London Home Renovations

Wood House

We were approached by our clients to renovate a 1950s Arts and Crafts property, which had been extended twice and was dominated by a series of small, individual rooms. Although the house had plenty of potential, its layout no longer suited the needs of modern family life. Our brief was to rethink the internal arrangement, create a stronger connection with the garden and introduce a more generous sense of space, while respecting the character of the original building.

Due to conservation area restrictions, the front of the house has been sensitively upgraded, remaining true to its existing architectural style. By cantilevering the first floor at the side of the house and extending the rear ground floor, the new additions are concealed from the street. Further space has been added to the side of the property, cleverly masked to read as an outbuilding. This approach allowed us to significantly increase the usable floor area without compromising the modest external appearance of the original house.

Whilst the exterior remains intentionally understated, the internal spaces are far more dramatic. The design centres on opening up the previously fragmented ground floor, replacing the small cellular rooms with a more fluid arrangement that allows the different spaces to connect while retaining distinct areas for family life.

The result is a house that feels considerably larger than its original footprint might suggest, with carefully considered views and sightlines drawing the different parts of the home together.

On entering the house, single 15-metre-long planks of Danish timber flooring draw the eye through the property towards the garden. A single run of sliding doors opens the spacious, open-plan living area directly onto the garden, creating a seamless relationship between inside and out.

A bespoke kitchen and fireplace provide a sense of balance and definition to the room, whilst overhead, a large glazed roof introduces natural light deep into the heart of the house.

Elsewhere on the ground floor, a TV room, music and games room, cloakroom and utility complete the plan, providing a variety of spaces to accommodate the different rhythms of family life.

The relationship between the open-plan areas and more intimate rooms was an important part of the design. Rather than creating one large, undefined space, the layout offers flexibility and choice, allowing the family to come together in the main living area or retreat to quieter spaces when needed. The arrangement also makes the most of the available natural light, with the garden acting as a focal point from within the house and helping to bring a sense of openness throughout the ground floor.