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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 project focused spending on the kitchen and other high-impact details while retaining existing furniture and avoiding structural and electrical changes.
Designer Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors says a limited budget shaped the renovation of a four-storey Tufnell Park townhouse, leading him to spend selectively on features such as the kitchen while retaining much of the existing home. The approach offers a case study in how an expensive-looking interior can be created without carrying out major structural or electrical work.
Knight told Livingetc that the budget was tighter than the scale of the house might suggest. The team directed more of its spending toward areas considered central to the design, including a custom L-shaped kitchen island, and looked for ways to keep costs down elsewhere. The project also includes a burl-wood wet bar and bespoke joinery, but the source does not provide a total project budget or a breakdown of costs.
One major cost-control decision was to preserve as much of the home’s previous arrangement as possible. Knight said the design avoided structural work and moving electrical fittings. Existing sofas were reupholstered rather than replaced, and new bespoke cushions were used to refresh the furniture. He also cited curtain fabric purchased on sale at £19 per metre from Ian Mankin.
The layout was adjusted to serve the family’s routines and their preference for entertaining. Knight said the earlier rectangular kitchen island was too large, so the L-shaped version created more usable surface and room for people to gather. A bench beside the dining table was chosen instead of matching chairs because it obstructed the window view less and was easier for children to use. The basement includes a lounge, dining area and bar; upstairs, a playroom sits beside the living room.
Where the Renovation Spent Its Budget
The project illustrates a practical trade-off for homeowners facing renovation costs: selective investment can prioritize a few visible or heavily used features, while preserving existing elements can reduce the need for replacement and construction. Knight’s account points to specific choices—reupholstering sofas, retaining the layout and buying discounted fabric—rather than claiming that the home was renovated at a particular price or that the methods guarantee savings in other projects.
The decisions also tie cost control to how the household uses its rooms. The kitchen island, multiple seating areas and nearby playroom were planned around hosting and family life. That makes the design story relevant beyond its finishes: the budget shaped not just what was purchased, but how the home could support gathering and supervision of children.
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A Mid-Century Brief for Tufnell Park
According to Livingetc, the owners brought references rooted in American and mid-century interiors, including rich browns and a nostalgic green associated with a jacket worn by the client’s father. Knight said the references were adapted with a British sensibility. The resulting palette includes olive greens and darker woods, while the layouts draw on mid-century furniture forms.
The designer said the family wanted a home suited to entertaining, with distinct places to sit and talk rather than another conventional seating area. The article also describes details designed to preserve light or make the rooms work better, including a glass panel separating a dressing area and a playroom positioned near the formal living room. These are project-specific design choices; the report does not state that they were required by budget constraints.
Knight established London-based Nefarious Interiors in 2020 and had previously designed restaurant interiors for the Corbin & King Group, according to the source. Livingetc also notes that he was named to the inaugural Next in Design cohort in 2025 by its sister publication, Homes & Gardens.
“For a house this size, there wasn’t as much money to play with as you might expect.”
— Adam Knight, Nefarious Interiors
Project Costs and Savings Not Disclosed
The report gives no overall budget, final renovation cost or itemized spending, so the scale of the savings cannot be independently calculated from the information provided. It also does not compare the project’s cost with a version that included structural changes, new sofas or relocated electrical fittings.
The account is based on the designer’s description and Livingetc’s feature. It does not specify the project’s completion date, the full scope of work, or whether the home’s appearance and arrangements have changed since publication. The £19-per-metre curtain price is presented as Knight’s example, but the article does not state how much fabric was bought or what the finished curtains cost.
No Further Project Update Listed
Livingetc’s report does not announce a further renovation phase, cost review or planned follow-up from Knight or the homeowners. The immediate next step for readers seeking a fuller picture would be additional project information, such as a total budget or detailed account of how spending was divided; the source does not say whether those figures will be released.
For now, the documented account remains a set of specific design and sourcing choices, not a complete financial assessment. Any estimate of the project’s total cost or the amount saved would go beyond what the report confirms.
Key Questions
Where is the townhouse?
The home is a four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, in north London, according to Livingetc.
Who designed the renovation?
Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors led the design. He told Livingetc that the project had a stricter budget than the house’s scale might suggest.
How did the designer control costs?
Knight said the project retained much of the previous home, avoided structural work and moving electrical fittings, reupholstered existing sofas, and used discounted curtain fabric. The source does not give a total cost or quantify the savings.
Which features received more of the budget?
Knight identified the kitchen as a key area for spending. The project includes a custom L-shaped island, while the designer says other areas needed more cost-effective choices.
How much did the renovation cost?
The report does not disclose a total project budget or final cost. Knight describes the budget as limited but provides no full financial breakdown.
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