A bright and light kitchen is punctuated with vintage furniture and retro hues that add warmth and character, whilst contrasting with the original Victorian features. Some designers may have baulked at the challenge, but not Maria Speake, the co-founder of Retrouvius (and House & Garden’s Interior Designer of the Year in 2019), who was enlisted to take on the challenge. MAY WE SUGGEST: A London house layered with history by Maria Speake of RetrouviusThe owners first came across her design and reclamation company in 2006, when they were renovating an Arts and Crafts house, also in NW3. ‘Maria visited the site and spent several hours asking us about our vision for the house. After that, we both knew that she was the only designer we would ever want to work with.’