We never actually wanted to live in a Victorian terraced house,” says Shay Alkalay, owner of an 1860s Victorian terraced house in north London. “It’s a bit strange for us coming from Tel Aviv. The houses here are generally so dark and narrow with ugly features – and carpeted.” But a complete transformation in the hands of Shay and his wife, Yael Mer, co-founders of the award-winning design studio Raw Edges, means their house is now an invitingly open and light-filled family home.
The house, which the couple bought four years ago, was ripe for renovation. “We used to live in the Barbican in London, which felt a bit like being in Tel Aviv, full of Modernist architecture. When it came to designing this place, we wanted the interior to reflect that,” says Yael who, along with Shay, moved to London 18 years ago to study at the Royal College of Art. “Our aim was to make our home modern, bring as much light to the space as possible, level the floors – really make it work for family life.” The couple have two daughters, Neeva, 11, and Maia, seven and a cockapoo called Ami.
