distraction. Such are the perks of being your own client.

INDIAN INFLUENCE Some pieces sourced from India are displayed on the mantelpiece and include the ‘head on a stand’ and ‘sitting man’ sculptures by Claymen.

Whilst their refurbishment plans weren’t radical – a canny move buying a space where everything is in the right place – it was very considered. “We loved the place – it was just about making it better,” says Jean. This is where their skills as architects really took hold. “It became a game of Tetris, making sure all the pieces you’ve got fit together,” says Navjeet. Eking out 13 centimetres to house a full-height larder, installing integrated rubbish bins and utilising the chimney breast to create a hidden shelf for the toaster and kettle all contributed to a more spacious kitchen. Within the landing storage cupboard, they ‘stole’ a washing machine-sized nook from the master bedroom, so the cupboard only protrudes 40 cm into the hallway – not only space-saving but an exercise in family-friendly practicality having the laundry closer to the bedrooms.

Whilst this organic design ethos is the beating heart of their home, it is surely their use of colour that brings the space to life. Colour runs through the couple’s veins. Jean is from a family of artists, and Navjeet spent her childhood in India. Their instincts for the brighter hues are tempered by Navjeet’s love of natural materials, honed whilst studying in Norway. Navjeet admits there is no process to their colour choices, it’s all instinctive. Jean explains, “It was a bit of a reaction to past projects where I always tried to introduce colour and vibrancy and a bit of fun. It’s that Paul Smith thing – traditional with a twist. It has been frustrating when the client ultimately opts to paint everything white. When we are the clients: freedom!”

SAVING SPACE The kitchen design process was an excellent opportunity for the couple to exercise all they have learnt about space saving solutions.

The couple is very happy not being the minimalists so prevalent in their line of work. “I love objects and vibrant colours – it just brings so much personality. This place is our home; it is a collection of memories, and I love celebrating that”, says Jean. Navjeet elaborates, “I do admire the minimalist and am in awe of some minimal architecture but, to be true to us, could we live in it? No. So much of what we do is to amuse or to have humour. That’s really important to us, that brings joy, that adds flavour to life.”

BUILT-IN COMFORT THIS cleverly designed home features many built-in elements including this space saving bunk bed.

STUNNING FUNCTIONALITY This small beautiful wall basin delivers with looks and practicality.

The humour they inject into their work is no better showcased than in the bathroom. When the couple opened up the attic space, they found the personal diary of a past inhabitant dated 1974 – it included a very candid account of her private life. “Can you imagine?” exclaims Navjeet. “It was like finding treasure.” The couple wanted to pay homage to this and did so through the tiling. “We absolutely had to reference it, so I took myself off to one of those kid’s ceramics workshops with my raw, unbaked tiles, illustrated a simple line drawing of a nude and the shop fired them for me. It worked really well, made all the better by the story behind it.” Given the industry contacts the couple must have, there’s something wonderfully endearing and unpretentious about the way they realise their ideas.

Whilst it would be fascinating to see how this apartment could adapt to the next chapter of their lives, the family feel ready for a change. “The ideas for this flat were always developing and, now we’ve done it, it feels complete. We’ve done the best job we could,“ says Jean. Navjeet’s only reason for moving is for more space so she can host her mother when she comes to stay. “I will definitely miss this place and its memories. A friend said to me that it isn’t the building that makes the home, it’s you and all your stuff, so we hope there will always be an element of what we’ve created here in anywhere new.” When the time does come to move on, she says they will almost certainly take on another project, “The one amazing thing about living in a space before doing any work is how well you get to know it. And especially the way we lived here – through every phase of our lives. Wow, if these walls could talk…”