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Home Renovation in London
A selection of elegant natural materials and a simple definition of the space allows this renovated and extended Georgian house to shine.
YEAR 2020 | SIZE 190m2 | CLIENT Laura
YEAR 2020
SIZE 190m²
CLIENT Laura
Design Brief
Complete Home Renovation
Simply furnished and brighter rooms, more space, a home office and a new kitchen were the requirements that the owners of this Georgian house in central London had in mind when they first contacted us.
The property was originally in good condition. However, the owners realised that their house had great potential for improving and they wanted to make the most of it. With a magnificent garden, they recognised soon that a rear extension in the kitchen area seemed quite a good idea.
For them, the most important requirement was having bigger and open rooms to host family and friends. Even though the property was a 3 story house with a basement, all the existing rooms were quite small and dark. Their dream was to achieve open and brighter warm spaces to live in.
Concept Design
Enhancing the light with a neutral theme.
With their home renovation, our clients required a bigger and more practical home based on their needs. However, that was not all of it. They also wanted to enhance the interiors of their property. They desired to obtain a special home that represented them in many ways and they were open to suggestions to achieve it.
“Using marble, herringbone tiles, two different kinds of wood and earthy coloured features we started the story of their concept design.”
The selection of natural materials and a neutral colour scheme was agreed in the first meeting. We created different mood boards in the studio until we found the one that balanced brightness, natural textures and warmth.
Before and After of the Layout
Bringing out the true potential.
To make the most of their property, we started this home renovation thinking about the layout of the different floors.
Originally, the access to the garden, the kitchen and the living areas were in the basement. We soon realised that with the extension, this floor had a huge potential to be an open living area with plenty of light.
With the extension of the basement we had the opportunity of extending the ground floor a bit more as well. This allowed the addition of a new room and a new bathroom on this level.
After discussing the different options, we all agreed that this new room would be the home office. One of the homeowners worked from home, and she needed a space to meet with clients regularly. She wanted an easy access from the entrance, without the need of having her clients moving around her property more than needed. Therefore, it was also important that the entrance hall was special, in a way that it not only was the entrance of their house. It also was the entrance of their office.
Regarding the first and second floors, we decided to make some changes on the original layout. Removing and replacing some walls, we made space for two good size bedrooms on the first floor, and one master bedroom with ensuite bathroom on the top level.
Timeless Glamour and Function
Open Plan Kitchen.
The kitchen and dining areas were located in the new extended basement of the property. The design of this room had nothing to do with the original one and its layout. With the home renovation, we achieved a brighter and bigger space, both practical and smart at the same time.
“With the engineer and architect’s help, we created this beautiful big space that we designed with a mindset of reaching its maximum potential.”
Apart from having useful and bigger rooms, the owners wanted to be able to see the garden from the kitchen and to improve the integration of the outdoors with the interior space as well.
The garden, situated some steps above the basement, could be easily seen with the new extension. At the same time, we decided to include a small patio between the garden and the dining area. This would allow more reflections and light coming inside the kitchen, besides creating the feeling of a bigger space from the dining table.
While designing the layout, we were thinking about every detail in that space. An art piece, as well as shelves showcasing their favourite cooking books, were nice features that are perfectly integrated into the design.
Regarding the design of the kitchen, we decided to integrate all the units on the left side of the room, leaving a big amount of storage capacity and surface to work.
“Thinking about the overall design from the beginning of the project makes the finished interior stand out. “
We also visually divided the kitchen from the dining area selecting a wooden finish for the doors close to the dining table. This would add texture to the dining and it also would play a role as a warm feature in this room. The same wood finish was used in some details, as the island and surface to create a coherent theme in the whole room.
We decided to develop a subtle connection between the kitchen and the living room. Even though it can be seen as an open space, without walls between the two rooms, it is also virtually divided.
An integrated cupboard functions as a divider at the same time that adds storage capacity to this floor. Placed in front of the staircase, it creates a hall between the living room and the kitchen accentuating the feeling of two different rooms.
In addition to that, the change in the flooring its also emphasising this subtle connection with the transition between marble tiles in the kitchen and wooden herringbone floors in the living room.
A Sanctuary in Your Home
Living Room.
The owners had in mind a very specific feeling of what they wanted to achieve with their home renovation. Especially in the living room.
For the living area, they wanted to create a space where they could relax, spend time comfortably chatting with family and friends, watch a movie… But the most important requirement was that they wanted to feel as calm and peaceful as possible in this area of their home.
The light here was subtle, coming from the garden and kitchen doors and also from the new skylight on the opposite side of the property. That helped achieve the “sanctuary mood” we were looking for.
The wall that unifies the kitchen with the living room has a coloured, smooth, decorative coating that enriches and adds warmth to the interiors. The light affects this wall finish. It looks brighter on the kitchen side, creating a bolder and intimate feeling in the living room.
“To accentuate this feeling, even more, we decided to design a simple space rich in textures.”
The design of the living room wall needed to be simple and involving. The integrated wooden shelves, fireplace and wood storage were both practical and aesthetic. Also, the TV was planned hidden behind a panel integrated into the design.
“A home renovation is the oportunity to understand how you want to live and to create the perfect scenario for it.”
An Entrance with Two Functions
Entrance Hall.
The original entrance was a small corridor that divided the living room from the entrance. With the home renovation, we changed completely the layout of the ground floor.
We planned an extension in the back, adding a new bathroom and a new room to this floor. This new room would be the home office. As noted before, the clients required and office with easy access from the entrance door. Therefore, we decided to create a stunning entrance hall to host anyone who would visit the office or their home.
Removing the existing wall and opening the staircase, we amplified the entrance hall, making it look bigger and brighter.
The existing fireplace was restored and beautifully adapted to its new function as books holder. Also, the pendant lamps add movement and interest into this room, at the same time the wooden touches add warmth and coherence into the design.
“Simple furniture and the integration of shelves on the wall accentuates the overall theme of the entire house. “
A vintage mirror wall was designed close to the new window to increase the light into this room. We decided to display here an existing piece of furniture from the homeowners family.
A professional work place at home
Home Office.
Following the same neutral colour theme, we selected light furniture in different earthy tones. We mixed these soft elements with black items like the office table and ceiling lamp. All combined, resulted in an elegant and timeless style, coherent to the rest of the house.
We decided to emphasize the beautiful corner window with a wooden frame that would also function as shelving and sitting space. Additional shelves on the right side were decorating at the same time that creating storage in this room.
Calming materials for a better sleep
Master Bedroom.
The original layout of the second floor included two bedrooms. The owners wanted to have their master bedroom on this floor and we suggested an ensuite bathroom to accommodate their necessities.
We proposed a glass wall and sliding door dividing the bathroom from the bedroom while allowing the light flowing from the different areas of this floor.
In addition to that, we designed a built-in wardrobe in front of the bed and another wardrobe with mirror doors between the bathroom and the room.
A private spa
Ensuite Bathroom.
We wanted to continue the same theme and style in the ensuite bathroom. A combination of herringbone bronze marble tiles in the front wall with polished concrete for the rest of the walls and floor was perfect for the mood we were looking for.
We wanted a unified look so we decided to integrate the basin and shelf as much as possible using the same polished concrete for them too.
Combining the earthy colours with golden fixtures as the basin tap, head shower and valves, we added an elegant touch to the neutral finish.
To create continuity between the ensuite bathroom and the bedroom we decided to apply the same polish concrete along the length of the basin wall.
“Simple furniture and the integration of shelves on the wall accentuates the overall theme of the entire house. “
This space would function as a hall between the two rooms, with space for seating and a wardrobe for convenient storage.
Following the minimal aesthetic of the overall design, the bedroom counted with two sideboards, one on each side of the bed. This symmetry and the natural materials used in this room emphasizes a calm environment perfect for a nice sleep.
What our clients say about us
“It was a pleasure working with The White Interior in our home renovation. We had a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve and they helped us develop what we had in mind delivering the perfect design for our lifestyle.”
Laura, owner of this property and client of The White Interior
Find Out More
Read more about our residential interior design service or contact us to discuss your project.