What was this house like when you got the keys to it?
Nik: It was really dated; the previous owner lived here for 40 years, which initially had put me off. But it has a big driveway, which is rare for Victorian terraces, and we’re a short walk from the Tube station and the high street. It was dark and poky and the bathroom needed to be moved from off the kitchen to upstairs. My mum advised me to live in it first, but I just wanted to get on with it! We ended up extending to the side of the kitchen and up a level to gain an extra bedroom.

How would you describe your interiors taste?
Nik: I’m all about mixing old with new. So I’ll scour eBay for vintage yet my TV unit in my bedroom is from Ikea. All my rugs are from eBay; I’ve definitely made some mistakes with measurements over the years but it’s great as there are lots of reputable dealers on there. I think it’s important to have some more luxury, quality pieces too - like my kitchen carcass is from Ikea but the marble worktop, which goes up along the walls, was quite hefty. I like to balance everything out like that.

Are you a mood boarder? Where do you look for inspiration?
Nik: Definitely, I’m always on Pinterest but I do love flicking through design magazines such as Living Etc, House & Garden and Elle Decoration. I’ll get ideas but I never stick to a look entirely.

Where did you source the wooden doors that divide the lounge and kitchen?
Nik: They are reclaimed doors from an antiques shop called The Old Yard in Shropshire. They had three original panels in and so I chose the rest, which were added by local carpenters Neighbour Joiners. They look so lovely, especially when the light hits them in the middle of the day.

You’ve used the same colour on the walls throughout, does it create an enjoyable flow?
Nik: It really does; I discovered Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster through a client’s home we were doing the flowers for and I said to his interior designer: ‘Oh my god, what’s this colour?’, I instantly loved it. In the hallway is actually Julie’s Dream by Little Greene because it’s similar but just that bit lighter. The stars are Farrow & Ball Hague Blue which is practical with the dogs going up and down it. Originally I had a dark colour in the front room, but because it’s north-facing I found it quite hard to deal with so I brightened it all up.

You founded Grace & Thorn, a very successful floristry business - do you view plants as an extension of your furniture?
Nik: Absolutely, and that played a big part of the way I wanted the extension to function… my favourite spot is just sitting at the kitchen table and looking out at the garden. I got the biggest tree that I could get inside the house - a Ficus Benjamina - to go under the skylight by the dining table - I think it’s about 10ft tall.

Any tips for anyone not quite so green-fingered?
Nik: It’s as simple as finding out where your plant is from and re-creating that environment. So in a basement flat, your succulents aren’t going to do well there because they’re from the desert and like lots of light. Ferns for example, love humidity, so they thrive in the bathroom and they will do well in a basement flat because they like low light.

The kitchen area looks really rustic and lived-in, not like an off-the-peg-extension…
Nik: Thanks! I purposely went against bi-fold doors simply for the reason that I wanted a ledge just for plants, so I opted for a window and a door. As you look out to the garden there’s so much green, and it’s a natural progression from the inside out rather than a sliding door with furniture in front of it.

Talk us through the design - was it always going to be green?
Nik: No! I was going to go for a wood finish but when I was talking to Plykea, where I sourced the fronts from, they told me they’d just released some Formica colours and I loved the Hunter Green shade. I got the idea for the pegs on the walls from Pinterest, they’re from Willow & Stone. I’m not a minimalist - there’s so much clutter and teacups everywhere but you know, it’s a lived-in kitchen!

The floor looks very unique too…
Nik: I really enjoy travelling to Europe and love the terracotta flooring you see in France and Italy… so I sourced these herringbone tiles from Baked Earth and laid them in a chevron pattern because I love the parquet look. However the tiler laid them upside down! I was furious… it looks fine, but it’s not exactly as I’d imagined.

Did you have any other building mishaps along the way?
Nik: Overall the renovation seemed to drag on… I had to move in here in the end to get things moving and manage the builders each morning. I was really on their backs, which I don’t think they appreciated! We also had to get two different architects in because I had a vision of what I wanted to do but they just weren’t listening. Like being able to see right through into the garden from the sitting room was a deal-breaker for me, yet the first one put a toilet and a utility room in the way… so my tip is to push back until you’re happy, or find someone else until you are.

You stock a lot of homewares at Grace & Thorn, do you give pieces a trial-run first?
Nik: We did just receive a lot of stuff the other day and one of my team asked: ‘Do you want me to put this up online?’ and I was like: ‘No, it’s for me!’ Obviously we are known as a plant and flower shop but in our new space I’m doing more and more homewares and It’s going really well. I’m very particular about what to buy and I really enjoy doing it. My favourite new finds are Terrible Twins, who do natural bath oils and salts in big brown bottles. And Sevin, who do really lovely soap.

What does home mean to you?
Nik: I’m a total homebody and love being here. I’m a taurus and enjoy comforts like nice linen, candles, incense, bubble bath and oils… I’m happiest walking the dogs and having a nice dinner with a glass of wine. Home is somewhere were I can be comfortable and find peace and solace.

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For more inspiration follow Nik on Instagram @graceandthorn

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