Lifestyle
Driven by our Client’s passion for scrupulous detailing and a desire to maximise the natural light and unique views, this project transformed a large, neglected and structurally challenged Victorian Terrace House into a sophisticated and comfortable home that engages well with the owners’ lifestyles. It was an essential part of our brief that we created easy connectivity to the outdoors whilst being sympathetic and respectful to the original house.
The new extension called for a rethink of the living spaces, replacing the old outbuilding with a spacious high-quality kitchen and dining area bringing the lifestyle aspirations and personality of our Clients into the design. A slimline, zinc clad kitchen roof with skylight and matching zinc dormer to the top floor provide a cohesive language to the rear facade whilst maximising the connection with the garden and external views. The extension houses a rich palette of beautiful, dark Blackwood marble slabs, bronze mirror, polished concrete and warm oak detailing. These strong marble slabs were used both to form the striking monolithic kitchen island and offcuts used for bathroom detailing.
Energy efficient heating and lighting systems, modern insulation methods and high-performance period replacement windows and doors invisibly improve the whole energy performance of the house, whilst the latest sound and lighting technology has been discreetly integrated alongside refurbished and reinstated period detailing.
In what were once unimpressive, badly converted spaces, this home is now rich with material diversity balanced with simple, yet carefully co-ordinated contemporary architecture and a backdrop of original Victorian features which makes for an interesting and thoughtful palette throughout. Increased usable space to existing bathrooms and a maximising of storage solutions was created by clever rationalisation of unutilised area and completely new and rerouted services integration throughout.
Unexpected feature materials, high quality joinery solutions and FF&E specifications were selected, including an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage lighting solutions, which includes a 1960’s Robert Haussmann atomic chandelier.
The redesigned top floor creates a flexible open plan Studio-come-Master Bedroom with an impressive Master Bathroom in the converted loft. Original floorboards were reinstated, an oversized, sliding room-divider and bespoke joinery added, with ceilings raised. Previously complicated ceiling junctions were simplified to create a tranquil retreat for our Clients with great views and abundant light. The top floor roof now has an operable window for stargazing, or gin & tonics and sunsets over Stoke Newington’s Reservoir.
We are proud that our QEW residential project was a finalist at the NLA’s Don’t Move Improve! and appears on Channel 5’s - ‘Dream Kitchens and Bathrooms’.
Don’t Move, Improve! is a project run by New London Architecture (NLA) encouraging great design in everyday life, celebrating the newest and most innovative home improvement projects from across London.