My Houzz: Ingenious Space Planning Updates a London Family Home
Thoughtful design added a downstairs powder room, a utility cupboard and some rather clever loft storage
Translator Vanessa and her partner, Nicholas, didn’t waste any time when it came to renovating their house. Shortly after the family returned from living in Colombia for three years, they decided it was the perfect time to give their 1930s terrace house in London, UK, a makeover.
“Our stuff was either in storage or in transit, so we thought we might as well get the work done before we moved back in,” says Vanessa. “We arrived home in August, found an architect and a builder, and the work began in October.”
“Our stuff was either in storage or in transit, so we thought we might as well get the work done before we moved back in,” says Vanessa. “We arrived home in August, found an architect and a builder, and the work began in October.”
The dining room was extended into this patio area.
Is your home pleading for a makeover? Find an architect near you on Houzz and start discussing the possibilities
Is your home pleading for a makeover? Find an architect near you on Houzz and start discussing the possibilities
From the garden, you can see how the dining area extension has created a flush wall at the back of the ground floor. The protruding kitchen and the bathroom above were already in place.
The exterior wall was originally where this steel beam is now. The building team added a skylight above the extended area and the couple asked for the new wall to be left exposed. The bricks have been painted white to tie in with the rest of the room, but the texture is still prominent.
A couple of windows at the end of the former kitchen’s galley layout were replaced by one larger window.
Alongside are wide bi-fold doors, which ensure the new open-plan space feels connected to the garden.
Every inch of space was maximised in the kitchen, with wall units that go right up to the ceiling to increase storage. These also help make the room appear taller.
“Our architect planned in an island with storage below for the kids’ art supplies,” says Vanessa. “He lined everything up really nicely so we were able to have a neat line between the wooden floor and the patterned kitchen floor tiles [see first image].”
“Our architect planned in an island with storage below for the kids’ art supplies,” says Vanessa. “He lined everything up really nicely so we were able to have a neat line between the wooden floor and the patterned kitchen floor tiles [see first image].”
Go came up with a clever idea for adding a downstairs powder room. Rather than squeezing it below the stairs, he fitted it into the front section of the original kitchen. The room can be accessed from the hallway, and it’s divided from the cooking space by a bank of floor-to-ceiling units.
“The tall cabinets are the depth of a standard unit and contain an integrated fridge, two ovens and loads of pull-out storage drawers,” says Vanessa.
“The tall cabinets are the depth of a standard unit and contain an integrated fridge, two ovens and loads of pull-out storage drawers,” says Vanessa.
Shallow kitchen cabinets with glazed units above have been positioned alongside the dining table to form a ‘dresser’. The front is aligned with the island and the floor to continue the balanced look of the room.
Jack Horn and the building team at Ajax created a wide opening between the dining room and living room. “They installed a sliding pocket door, which we can close if we want to separate the two rooms,” says Vanessa. “They also built this shelving unit to fit the measurements of our things.”
The door to the hall was closed up, but the couple decided to leave a glazed area to let light through. “We found this at a reclamation shop,” says Vanessa. “It’s from an office block that was built in the same decade as the house.”
Apart from pendants in the kitchen and dining room, Vanessa wanted simple downlights in all the rooms. “I wanted everything to be quite clean,” she says. “We have loads of wall lights and lamps to add a cosy atmosphere.”
The couple chose to fill in the alcoves in the dining room to make the space more functional. This meant there was no need for the original fireplace, so they moved it into the living room instead.
The couple chose to fill in the alcoves in the dining room to make the space more functional. This meant there was no need for the original fireplace, so they moved it into the living room instead.
The door to the old galley kitchen used to be at the end of the hallway. It’s now a space-saving pocket door that leads to the downstairs powder room.
Vanessa chose the same subway tiles and vanity top for the bathrooms as in the kitchen. This gives a cohesive look to the house, but as Vanessa says, “It was really to avoid having to make too many choices”.
To create space for a hidden laundry, the bathroom wall was moved back. “That was my idea,” says Vanessa. “The bathroom is smaller than it was, but it’s provided space for a boiler cupboard and a cabinet for stacking the washing machine and dryer.”
The family’s laundry goes straight from bedroom to the washing machine now, without needing to be taken downstairs.
The couple swapped a freestanding bath for a fitted one as it better utilises the space. “You couldn’t get round the sides to clean it, and there was loads of wasted space around it,” says Vanessa.
The room also had two windows, as it had previously been a separate toilet and bathroom. The builders removed these and fitted a new one instead.
The room also had two windows, as it had previously been a separate toilet and bathroom. The builders removed these and fitted a new one instead.
Here’s how the bathroom looked before its makeover.
Anâis’ bedroom is above the dining room and used to have a chimney breast in the centre of the wall. This was removed, leaving space for bunk beds and a desk.
In Nathaniel’s room, the chimney is still in place. “We hired a joiner to build a desk and shelving in the alcove,” says Vanessa.
The joiner also built a desk area in the front study. “I work from home, but there’s desk space for both of us to sit side-by-side,” says Vanessa. “At the end of the desk is a lower section where the printer sits.”
The master bedroom is upstairs in the converted attic. A large window with a glass Juliet balcony provides panoramic views of the city.
“The architect suggested not having Velux windows on the street side and going for a large rooflight over the bed instead,” says Vanessa of the skylight.
“The architect suggested not having Velux windows on the street side and going for a large rooflight over the bed instead,” says Vanessa of the skylight.
Rather than accommodating windows, the space at the front of the bedroom is used for storage. There’s a row of wardrobes and drawers at the front, while two doors either side provide walk-in access to a large space at the back of the eaves. The couple can store all sorts of large items in this space, and can easily get in and out.
The bedroom leads through to an ensuite with a skylight overhead, which makes the space feel open and bright.
A large walk-in shower is at the back of the room, alongside a floor-to-ceiling opaque window that lets in additional light.
Your turn
What’s your favourite idea from this cleverly planned renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Fancy a peek into another creative home? Read this My Houzz: An Interior Designer’s Joyful Easy-to-Live-In Home
Your turn
What’s your favourite idea from this cleverly planned renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Fancy a peek into another creative home? Read this My Houzz: An Interior Designer’s Joyful Easy-to-Live-In Home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Vanessa and Nicholas with their children, Nathaniel and Anâis
Location: South London, UK
Size: Three bedrooms (plus one used as a study) and two bathrooms
Architect: Go Sugimoto
Builder: Jack Horn of Ajax Builders
“There were three main things we asked our architect, Go Sugimoto, to include in the plans,” says Vanessa of her renovation project. “To fill in the L-shaped kitchen and dining room, to squeeze in a downstairs loo, and to have only one door into the ground floor living areas.”
To open up the L-shaped room, Go planned for an extension at the end of the dining room.