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Nefarious Interiors designer Adam Knight says a limited budget shaped the renovation of a four-storey Tufnell Park townhouse. The project kept existing features and avoided structural and electrical changes, while directing more of the available spending toward the kitchen and selected custom details.
Designer Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors worked within a strict budget on a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London, prioritizing the kitchen and retaining existing features rather than undertaking structural or electrical changes. The project, reported by Livingetc, shows how the owners’ entertaining needs and the home’s existing layout informed decisions about where to spend and where to save.
Knight said the available funds were more limited than the scale of the house might suggest. “For a house this size, there wasn’t as much money to play with as you might expect,” he told Livingetc. He said the kitchen was one of the areas worth spending on, while other parts of the home needed to be handled cost-effectively. The report did not give a total project budget or itemized costs.
To control spending, Knight kept as much as possible from the home’s previous incarnation. He avoided structural work and moving electrical wiring, reupholstered the owners’ existing sofas, and used bespoke cushions instead of buying new couches. He also sourced curtain fabric on sale at Ian Mankin for £19 per meter, according to Knight.
Some custom work was still included. The kitchen’s former large rectangular island was replaced with an L-shaped island, which Knight said provided more surface area and made it easier for people to gather. A basement wet bar, bespoke joinery and a glass panel separating a dressing area also feature in the design. Livingetc’s report credits the project photography to Astrid Templier.
Where the Renovation Budget Went
The project offers a specific example of how a designer can shape a renovation around a limited budget without treating every room or feature equally. Knight’s account describes a deliberate split: retain usable elements and avoid work that would add cost, while investing in spaces central to the family’s routine, especially the kitchen and areas for hosting.
That approach matters to homeowners weighing renovation choices because it highlights trade-offs rather than promising a particular result for a particular price. The townhouse’s custom appearance does not reveal its overall cost, and the report supplies no figures that would let readers compare the project with other renovations. Its useful detail is the set of decisions Knight says helped manage spending: reusing furniture, buying discounted fabric and keeping existing services and structure in place.
The design also responds to how the family uses the house. The owners like entertaining, and Knight included several places to sit and gather, from the basement lounge and bar to the kitchen island and a bench by the dining table. The bench was chosen partly because it blocked less of the view and made it easier for children to get in and out, he said.
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Design Choices Behind the Scheme
The owners’ references shaped the townhouse’s colors and furnishings. Knight told Livingetc that their images drew on American mid-century style, including the look of retro family outings. Olive greens and rich browns were used to create what he described as a British interpretation of that influence. One green was selected because it reminded an owner of a jacket worn by his father.
The layout was also planned around family life rather than formal rooms alone. Knight said a playroom was placed near the formal living room so adults and children could use separate spaces while remaining close enough for the children to be watched. In the basement, the bar sits beside the family lounge, making use of the area for owners who enjoy hosting.
Knight established London-based Nefarious Interiors in 2020, after working on restaurant interiors for the Corbin & King Group, according to Livingetc. The publication also reported that he was named to the inaugural Next in Design cohort in 2025 by its sister title, Homes & Gardens.
““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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Project Costs Still Unreported
Livingetc did not publish the townhouse’s total renovation budget, final cost or cost breakdown. It is not clear how much the kitchen, bespoke joinery, wet bar or other custom details cost, or what the project would have cost if the team had moved wiring or made structural changes. Knight’s comments describe the design strategy, but do not establish a general cost-saving figure or guarantee that similar choices would produce the same outcome in another home.
The report also does not specify when the renovation took place, how long the work lasted, or whether the homeowners faced any unexpected expenses. Those details are not available in the source material.
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No Further Project Update Reported
The Livingetc feature presents the completed design and Knight’s account of how its budget shaped the work; it does not announce a new phase or upcoming project milestone. No additional project update, cost publication or follow-up from the homeowners was included in the source material.
For readers seeking a clearer financial comparison, the key missing information is an itemized budget showing the cost of the kitchen and custom features alongside savings from reused furniture, discounted fabric and avoided structural or electrical work. Without those figures, the report supports a description of the choices made, not a precise estimate of renovation costs.
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Key Questions
Who designed the Tufnell Park townhouse?
Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors designed the home, according to Livingetc. Knight established the London-based studio in 2020.
What did the designer do to manage the budget?
Knight said the team kept existing features, avoided structural work and did not move electrical wiring. They also reupholstered existing sofas, chose bespoke cushions instead of new couches, and bought curtain fabric on sale.
Which areas received more of the available spending?
Knight identified the kitchen as a priority. The project included an L-shaped island designed to provide more surface area and make gathering easier. The report does not give the kitchen’s cost.
How much did the renovation cost?
The total cost was not reported. Livingetc provided Knight’s description of the budget limits and one fabric price, but no overall budget or itemized figures.
What style guided the townhouse design?
Knight said the owners’ references drew on American mid-century imagery. The design uses olive greens, rich browns and spaces suited to family life and entertaining.
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