We relocated the kitchen to the raised ground floor, recognising it as the modern heart of the home. Intentionally avoiding adding a rear extension meant the house remained shallow enough for light to permeate in all the rooms. The overall effect is a house that has maintained the integrity of its original historic character whilst still functioning as a practical family home.

We undertook all planning and legal works, including listed building and conservation area consent, and managed the full integration of structural design and mechanical and electrical services. We made sensitive changes where it made sense to prioritise contemporary life; building new bathrooms, bedrooms and a kitchen and staircase.  We worked alongside a garden designer and collaborated with craftsmen and artists to bring in bespoke features such as stained class, metalwork, joinery and art.

Through researching similar historic houses, we established several guiding principles. First of all, the house is made of brick, and this informed our material choices. Permanent joinery was constructed from painted timber with appropriate ironmongery. Floors are timber, except in the basement, where originally they would have been stone or earth. Here, we chose a clay brick paver as a contemporary reference to the external brick module. Meanwhile, stairs, coving, doors and mouldings were intentionally varied depending on the floor, reflecting historical practices.

We used colours derived from natural pigments and wallpapers inspired by plants and leaves, and introduced stained glass for an extra dose of vibrancy and interest.

Antique fireplaces were sourced and new ones designed where necessary, while furniture was carefully selected and designed to suit the scale and flow of each room.

We introduced a fanlight over the front door, and installed a large glazed door with a fanlight at the rear to connect the interior to the garden. We also maximised window openings in the extension to flood the interiors with light.

The staircase was repaired and reinstated, including the restoration of the handrail and swirling newel post. York stone steps were reinstated, and bespoke railings were commissioned from a craftsman who worked on Charing Cross Station. Specific joinery motifs were developed to reflect both the history of the house and the identity of the current owners.