TL;DR
Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Nefarious Interiors designer Adam Knight says a strict budget guided the renovation of a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London. The project retained existing elements where possible and directed spending toward areas such as the kitchen, while using sale fabric, reupholstery and layout choices to control costs.
A strict budget shaped the renovation of a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London, where designer Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors focused spending on selected features while retaining much of the home’s existing layout and furnishings. In a report for Livingetc, Knight said the budget was tighter than the size and custom-looking finishes might suggest.
“For a house this size, there wasn’t as much money to play with as you might expect,” Knight told Livingetc. He said the team spent on areas that mattered most to the clients, including the kitchen, while seeking cost-effective choices elsewhere. The article does not disclose the project’s total budget or itemized costs.
Rather than undertake structural work or move electrical installations, the design retained existing elements where possible. The homeowners’ sofas were reupholstered, and Knight chose bespoke cushions as a less costly way to refresh the furniture than buying a new couch. Curtain fabric was purchased on sale at Ian Mankin for £19 per meter, according to the designer.
The kitchen’s original large rectangular island was replaced with a custom L-shaped island, which Knight said provided more surface area and made it easier for people to gather around. A bench along the dining table’s window side was chosen instead of matching chairs, both to preserve the view and to make it easier for children to get in and out. The basement bar and several seating areas reflect the family’s interest in hosting.
Where the Renovation Spent
The project illustrates how design decisions can change the feel and use of a home without every room receiving new furniture or major construction. Knight’s account points to a practical distinction: invest in a few high-impact elements, then adapt existing pieces and choose lower-cost materials for other areas. That approach can matter to homeowners facing renovation costs, though the report supplies no figures to establish how much the choices saved.
The layout also serves the clients’ daily routines, not only the appearance of the house. A dining bench, multiple places to sit and a playroom adjoining the upstairs living room were designed around family life and entertaining. Knight said the playroom’s location allows adults to keep an eye on the children while using the formal living room.
For readers, the useful takeaway is not a guaranteed budget formula but a set of disclosed choices: avoid unnecessary structural changes, reuse what remains suitable and prioritize features with a clear function. The finished home’s bespoke appearance does not, by itself, reveal its cost.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A Mid-Century Brief for Tufnell Park
The owners’ references drew on American mid-century style, including rich browns and olive greens. Knight described the inspiration as having a Californian feel that could be adapted to a British townhouse. One green shade was selected because, he said, it matched a jacket worn frequently by the owner’s father. The article connects those choices to a broader scheme of warm colors, wood finishes and spaces intended for conversation.
Knight founded London-based Nefarious Interiors in 2020 after working on restaurant interiors for the Corbin & King Group. Livingetc also reported that he was named to the inaugural Next in Design cohort in 2025 by its sister title, Homes & Gardens. The project account focuses on the design approach rather than reporting a broader industry or property-market development.
“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
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Project Costs Remain Undisclosed
Livingetc’s report does not state the renovation’s total budget, the final project cost or a comparison with an initial estimate. It also does not quantify the savings from keeping the existing layout, avoiding structural work, reupholstering furniture or buying discounted fabric. The £19-per-meter curtain-fabric price is a single detail, not an account of the project’s overall costs.
The source describes design decisions and Knight’s explanation of the brief; it does not independently verify the project’s spending or assess whether the approach would produce similar results in other homes. It is also unclear when the renovation was completed and whether all the described choices were made in response to budget limits rather than other practical preferences.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
No Further Project Update Given
The Livingetc feature presents the townhouse as a completed design project and does not announce additional renovation work, a later budget review or a follow-up milestone. Readers seeking a full cost breakdown would need further information from the homeowners or Nefarious Interiors; none is included in the source report.
For now, the documented account remains focused on the decisions Knight described: retaining usable elements, limiting disruptive work, shopping for materials carefully and directing spending toward the kitchen and other priorities for the family. No further developments are specified.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Where is the townhouse?
The four-storey home is in Tufnell Park, north London, according to Livingetc.
Who designed the renovation?
Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors led the design, the Livingetc report says.
What did the project spend money on?
Knight said the team prioritized areas that mattered to the clients, including the kitchen. The report does not provide a full spending breakdown.
How did the design limit costs?
The approach included retaining much of the existing home, avoiding structural work and electrical moves, reupholstering sofas, commissioning cushions instead of buying a new couch, and purchasing curtain fabric on sale.
How much did the renovation cost overall?
The total project cost is not disclosed. The report gives one material price: curtain fabric bought on sale for £19 per meter, as quoted by Knight.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
