Homes: le squeeze

Rebecca Rauter’s London home was never part of the plan. When daughters Zillah, 16, and Raphaela, 14, were small, she and her husband, Peter, headed to France, and a simpler life in a large but tumbledown Gascony chateau – the ultimate project house. But after just five years there, Peter tragically died. Photograph: Rachael Smith

Rauter stayed on to get the house finished for sale, then brought her young daughters back to London. With their furniture in storage, and living with friends, she began to hunt for a home of their own. “It was daunting,” she says. Rauter’s ‘Valentin’ bed, from sofa.com, is draped with a Spanish silk shawl – for similar, try Melinda Colthurst at Alfie’s Antique Market. For vintage lighting, like the globe pendant and bedside lights, try All Belle. Photograph: Rachael Smith

After finding a wreck of a Victorian terraced house in north London, while lusting after its more polished neighbour, Rauter drafted in architect Martyn Clarke for help. The mirror on Rauter’s bedroom mantelpiece was left in the French chateau by its previous owners. The triangular turner’s chairs were bought at a French antique market – Vide Greniers is a good guide to these. Photograph: Rachael Smith

Clarke gutted the house and put it back together – with a new roof, plumbing, electrics and floors, and extensions to the back and loft. The former created a new kitchen/dining area; the latter is accessed via an elegant spiral staircase. Photograph: Rachael Smith

Clarke’s sleek, contemporary style contrasts with Rauter’s collection of shabby French furniture and accessories, which includes a rusting French road sign and a gilt mirror covered with age spots, discovered in a junk shop. So she chose a palette of “muted, dirty greys” for the walls, instead of stark white, so the contrast wouldn’t be so great. This bed, from a Provence junk shop, is draped with a Turkish Suzani panel (try Suzani Interior. Head to The Old Cinema for pieces similar to the original “no-overtaking” road sign. Photograph: Rachael Smith

In the kitchen extension, sleek stone-coloured units sit alongside a rustic farmhouse kitchen table and open oak shelves. These are piled with earthenware confit pots and Le Parfait jars, all picked up during Rauter’s time in France. Divertimenti sells classic kitchen equipment. Photograph: Racheal Smith

In place of a traditional splashback is a piece of weathered decorative enamel. A wooden “Alimentation Generale” shop sign, discovered in a flea market, softens the contemporary Corian worktops. Photograph: Rachael Smith

Rauter had forgotten most of what she had in storage, but she unpacked it all, finding a suitable spot for even the quirkiest item. But some furniture had to go. “Big armoires are beautiful, but not the most practical in a skinny terrace.” Photograph: Rachael Smith