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Nefarious Interiors designer Adam Knight says a four-storey Tufnell Park townhouse had a tighter budget than its polished finish might suggest. The project kept existing sofas, avoided structural changes and used sale fabric, while prioritizing a bespoke kitchen and social spaces for the family.
Designer Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors says a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London, was redesigned on a tighter budget than its custom-looking kitchen, joinery and burl-wood bar might suggest. A Livingetc report describes how the project prioritized a few high-impact features while retaining existing elements and avoiding structural work.
“For a house this size, there wasn’t as much money to play with as you might expect,” Knight told Livingetc. He said spending was concentrated on areas that mattered most to the clients, particularly the kitchen, while other parts of the house had to be handled cost-effectively. The article does not disclose a total project budget or itemized costs.
The design team kept parts of the home’s earlier fit-out rather than replacing everything. According to Knight, the project avoided structural work and moving electrical fittings, reupholstered the existing sofas and added bespoke cushions instead of buying new couches. He also cited curtain fabric bought on sale at £19 a metre from Ian Mankin.
Some custom details were shaped around how the family uses the house. Knight said the original large rectangular kitchen island was replaced with an L-shaped island that gives people more surface area to gather around. A bench beside the dining table was chosen instead of matching chairs because it obstructed the view less and made it easier for children to get in and out.
Where the Budget Went
The project offers a concrete example of how design choices can be prioritized when a renovation budget is limited: retain usable furnishings and fittings, reduce the scope of building work, and direct spending toward selected features. Knight’s account does not establish how much the approach saved, but it identifies the specific decisions used to manage costs.
The layout also reflects the owners’ needs rather than relying only on decorative upgrades. The family likes to entertain, so the home includes several places for people to gather, including a basement lounge, dining area and bar, alongside the kitchen island. An upstairs living room sits next to a playroom, allowing adults and children to use separate spaces while remaining close.
For readers planning similar work, the report shows the difference between a finished room’s appearance and the choices behind it. A bespoke look does not, by itself, indicate that every item is new or that major building work took place. In this case, Knight describes selective custom spending combined with reuse and lower-cost purchases.
sale fabric curtains for living room
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A Mid-Century Look for Tufnell Park
Livingetc describes the townhouse’s interiors through olive greens, rich woods and mid-century references. Knight said the clients’ inspiration drew on American imagery and that he adapted those references to a British home. He also said one green shade recalled a jacket worn by the owner’s father.
The house was arranged to support both family life and hosting. The basement bar occupies space near the family lounge, while the upstairs playroom is adjacent to the more formal living room. Knight said the clients did not need an additional seating area, and positioning the playroom nearby made it easier to keep an eye on the children.
Knight established the London-based Nefarious Interiors in 2020, after previously designing restaurant interiors for the Corbin & King Group. The source also reports that he was included in the inaugural Next in Design cohort in 2025 by Homes & Gardens, Livingetc’s sister title.
““For a house this size, there wasn’t as much money to play with as you might expect.””
— Adam Knight, Nefarious Interiors, speaking to Livingetc
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Costs the Report Does Not Give
The source does not state the overall budget, the final cost of the renovation or how much money was saved through reuse and sale purchases. It also does not provide a before-and-after cost comparison or a detailed account of the project’s timeline. The reported £19-per-metre curtain price is one material purchase, not a measure of the project’s total spending.
The article attributes design decisions and descriptions of the owners’ preferences to Knight. It does not include separate comments from the homeowners, contractor or other project participants, so their views and any additional budget details are not available in the source.
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No Further Project Update Reported
Livingetc’s report presents the completed design and does not identify a pending construction stage, future project milestone or further announcement. Any additional information about the townhouse’s total costs, the amount saved or the owners’ assessment of the work would require a later statement or reporting from the designer or clients.
For now, the confirmed account is limited to Knight’s description of the decisions: preserve usable features, avoid moving structural and electrical elements, shop selectively and reserve bespoke spending for chosen areas such as the kitchen.
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Key Questions
Where is the townhouse?
It is a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London, according to Livingetc.
Who designed the interiors?
Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors led the project, as described in the Livingetc report.
How did the project control costs?
Knight said the team retained existing sofas, avoided structural work and moving electrical fittings, used sale-priced curtain fabric and chose bespoke cushions instead of new couches. The report does not give a total budget or a quantified saving.
What was the main custom kitchen feature?
The kitchen has a custom L-shaped island. Knight said it replaced a rectangular island that was too large and provided more surface area for people to gather around.
How much did the renovation cost?
The source does not state the overall project cost. It reports that the curtain fabric was on sale for £19 a metre, but gives no full budget or itemized costs.
Source: rss
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