Reiss and Dan bought this Victorian terrace in Hackney in 2021 as first-time buyers, choosing a property they could live in before renovating so they could properly understand the space first. What followed was a renovation that touched almost every room — a side return and rear extension with a stainless steel kitchen island, a vaulted bathroom and study, and a confident use of colour throughout that sits comfortably alongside original floorboards and cornicing. This is a home built by two people with no design background, who knew exactly what they wanted.