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UK Houzz: Minimalism Brings Light & Space to an Architect's Home
Balancing the drawbacks of a Victorian cottage with a pared-back, characterful approach transformed a home into a haven
It wasn’t just the charm of the tiny Hertfordshire cottage in the UK that convinced architect Nilesh Patel and his partner that this was going to be their next home – it was also the lure of the local area. “We really fell in love with Chorleywood,” he says of the village north-west of London. “It’s what Hampstead might have been like 100 years ago – you see people riding horses in the middle of the street on most days.”
The house itself, though, was also a big win. “As I’m an architect, we were on the lookout for something with potential,” he says. “I wanted to show what you could do with a really modest property and an average budget.”
The house itself, though, was also a big win. “As I’m an architect, we were on the lookout for something with potential,” he says. “I wanted to show what you could do with a really modest property and an average budget.”
The previous owners had already obtained planning permission to extend the ground floor to the rear and convert the attic, but Patel didn’t feel their plans were sustainable enough.
He reworked them so there was much less glass, planning a green roof above the extension rather than a glazed one, and aiming to recycle bricks wherever possible. He also insulated the cold house. “Because it’s so narrow, we put the insulation on the outside of the building rather than the inside,” he says.
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He reworked them so there was much less glass, planning a green roof above the extension rather than a glazed one, and aiming to recycle bricks wherever possible. He also insulated the cold house. “Because it’s so narrow, we put the insulation on the outside of the building rather than the inside,” he says.
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The cramped kitchen was originally situated at the back of the property facing the garden, but Patel decided to turn the floor plan around completely and relocate it in the front of the house.
The kitchen is now in this space by the window. Patel created a two-metre-long hallway so the front door doesn’t open directly into the kitchen. “And rather than have an open-plan space, it’s enclosed by a sliding door,” he says. Beyond this room, the rear of the property is all open plan.
Moving the kitchen to the front meant it could be square rather than narrow, so more than one person can comfortably be in here at once.
Patel used birch ply on the upper cabinets, with plain white below. He kept the door fronts handleless for a minimalist look, and concealed the range hood above the induction cooktop.
“It’s a very small house, so we’ve tried to keep the design simple. We’ve made sure there are no visible sockets or switches, so you have totally uninterrupted work surfaces,” he says. “A lot of people think we don’t cook or must get deliveries, but actually we do a lot of cooking – we just really like having a kitchen that’s clutter-free.”
Flagstones with a tumbled finish complete the look, and are a nod to the cottage’s Victorian heritage.
Patel used birch ply on the upper cabinets, with plain white below. He kept the door fronts handleless for a minimalist look, and concealed the range hood above the induction cooktop.
“It’s a very small house, so we’ve tried to keep the design simple. We’ve made sure there are no visible sockets or switches, so you have totally uninterrupted work surfaces,” he says. “A lot of people think we don’t cook or must get deliveries, but actually we do a lot of cooking – we just really like having a kitchen that’s clutter-free.”
Flagstones with a tumbled finish complete the look, and are a nod to the cottage’s Victorian heritage.
The original property had very little storage, so Patel introduced cupboards wherever he could, including the bank seen here, making sure they were as unobtrusive as possible.
The lighting is also inconspicuous. In the dining area, tiny spotlights are suspended from tracks above the walnut table, casting a pool of light on the table and chairs below and creating a warm, intimate glow. A couple of floor lamps (not shown) are added to the mix, but can both be moved around and are also “interesting objects when they’re off”.
Two steps down into the living area break up the space without the need for a wall. To underline the definition between the areas, Patel used ash floorboards running one way in the upper section and the other way below.
The lighting is also inconspicuous. In the dining area, tiny spotlights are suspended from tracks above the walnut table, casting a pool of light on the table and chairs below and creating a warm, intimate glow. A couple of floor lamps (not shown) are added to the mix, but can both be moved around and are also “interesting objects when they’re off”.
Two steps down into the living area break up the space without the need for a wall. To underline the definition between the areas, Patel used ash floorboards running one way in the upper section and the other way below.
In the living area, kitchen wall units provide even more storage. The central doors in the run of joinery open up to reveal the TV.
A limited palette of pale tones throughout maximises the available light, and the space is arranged so that, from the front door, the view through to the garden is uninterrupted.
A limited palette of pale tones throughout maximises the available light, and the space is arranged so that, from the front door, the view through to the garden is uninterrupted.
A little alcove at the back of the living room provides an extra seating nook, with traditional timber furniture adding warmth. “We wanted to mix old and new,” says Patel.
By redesigning the staircase and making the steps as steep as the regulations would allow, Patel was able to fit a tiny powder room under the stairs where the previous owner’s cat used to sleep.
Rather than go to town on the powder room’s design, Patel decided to do the opposite. “The brickwork is exposed, as is the underside of the staircase. You can also see the underfloor heating pump and pipework,” he says. “It has its own aesthetic that’s very different from the living area – it’s more utilitarian.”
Rather than go to town on the powder room’s design, Patel decided to do the opposite. “The brickwork is exposed, as is the underside of the staircase. You can also see the underfloor heating pump and pipework,” he says. “It has its own aesthetic that’s very different from the living area – it’s more utilitarian.”
Flooding the stairwell with light maintains the airy feel of the cottage, even in an area that has the potential to feel dark and cramped.
Browse beautifully designed stairwells to inspire your own
Browse beautifully designed stairwells to inspire your own
To keep visual clutter to a minimum, upstairs in the main bedroom the door knob, bedside tables and small light fitting above the bed were all sprayed in the same colour as the brickwork. “Because the property’s so small, fixtures and fittings are either discreetly positioned or sized,” says Patel.
A small office overlooks the green roof of the ground-floor extension, and is where Patel’s solicitor partner is based when she works from home.
The same restricted colour palette continues in the bathroom, where cupboards provide enough storage space for the couple to keep the surfaces clear.
Next to the basin is the shower area, which is coated in waterproof plaster, and has a shower wall blocking it from the window. A shelf stretches across the full length of the cubicle. “You can never really have enough surface,” says Patel.
The spare bedroom in the attic conversion gives the couple plenty of space for guests. “Everyone who’s come has said they find the house very calming,” says Patel.
The couple are both keen gardeners and designed the contemporary setting with a restrained palette of green and dark red, interspersed with a few white flowers. For continuity, a patio area by the house (see the first photo) features the same limestone flooring as inside, and leads to a stepped pathway. At the end is a seating area that Patel is now contemplating transforming into a garden studio where he can work.
“The garden is my favourite bit,” he says. “The interior is basically still, but the garden changes daily, which I find fascinating. And it’s idyllic – sitting here and hearing the sound of horse hooves going down the street is charming.”
Your turn
Which room in this home is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our last Houzz Tour? You can catch up here with this USA Houzz: An Interior Designer’s Coastal Cottage Fixer Upper
“The garden is my favourite bit,” he says. “The interior is basically still, but the garden changes daily, which I find fascinating. And it’s idyllic – sitting here and hearing the sound of horse hooves going down the street is charming.”
Your turn
Which room in this home is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our last Houzz Tour? You can catch up here with this USA Houzz: An Interior Designer’s Coastal Cottage Fixer Upper
Who lives here: Architect Nilesh Patel and his partner
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Property: A Victorian cottage with a rear extension and attic conversion
Size: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Architect: Nilesh Patel of The Architects Film Studio
Landscape designer: Arbour Landscape Solutions
The cottage interior was dark and run-down, and space was extremely tight. “It was a two-up, two-down cottage and is only 3.5 metres wide inside – that’s narrower than a London Underground Tube tunnel,” says Patel.
He set about reimagining the property in terms of the layout, and considering what could be done to maximise its assets, along with every centimetre of space.