“Character doesn’t just mean old. I think there’s a misconception there,” says Paul Firmin. Six and a half years ago, Paul and his partner, Niko Dafkos, moved into a new-build house in the leafy suburb of Leyton, east London. As founders of fragrance-turned-lifestyle brand Earl of East, they were well-equipped to turn their blank canvas into a sanctuary in the city, layering lashings of personality upon the previously white-walled space. They know all too well, then, how to debunk the myth that, when it comes to our homes, a period building is more interesting than those designed in more recent years.

Through unexpected colour combinations, a mix of antique and made-to-order furniture, and subtle LA influences, Paul and Niko’s house strikes the perfect balance between contemporary and cosy. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever owned an Earl of East candle that the couple’s home is beautifully scented throughout too. Over a cup of tea in the garden, Paul and Niko share their character-adding tips, grounding daily rituals and explain how they created a tranquil haven from the bustle of London, their business and even technology.

Paul: “Niko and I have always lived in east London together. We met in London Fields, where we began renting together, before moving to Victoria Park and then to Stratford. When we were looking for a place to buy, we knew we wanted to stay east, but were quite open as to where that would be. We used to drive around everywhere from Kingsland Road out to the A10, but we kept coming back to Leyton. We just liked it here – it feels a little bit further out, say than Dalston, but still close enough to everything in Hackney.

“We specifically weren’t looking for a new build. In fact, we weren’t even really looking for a house. This place happened by accident, really. We went to view a flat two streets away that was meant to be a two-bed, but it was a disappointing tiny one-bed. Then we drove round the corner and saw a for sale sign outside this house. We went straight to the estate agents to ask about it – and a month later, we moved in.”

Niko: “I’m from Germany, where new builds are very common. With new builds, you know your windows are good, you know your heating and insulation works – all the practical stuff. Yes, I understand why it’s said they have less character, but a blank canvas means you can add your own personality to it.”

Paul: “I’ve never been someone who only wants to live in a Victorian terraced house – I guess because I didn’t grow up with that. My family have always lived in new builds, so I was used to being in a more contemporary space.

“What I will always say to people, however, is don’t try to make a new build something it’s not. I’ve seen places on property sites where it’s clearly a new build, but the owners have tried to turn it into a Victorian house with things like a fake fireplace. My advice is to just play with what you have. That’s what we’ve done with this house. At the front, for instance, where it doesn’t get as much natural light, we’ve turned it into really a cosy space.

“Even simple things like painting the doors. That’s quite an American thing to do – if you go to Palm Springs, all the doors will be painted in a bright colour. Also, whenever we paint the walls, we always paint the ceiling in the same colour so you don’t have divides, which can make a space feel smaller.

“The garden was literally a patch of mud when we moved in, so that was the only bit we really needed to do any structural work to. We built the raised beds and the seating area, and then paved it and filled it with evergreen plants. In the summer months, when we open the windows, it becomes an extension of the living space. We eat out there quite a lot, which is nice.”

Niko: “We had a lot of our furniture already and we then we bought some new things for especially for house. Over the last three years, we’ve gone through a new phase of sourcing items that we really love and want to keep forever. What we do is mix affordable items with more expensive things. We have pieces that are new, old, expensive and cheap.”

Paul: “It’s quite eclectic. The day bed is from Ikea but we put it next to a table made by Fred Rigby. He designed it low to the ground, so it’s the perfect height for the bed. He’s a friend of ours, and we’d wanted one of his pieces for a long time. We’ve got a lot of friends in LA and their style is always the same as ours – a mix of the high and the low. We really nod to that Californian aesthetic here.”

“We always use a lot of scented goods in the house – scent has always been important to us. Burning a candle here has become quite ritualistic. I don’t feel like we’re home unless we’ve got one lit. We find it grounding.”

Niko: “We burn different scents in different areas, so it helps us to differentiate between when to work and when it’s time to relax.”

Paul: “Over the last two years, taking a bath has become quite ritualistic for us too. I don’t take my phone into the bathroom – if I do, it’s only to listen to music. I’ve been taking baths every day now and that’s been a real luxury. Prior to lockdown, any spare time I had I would want to be out somewhere, seeing something, but now I really appreciate just being home. I like closing the door and leaving everything behind.”

Niko: “Whereas I’ve always been a homebody. I’ve always taken long baths!”

Paul: “Our home has really become a sanctuary for us. We do like to have people over and entertain, but it’s also quite a private space. We’ve tried to make it feel like you’re not in London when you close the front door – and we just want to elevate that a bit more. We plan to lay terracotta flooring through the house and right out into the garden, where we want to build a sauna and have an outdoor tub.”

Niko: “I feel like it will always evolve as the business does. We used to be quite minimal in our stores and then when we introduced more colour to them, we did the same with our house too.”

Paul: “I think the house will always progress. I didn’t necessarily think this was our forever house when we bought it – and it might still not be – but I could see us living here for a really long time.”

For more on how the couple use their space, check out Paul’s House Style.