.png)
"All our inspiration was France, Italy, Morocco, Greece—just not England," says homeowner Leila D’Angelo. "We deviated quickly from the idea of a ‘renovated Victorian house’ and leaned into something much more Mediterranean, because that’s what felt authentic to us."
Hidden behind the conventional facade of a Victorian end-of-terrace home in South London is a surprising slice of Mediterranean magic. The family home of creative director Leila D’Angelo, her partner, and their young son is inspired by the couple’s travels to far-flung destinations—from Morocco to Italy and Greece.
When the couple first viewed the house, they were immediately drawn to it. "I love the sense of entrance you get in a Victorian property—the big front door, the hallway, the staircase," says Leila. "When we first walked in, it immediately felt like a family home, a place where you can come together. We could already begin to see it coming to life."
Leila D'Angelo, a brand consultant who enjoys sewing in her spare time, sits with her son in her home’s new kitchen, which features bespoke banquet seating inspired by welcoming hospitality interiors.
Photo by Chris Wharton
To achieve their vision, they turned to London-based architect Benjamin and interior designer Joanna Wilkes. "We enjoy creating colorful projects—and this one was great because there were a lot of rich elements to the brief," recalls Benjamin. "In a way, it feels like going on holiday without having to go through the airport, because it holds those memories of places they love."
In the beginning, the plan was to focus on the ground floor only. However, as soon as the project began to take shape, Leila and her partner realized there would be a complete disconnect with the upstairs level if it were left in the existing condition. Quickly, the decision was made to also transform the upper floor, including the primary bedroom suite, en suite bathroom, landing, and a sewing room that doubles as a guest room when needed.
Before: Entrance
Before: "Some of the things we really loved we lost," says Leila. "We realized, for example, the tiling wasn’t original and didn’t go all the way to the edges."
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Wilkes
The original entrance had the classic Victorian drama that the couple fell in love with, complete with a tiled floor and stained-glass front door. But, there was little built-in storage and the tiles turned out to not be original—they stopped short of the walls once the existing joinery was removed.
After: Entrance
Interior designer Joanna Wilkes and architect Benjamin Wilkes carefully reinstated the original banister in the new fit-out. "It’s a nice detail, as it’s something that has been touched by the hands of previous residents over hundreds of years," says Benjamin. "And, it doesn’t feel out of place as the curvature works with the other curved, organic elements we introduced."
Photo by Chris Wharton
See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: How a Couple Brought Mediterranean Vibes to Their London Terrace House
Related stories:
- Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Ideas Inspired This ’60s Italian Villa, Now Refreshed for a Family of Five
- A Half-Arch Motif Merges an L.A. Renovation With Its New ADU
- This Brick House Melds Mexican and Nordic Traditions
Read More
By: Mandi Keighran
Title: Before & After: How a Couple Brought Mediterranean Vibes to Their London Terrace House
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/before-and-after-symposion-house-benjamin-wilkes-london-terrace-renovation-53406f40
Published Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:57:56 GMT
Did you miss our previous article...
https://trendinginbusiness.business/real-estate/after-falling-in-love-with-marfa-an-architect-designed-this-12m-home
