UK Houzz Tour: The Inspired Makeover of a Former Council Home
The clever use of space, light and low-cost materials has given this 1980s house a distinctive new character
Louise O'Bryan
12 September 2021
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content producer for digital and print media. Specialising in house tours, room renovations and decorating solutions, my previous clients include Inside Out (Aus), Ideal Home, The Times weekend supplement and Sainsbury's magazine. I never tire from the thrill of discovering a jaw-dropping, inspirational home to feature and having an insight into other people's spaces. Call me curious or just nosey!
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content... More
The owner of this 1980s ex-council house saw the potential to create a warm, inviting home when she purchased the two-bedroom property in south-east London, UK. Limited by a small budget, the owner engaged architect Bodgan Rusu of Vatraa to come up with practical, creative and sustainable solutions that wouldn’t cost the earth. The result? A unique, welcoming home that’s now proud to tell a new story through space, light and materials.
Photography by Jim Stephenson
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman
Location: London, UK
Property: A 1980s ex-council house
Size: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Architect: Bogdan Rusu of Vatraa
Faced with a tight budget and a tired old building, it was obvious to the owner from the outset that this house was going to need an injection of clever and creative solutions to make it function successfully.
“Right from the beginning of the project, we knew our budget was restricted, so we decided to work with what we had and reduce waste as much as possible,” says Rusu. It was decided not to extend the house, but instead work with the compact 76-square-metre footprint to make it feel more spacious and open.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman
Location: London, UK
Property: A 1980s ex-council house
Size: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Architect: Bogdan Rusu of Vatraa
Faced with a tight budget and a tired old building, it was obvious to the owner from the outset that this house was going to need an injection of clever and creative solutions to make it function successfully.
“Right from the beginning of the project, we knew our budget was restricted, so we decided to work with what we had and reduce waste as much as possible,” says Rusu. It was decided not to extend the house, but instead work with the compact 76-square-metre footprint to make it feel more spacious and open.
Before Photo
The old living room felt dated.
Acting almost like a surgeon, Rusu first investigated the existing structure to remove the unnecessary parts, while keeping any new additions to a minimum. As a result, the building was reduced to its essentials, so he could clearly see what he had to work with.
“We instantly saw the potential of enhancing the front-back transparency by opening the interior to two different gardens – an evergreen one to the front, and a seasonal one to the back,” says Rusu.
Struggling to redesign a dated home? Find an architect near you for clever, custom solutions
“We instantly saw the potential of enhancing the front-back transparency by opening the interior to two different gardens – an evergreen one to the front, and a seasonal one to the back,” says Rusu.
Struggling to redesign a dated home? Find an architect near you for clever, custom solutions
Here’s the front of the house before the renovation.
Keen to respect the appearance of the council estate, Rusu ensured the changes to the facade were discreet.
“The biggest change we made was to swap the overly detailed bay window with a larger square one to neatly frame the front garden and let in more light,” he says. “A dated porch area was also absorbed into the hallway to create more internal space.”
“The biggest change we made was to swap the overly detailed bay window with a larger square one to neatly frame the front garden and let in more light,” he says. “A dated porch area was also absorbed into the hallway to create more internal space.”
With its clean, minimal styling, the new window that replaced the dated bay window offers an uninterrupted view of the private front garden, and allows plenty of light to travel right through the kitchen-diner.
There were no major structural changes at the back of the house, either. However, the windows were replaced with hidden sash frames to provide clear views of the courtyard garden.
“To enhance the interior-exterior connection and let in more natural light, we simplified the windows so more of the gardens could be seen from inside,” says Rusu.
“To enhance the interior-exterior connection and let in more natural light, we simplified the windows so more of the gardens could be seen from inside,” says Rusu.
On the inside, the functional core of the property was designed around the original stairwell in the centre of the house. This area also housed the boiler and water tank, which gave off a significant amount of heat at any time.
“We decided to make use of this heat source by organising the laundry room around the tank to create a perfect place to dry clothes,” says Rusu. “We also relocated the first-floor bathroom to right above the tank to create a sustainably warm floor without the cost of fitting an underfloor heating system.”
“We decided to make use of this heat source by organising the laundry room around the tank to create a perfect place to dry clothes,” says Rusu. “We also relocated the first-floor bathroom to right above the tank to create a sustainably warm floor without the cost of fitting an underfloor heating system.”
As you can see in the ‘after’ floor plan on the right, Rusu and the team made the best use of the existing water tank by packing the core of the home around this heat source.
Rusu also found a clever solution for the cramped hallway by incorporating the old external porch and opening up the ceiling to the pitched roof. The result is a much more airy and inviting entrance.
“By absorbing the old porch into the new hallway we also improved the connection between the lounge and kitchen-diner, creating a semi open-plan layout, with the stairwell in the centre,” he says.
“By absorbing the old porch into the new hallway we also improved the connection between the lounge and kitchen-diner, creating a semi open-plan layout, with the stairwell in the centre,” he says.
This is the hallway before the renovation.
The dated kitchen before it was knocked through and renovated.
Opening up the hallway, kitchen and dining room created a more open-plan feel between the main reception rooms, yet still allowed for clearly defined areas. Each space, from the kitchen to the dining zone and the living room beyond, all retain a different atmosphere defined by the function they serve, while being linked by the materials and colour palette.
“To create a cohesive feel between the living room and dining area, we designed a series of solid oak furniture pieces to suit the owner’s way of entertaining,” says Rusu.
“To create a cohesive feel between the living room and dining area, we designed a series of solid oak furniture pieces to suit the owner’s way of entertaining,” says Rusu.
Floor-to-ceiling cupboards and a walk-in pantry along one side of the eat-in kitchen provide ample storage, ensuring the narrow, compact area stays calm and clutter-free.
“To create enough space beneath the stairwell for a large walk-in pantry, we angled the doors to add more depth,” says Rusu.
“To create enough space beneath the stairwell for a large walk-in pantry, we angled the doors to add more depth,” says Rusu.
To resurrect the spirit of the old house, Rusu decided to expose the original structural ceiling joists, which also made the 2.4-metre ceiling feel higher. He also restricted the colour and materials palette.
“To highlight the qualities of space, light and texture, we limited the finishes spectrum to only three complementary materials,” he says. “White-painted ceiling joists and whitewashed oak flooring are tied together by a plaster finish.”
“To highlight the qualities of space, light and texture, we limited the finishes spectrum to only three complementary materials,” he says. “White-painted ceiling joists and whitewashed oak flooring are tied together by a plaster finish.”
The walls are covered in low-cost plaster. However, it’s been applied with extra skill and care to achieve a polished finish that’s satisfyingly smooth and silky.
Finishing the walls in plaster not only created a warm backdrop for exhibiting the owner’s favourite artworks, it also eliminated the need for decorating, making huge savings for the owner and speeding up the completion of the project.
The plaster also responds differently to natural light, giving each space its own character. For example, under sunlight, the stairwell becomes vibrant and warm, while under cloudy weather it becomes reflective and makes the 80-centimetre-wide stairwell feel wider.
Browse more stunning stair designs to inspire your own
Browse more stunning stair designs to inspire your own
“To keep the focus on the beauty of natural light, views and materials, we aimed for all details to be as minimalist as possible,” says Rusu. “Using the existing stairs presented a challenge, which we overcame by leaving the original stair stringer [sides] exposed and cladding the steps in the same whitewashed oak flooring we used throughout the house.”
The minimalist details were continued upstairs and into the privacy of the bedrooms in order to create a neutral atmosphere, to contrast with the more vibrant, public spaces below.
“We wanted to create a morning transition between the night and day zones, giving the owner a sensation of energy immediately as she steps into the stairwell and descends to the ground floor,” says Rusu.
“We wanted to create a morning transition between the night and day zones, giving the owner a sensation of energy immediately as she steps into the stairwell and descends to the ground floor,” says Rusu.
The finished home feels calm and spacious, despite its small footprint, thanks to the injection of natural light, minimal detailing and inviting textures throughout.
Your turn
What do you love most about this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our last Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this USA Houzz Tour: A Flexible, Resilient Coastal Home
Your turn
What do you love most about this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our last Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this USA Houzz Tour: A Flexible, Resilient Coastal Home
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Beyond stunning 👏
Amazing! Please come and help us with our new house!
I love your new look. The old style had more personality but the new is very simple & still adds a little creativity. The house appears yo already have an extension. I assume the others on the estate don't. Those trees will be council owned. You can usually contact them if you want them cutting back but unless they have a moving option many council are wanting to keep trees for the environment benefits.