Everyone Told This Designer to Open Up Her Prewar Apartment’s Layout—Here’s Why She Didn’t
The extra-large hallway comes in handy for relay races.
Olivia Lidbury is a freelance writer based in the UK. She has been regularly contributing to Domino since 2021, pitching charming British houses, whimsical apartments and must-see vacation lets. Olivia also regularly writes for a number of national UK titles, such as The Times, and The Sunday Times Style magazine. She lives just outside of London in Kent.
Having worked for a national newspaper under a very exacting fashion director, Olivia understands the value of good communication and a hard deadline. Stepping away from catwalk and celebrity reportage to go freelance in 2016, she made a gradual switch to interiors and decor, her fashion contacts providing a unique dimension on ideas and access.
Olivia has an affection for craft and of small businesses, and relishes how championing their work can impact their exposure. She is also a cheerleader for shopping sustainably, and spoke at the 2022 ATG (Auction Technology Group) Art & Antiques conference.
After graduating from high school in Manchester, Olivia took an art foundation year, where it was confirmed that her fine art and sculpture skills were questionable. But she found an affinity with photography, and was accepted to study at the London College of Fashion. After a term she had a wobble and switched to the journalism degree—and hasn’t looked back.
As a mid-term stop-gap, I painted the dark blue tiles I inherited in my main bathroom a crisp white. It took about six coats! Two years on, the makeover is still going strong and makes being in the space less oppressive.
The extra-large hallway comes in handy for relay races.
With the kids all grown up, the house is following suit.
What happens when you have House of Hackney’s founders as parents.
In the bathroom, a vintage sideboard serves as the vanity.
The moody vibes stop at the front door.
The over-the-top shoe wall is now a guest bed nook.
And that’s just one smart use of scrap fabric.
Removable wallpaper and 3D art set them apart.
It’s a bit more British and a lot more space savvy.