Key Points
- Field Day Studio, co-founded by Jessica Gibbons (Jess Gibbons) and Kat Turner, transformed a Victorian terraced house in Hackney, East London, into a family home named ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’.
- The project began in 2023 for a couple with two young daughters seeking more space and functionality to suit present and future family life.
- Key modifications include upward and outward extensions, a new pantry in the kitchen, and bespoke joinery for extensive storage.
- Bold colour splashes feature throughout: Paint & Paper Library’s ‘The Long Room’ burnt orange in the playroom, Fenwick’s ‘Kelp’ yellow-green on the playroom fireplace, warm buttery yellow in the living room fireplace, darker neutral on living room cornicing and ceiling, glossy reds, vibrant greens, and biscuity browns on doors and doorways.
- Vintage elements include a re-upholstered armchair in GP & J Baker floral fabric, a Retrouvius lamp on the playroom mantlepiece, Balineum tiles on the playroom hearth referencing 1970s style.
- Kitchen redesign adopts a ‘utilitarian mid-century vibe’ with Claybrook glazed white square tiling, bespoke dark oak rustic workbench island, terracotta tiles from Floors of Stone for a rustic Mediterranean feel, and extensive use of oak, walnut, teak, and sepale woods.
- Design honours Victorian architecture while integrating mid-century modern interiors, balancing playfulness for children with sophistication for adults.
- Emphasis on family gatherings, with the dining table highlighted by the husband as central to important life conversations.
- Subtle nods to the family’s love of travel through layered, worldly aesthetics rather than overt souvenirs.
Hackney (House & Garden) January 12, 2026 – Interior design duo Field Day Studio, led by co-founders Jessica Gibbons and Kat Turner, has reconfigured a Victorian terraced house in Hackney, East London, to seamlessly adapt to modern family life for a couple and their two young daughters. The project, dubbed ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’ in the studio’s files, began in 2023 and incorporates extensions, bespoke storage, and bold colour palettes to ensure the home evolves with its owners. As reported in House & Garden, this transformation blends Victorian architecture with mid-century modern influences, creating spaces that balance children’s play with adult sophistication.
What Inspired the Project Name ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’?
Field Day Studio names projects poetically to reflect design intentions, moving beyond mere locations or addresses. For this Hackney home, the title ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’ captures the owners’ vision of a lifelong family space. Jess Gibbons of Field Day Studio explained, as covered by House & Garden, ‘They had a lovely idea about how this was where all their family life was going to forever unfold.’
The design process, initiated in 2023, centred on anticipating family growth. Jess Gibbons noted the challenge of carving out communal space, stating, ‘creating space was one of the harder challenges as they tried to carve out enough room for everyone to gather together – for the adults to rest and for the children to play.’ This forward-thinking approach ensures the house remains functional as the daughters mature.
How Was Extra Space and Functionality Achieved?
To address the growing family’s needs, the house underwent significant structural changes. It was extended upwards and outwards, with a brand new pantry added to the kitchen for practicality. Bespoke joinery provides ample storage throughout, maximising the terraced layout’s potential.
These modifications prioritise gathering areas, reflecting the family’s desire for a home that supports daily life. The playroom exemplifies this, offering exuberance for children alongside mature elements that allow it to transition seamlessly in future years.
What Makes the Playroom a Standout Feature?
The playroom powerfully demonstrates the design’s temporal awareness, balancing vibrancy with longevity. Walls feature Paint & Paper Library’s rich burnt orange ‘The Long Room’ for sophistication, paired with Balineum tiles on the fireplace hearth as a stylish 1970s nod.
Vintage pieces enhance its worldly feel: a re-upholstered armchair in a fun GP & J Baker floral fabric sits amid playful elements, while a Retrouvius lamp graces the mantlepiece. As Jess Gibbons described to House & Garden, these choices keep aesthetics aligned with the house’s broader story, ensuring adaptability.
How Do Bold Colours Honour Victorian Features?
Rather than treating the Victorian architecture as a mere shell, the duo amplified its charm with daring hues. Original fireplaces received joyful paints: Fenwick’s lively yellow-green ‘Kelp’ in the playroom and a warm buttery yellow in the living room.
The living room’s original cornicing and ceiling adopt a darker neutral for depth. Doors and doorways throughout shine in glossy reds, vibrant greens, and biscuity browns, creating harmonious juxtapositions of styles and eras. This bold palette marks a departure from the owners’ past restraint, as noted by Jess Gibbons.
What Defines the Kitchen’s Mid-Century Vibe?
Just beyond the living room lies the extended kitchen, described by Jess Gibbons as having a ‘utilitarian mid-century vibe’. Shaped by function and atmosphere, it accommodates rushed breakfasts to extended suppers, with Claybrook’s satisfying glazed white square tiling.
The bespoke kitchen island, a rustic dark oak workbench, anchors the space. Terracotta tiles from Floors of Stone introduce a subtle rustic, warm, almost Mediterranean feel, nodding to the family’s love of travel without cluttering with souvenirs.
Why Is Wood a Key Material Throughout?
Wood celebrates material honesty, echoing mid-century modern principles of ergonomics, symmetry, and clean lines. Jess Gibbons highlighted, ‘We’ve got oak, we’ve got walnut, we’ve got teak, we’ve got all sorts going on in this house, sepale.’
This variety adds richness, complementing brighter paint splashes. Jess admitted, ‘It’s such a cheat code for somewhere feeling warm, homely and attractive,’ enhancing the home’s inviting quality.
How Does the Dining Area Foster Family Moments?
The husband emphasised the dining table’s role early on, as Jess Gibbons recalled: ‘where all the important things in your life and all these lovely conversations would happen.’ The cosy dining area features a patterned banquette, succeeding in crafting a space for life’s pivotal moments.
This extends house-wide, presenting a dialogue between past Victorian elements, present mid-century preferences, and a future-focused family orientation. Jess Gibbons and Kat Turner’s subtle travel influences layer the interiors thoughtfully.
What Role Does the Family’s Wanderlust Play?
Incorporating travel love avoids knick-knacks, opting for integrated warmth like the kitchen’s terracotta splicing. Jess Gibbons explained this approach creates depth, aligning with the home’s evolution.
How Does the Design Balance Playfulness and Maturity?
Every room juxtaposes exuberance with refinement, as in the playroom’s orange walls and vintage armchair. This ensures spaces like the playroom retain relevance beyond childhood, mirroring the ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’ ethos.
The overall scheme honours the couple’s mid-century tastes while elevating Victorian bones through colour and texture. Bespoke elements and extensions make practicality effortless.
Field Day Studio’s vision, as detailed in House & Garden, transforms an unassuming Hackney terrace into a timeless family haven. Jess Gibbons and Kat Turner’s process, from 2023 inception to completion, prioritises adaptability. Bold choices in paint, wood, and vintage finds create warmth and functionality.
The kitchen’s utilitarian charm, with its oak island and Mediterranean tiles, exemplifies layered design. Living spaces blend eras seamlessly, from painted fireplaces to glossy doorways. Storage solutions and extensions address spatial challenges head-on.
Ultimately, the home anticipates growth, fostering gatherings at the dining table and beyond. Jess Gibbons’ insights reveal a cheat code in wood’s warmth, while colour splashes inject joy. This Hackney residence stands as a testament to thoughtful reconfiguration for enduring family life.
