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Nefarious Interiors designer Adam Knight says a strict budget shaped the renovation of a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London. The design kept much of the existing home, avoided structural changes and electrical moves, and concentrated spending on features such as the kitchen.
Interior designer Adam Knight says a strict budget shaped the renovation of a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London, prompting his studio, Nefarious Interiors, to preserve existing features and focus spending on selected areas, including the kitchen. The project shows how the home’s polished, bespoke appearance was achieved without the level of spending its scale might suggest, according to Livingetc’s report.
Knight told Livingetc that the budget was more limited than people might assume for a house of this size. The design team spent more on areas they considered important, particularly the kitchen, while seeking lower-cost solutions elsewhere. The report does not give a total renovation budget or a breakdown of project costs.
To limit expenses, the team retained as much of the previous interior as possible. Knight said the project avoided structural work and did not move electrical wiring. Existing sofas were reupholstered rather than replaced, with bespoke cushions used to refresh their appearance. The approach paired selective custom work, such as joinery and an L-shaped kitchen island, with decisions to reuse existing elements.
The designer also cited a discounted curtain fabric from Ian Mankin, bought for £19 per metre. In the dining area, a bench beside the windows replaced matching chairs, which Knight said kept the view less obstructed and made it easier for children to get in and out. The kitchen island was changed from a large rectangle to an L shape, which Knight said provided more surface area and made it easier for people to gather around.
How Cost Choices Shaped the Home
The project’s central lesson, as Knight describes it, is that a finished room’s tailored look does not necessarily reveal how its budget was allocated. Instead of replacing furnishings or altering the building’s structure, the designer used reuse, selective customization and discounted materials to direct spending toward features with a stronger effect on daily use and entertaining.
That distinction matters for readers planning a renovation: the report offers examples of choices that reduced the need for replacement or building work, but it does not establish that the same savings would apply to other homes. The townhouse’s dimensions, existing condition, client requirements and supplier prices all affect what can be reused and what a project costs. Livingetc’s account presents Knight’s design decisions, not a cost comparison or independent evaluation of the project’s savings.
The layout also reflects the owners’ family life. The home includes several areas for gathering, including a basement lounge, dining area and wet bar, as well as a kitchen designed for people to gather around. An upstairs playroom sits beside the formal living room, which Knight said let adults and children use separate spaces while remaining close. In this case, budget choices and room planning were tied to how the family wanted to entertain and live.
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The Design Brief and Its Priorities
According to Livingetc, the owners’ references drew on American mid-century interiors, including warm brown tones and olive green. Knight said the green used in rooms where the family would spend the most time was chosen partly because it recalled a jacket worn by the owner’s father. The overall scheme combines that personal reference with mid-century furniture forms and darker wood finishes.
Knight also described the owners as keen hosts. That brief informed the variety of seating areas and the basement bar, which was placed beside the family lounge. The upstairs playroom was positioned by the formal living room because, Knight said, the family did not need another seating area and wanted the children to be easy to supervise. These details help explain why the design prioritized gathering spaces instead of uniform furniture or additional formal rooms.
Knight founded London-based Nefarious Interiors in 2020 after designing restaurant interiors for the Corbin & King Group. Livingetc also reported that he was included in the inaugural Next in Design cohort in 2025 by its sister publication, Homes & Gardens. The source does not connect that recognition to the townhouse budget or provide further details about the project’s construction timeline.
“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
Project Costs and Scope Remain Unreported
Livingetc’s report does not state the total budget, the final project cost, the amount saved by retaining existing features, or how much was spent on the kitchen and bespoke joinery. It also does not provide a full list of materials or identify which parts of the home were newly built versus retained. As a result, the scale of the savings cannot be independently assessed from the information provided.
The source describes Knight’s account and design rationale; it does not include a separate statement from the homeowners, contractor or supplier confirming costs. The project’s timing and any later changes to the home are also not specified.
No Further Project Update Reported
The source material does not identify a forthcoming renovation milestone, cost update or follow-up from Nefarious Interiors. Livingetc’s account focuses on the completed design and Knight’s explanation of the choices behind it. Without additional information from the designer or homeowners, the project’s final budget and measurable savings remain unknown.
Key Questions
Where is the townhouse?
It is a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London, according to Livingetc.
How did the designer keep costs down?
Adam Knight said the team retained as much of the existing interior as possible, avoided structural work and moving electrics, reupholstered existing sofas, and sourced some materials on sale. The report does not give a total cost or quantified savings.
Which parts received more spending?
Knight said the kitchen was a key priority. The home also features bespoke joinery and an L-shaped island, although the source does not provide itemized costs.
What was the reported price of the curtain fabric?
Knight told Livingetc that the fabric was on sale at £19 per metre at Ian Mankin. The report does not say how much fabric was purchased or the total cost.
Was a specific renovation budget disclosed?
No. Livingetc reports that the budget was limited relative to the house’s size, but gives no total budget, final project cost or savings figure.
Source: rss
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