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The property is a double-fronted, detached Victorian villa in southeast London, situated towards the top of a hill, offering attractive views over the surrounding area. For a relatively central London property, the location, with a large back garden of nearly 100ft, makes for a unique setting.  1.5 Pipe Flange

The house required a complete refurbishment. The central staircase compromised flow, especially on the ground floor, while a rear addition had left the kitchen and back reception room isolated from the split-level garden. An existing semi-basement opened on to the lower garden level but, as this was disconnected from the ground floor, the space lacked purpose.

The clients have incredibly fast-paced, pressured city jobs and wanted to create a home that could be a restorative sanctuary they could retreat to and decompress. It was also important that this was a home where they could welcome friends and family, so big open-plan, flexible entertaining spaces were key. By creating a staircase at the side of the house, we transformed the layout. The ground floor has been opened up, with a massive structural frame across the full width, and the original rear rooms and back addition have been united to form one large open-plan kitchen/dining/living area.

This is a home that is all about leisure, relaxation and fun. Taking design cues from luxury hotels around the world, the clients came to us with ideas about elements that they loved from their travels and it was our job to incorporate these into their home. The brass bar is inspired by a piece at Stockholm’s Ett Hem Hotel, while the brick wall that runs down the internal atrium was inspired by The Greenwich Hotel in New York’s Tribeca. The colour palette throughout is quite sophisticated – a tonal blend of rich, moody pastels with pops of invigorating jewel tones.  

Our clients wanted to be able to come home and leave their day at the front door. For this reason, the hallway is intentionally pared back, devoid of furniture to create a sense of space and calm as you enter. In one corner there’s a hidden door with a downstairs loo, and on the other side there’s a wall of cupboards to store coats and shoes.

One of very few rooms that faces north, the living space is designed primarily to be used in the evening, so it’s all about curling up in front of the TV next to an open fire. We went for informal and flexible soft furnishings that face in all directions to create a comfortable spot for relaxing with the dogs and a glass of wine.

Wall Paint: Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball  Ceiling Light: Moooi - Heracleum The Big O (Small) Suspension  Metal Doors: FabCo  Hall Tiles: Otto Tiles Magic Triangle Green 602 Encaustic Cement Tile   Armchair: Fredericia Swoon Lounge Chair in Romo Lira 198 Blueberry Fire Treated with oiled oak legs, supplied by AramCushion: Magnolia Baker in cream, linen by Svenskt Tenn   Side Table: Menu Umanoff side table, 60 cm, walnut - brushed brass  Purple Sofa: George Smith Low Back Isle Sofa. Upholstered in Kirkby Design Soho Plum Cushion: Pomegranate Tree by Svenskt Tenn  Amber Velvet Armchair: Moreau Armchair by Pinch Design upholstered in Rose Uniacke cotton velvet in Gingerbread with oak legs Side Table: Pinch Design Clyde Side Table in oak  Lamp: Le Klint Cylinder table lamp, Medium, Black oak base from Holloways of Ludlow  Coffee Table: Portnall Coffee Table by Soho Home  Rug: Aeris Rug in Petrol by Cox and Cox  Curtains: Timorous Beasties Opera Botanica Original made by CurtainCraft

From early sketches it was clear this scale of space demanded a very large island – our clients went for a real statement by choosing a fluted design with a dramatic cipollino ondulato marble worktop. The hidden pantry/scullery is a must for open-plan entertaining kitchens, and this one has everything you need, albeit cleverly hidden away.

Wall Paint: Little Greene Slaked Lime  Flooring: Polished concrete by Lazenby  Kitchen: Blakes London in oak veneer, Farrow & Ball Studio Green spray finish, brass, raw concrete Caesarstone, cipollino ondulato marble  Stools: In Between SK10 in white oiled oak with black Silk Camo leather seat pad by &TraditionCeiling Light: Le Klint Pliverre pendants in opal glass from Holloways of Ludlow

The drinks cabinet is an ingenious solution tailored to the space. It appears as a recessed bookcase during the daytime, but once the party starts, the brass doors open to reveal the drinks collection, glass racks and a cipollino ondulato stone mixing station, which is an offcut from the kitchen island.

Bar Unit: Made bespoke by Blakes London Dining Table: Client’s own  Dining Chairs:  CH24 Wishbone Chair by Hans J. Wegner in Ash, black and black cord  Chandelier: Branching Bubble by Lindsey Adelman Studio

Just off the kitchen you’ll find a huge sofa area where the owners can relax and enjoy views of the garden beyond. It isn’t as formal as the main living room, something emphasised by the mix of fabrics and soft furnishings.

Floor Lamp: Cloe by Bontempi Casa  Sofas: Living Divani Neowall in Mira 24 Mannone fabric from Aram  Round Table: Pinch Design Rodan Coffee Table in European oak  Armchair: Fly SC1 &Tradition armchair in Hot Madison 094 fabric with white oiled oak frame   Rugs: Arianna by Graham & Green, Tasselled cotton rug by H&M, Wool blend rug by H&M

This is a very calm and serene space. The statement here is the ceiling, which was designed by us. An early inspirational image we shared with the clients included the beading taken from the walls up to the ceiling. Not only does it add subtle drama, it nods to the period characteristics of the house.

Wall Paint:  Little Greene China Clay Deep 177  Pendant Light: A group of Le Klint Cylinder 182 & 183 with black oak  Curtains: Romo Ruskin - Meteorite with roman blinds in Romo Emin, Sweet Pea  Armchair: Client’s own  Bedhead: Recovered in Romo Emin, Hurricane Wall Lights: Articolo Float Wall Sconce in Mid Bronze with grey glass Reading Lights: Astro Fuse Switched LED II in bronze Bedside Tables: Radnor Bedside Tables by Soho Home

Like the bedroom, this a light and serene space that follows the darker, dramatic dressing room, but with a large shower, free-standing bath and marble finish, it is a total indulgence.

Wall Paint: Little Greene Slaked Lime  Window Paint:  Farrow & Ball Charleston Gray  Floor & Wall Material: Arabascato Valgi marble vein matched to walls Bath: Eclipse Bath from West One Bathrooms  Taps: Samuel Heath Premium Landmark in Urban Brass  Pendant Light: Bespoke pendant cluster with White Glass Wellington Shade with Clear Glass Rim and bronze fittings by Fritz Fryer Cabinetry & Mirrored Wall Cupboards: Designed by The Vawdrey House made by Blakes London Wall Lights: Original BTC Pillar Offset in weathered bronze from Holloways of Ludlow

The ceiling height is generous because the top floor is in the roof, which allows for a slightly more relaxed style of bedroom. We salvaged the old floorboards and used them to add warmth and texture with a Soho Farmhouse vibe. The unusual steep-sided dormer replicates the steep pitch of the gable on the front of the house and maximises the incredible views over south London. The bath was added on a whim after a visit to The Water Monopoly showroom, and we designed the window seat using reclaimed floorboards, incorporating bespoke shutters to conquer the tricky dormer blackout issue.

Wall Paint: Little Greene Slaked Lime Mid  Bed: Cushdie Super King by Loaf in Sailcloth Grey Clever Woolly fabric Wall Lights: Lamp Gras 204 Wall Light (small) from Holloways of Ludlow  Side Tables: Lily Small Marble Side Table from Rose and Grey  Bench: Imo bench in European oak with tan house leather pad by Pinch Design with an extra large bespoke seat pad in Kirkby House Soho - Evergreen  Bath: Willow green Rockwell bath with feet from The Water Monopoly  Taps: Samuel Heath Premium Landmark Floor Mounted Single Lever Bath shower mixer in Brass Rug: Everly hand knotted rug by Graham and Green  Wall Light: Original BTC Pine Wall Light Size 1 opal glass and weathered bronze

This is a very domestic-feeling study where our client spends a lot of her time, so it had to be an inviting and homely space with lots of personal touches.

Wall Paint: Farrow & Ball Card Room Green Flooring: Herringbone engineered parquet  Curtains: Romo Forenza – Perlino velvet made by CurtainCraft Ceiling Light: Client’s own  Wall Lights: Copenhagen SC54 by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition from Holloways of Ludlow Armchair: Client’s own  Desk: Elvaston Dining Table by Soho Home Chair: CH24 Wishbone Chair by Hans J. Wegner in Ash, Black, Black cord from Aram Lamp: Anglepoise Original 1227 Desk Lamp – Jet Black, Weighted Base from Holloways of Ludlow

While the clients don’t have children themselves, they have nieces and nephews that visit frequently, and enjoy staying in this room. They jokingly call this room ‘The Drunk Bunk’ – hidden away at the top of the house it is also perfect for putting up anyone who might have enjoyed the party a little too much.

Wall Paint: Little Greene Slaked Lime Flooring: Engineered timber plank. Natural Raw Timber Oiled with UV oil top coat White Oak Hook: Diving Man Wall Hook in Black by Rockett St George Hanging Ceiling Light: Original BTC Hector Size 3 pendant in natural white Bespoke Top-To-Toe Beds: Oak frames with integrated shelving, designed by The Vawdrey House Bespoke Oak Bench: Client’s own existing chest of drawers repainted in Farrow & Ball Inchrya Blue with new handles from Cortson Architectural in bronze Blind: Christian Lacroix Nouveaux Mondes Caribe Fabric roman blind 

In their old home, the clients had a potting bench in the cellar. We evolved this idea and took it one stage further to create a beautiful potting shed and winter garden at the basement level, with views out onto the sunken patio. The floor of the rear addition has been cut away to open to the semi-basement, creating a stunning double-height winter garden, across which light floods into the kitchen. A salvaged cast-iron, spiral staircase and an exposed brick wall links the two levels, while a sitting area at the foot of the winter garden, under double-height glazed doors, forms a secondary living space with a character of its own. Whiling away a few hours gardening is one of the client’s main passions, so to do this in the warm and dry is the ultimate luxury. 

Floor: Reclaimed terracotta tiles, Claybrook Potting Bench: Oak veneer with zinc top, designed by The Vawdrey House & made by Blakes London  Sink: Salvaged family antique, taps created from copper pipe & basic bib taps Wall Lights: Jielde Signal in Grey Khaki Spiral Staircase: From an architectural salvage yard

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