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White and Bright Transformation of a Central London Loft
An architect and a photographer transformed what was once a rundown property into a bright and airy home, perfect for their family
The special quality of light inside was what drew photographer Kelly Hill and architect Michael Pawlyn of Exploration Architecture to buy their home in a building in central London, more than two decades ago. The unit, a derelict shell that had previously belonged to another photographer, needed quite a bit of work. It had not been updated in years, and the only bathrooms were for the public.
Before moving in, Hill and Pawlyn gutted the space and did a full renovation, adding an entry, kitchen, private bathroom and bedroom. The renovation took about eight months, and toward the end they decided it would be more fun to be living on the site rather than checking in after work. So they put up some dust sheets at one end of the loft, set up a futon and a light and moved in. The once-neglected space is now a thoughtfully modern and functional home for a family of four.
Before moving in, Hill and Pawlyn gutted the space and did a full renovation, adding an entry, kitchen, private bathroom and bedroom. The renovation took about eight months, and toward the end they decided it would be more fun to be living on the site rather than checking in after work. So they put up some dust sheets at one end of the loft, set up a futon and a light and moved in. The once-neglected space is now a thoughtfully modern and functional home for a family of four.
AFTER: Sunlight pours into the bright home through large windows that line the living area. During the gut, the couple were pleased to find wood boards under the linoleum. They pulled out all the pieces and flipped and reset them. To insulate the space properly, they removed the ceiling and added insulation. They raised the floor and added insulation there as well. A sound expert recently visited the couple and complimented them on the acoustics of their home.
Karoac sofa by Matthew Hilton Couch: SCP
Karoac sofa by Matthew Hilton Couch: SCP
When their daughter was born, she slept in what the couple called the ‘Moving Umi Unit’, a room/bed on wheels. After the birth of their son, the couple designed and built a bunk bed room, pictured here, as their children’s sleeping space. It can easily be closed with a sliding wall.
The permanent wall that separates the bunk room from the living room includes a hide-and-seek tunnel, lower right, and a tropical fish tank that sits above a cabinet.
In 2006, they renovated the kitchen in a simple style that blends in with the rest of the loft. It serves as a sculptural piece as well as a kitchen.
The island is made of solid ash with a stainless steel top and stainless steel cabinet doors.
A dining area is next to the kitchen area. The couple made the table from wood found in a garbage bin.
Hill and Palwyn display a small collection of photography and architecture books on the wall behind the table. The shelves they sit on are supported by three threaded steel rods suspended from the timber joists and run through the shelves.
The foyer is a glass cube with doors to both the main living area and the hallway to the bathroom. The glass walls increase the flow of light throughout the space.
The right wall is lined with floor-to-ceiling cabinets that provide loads of storage.
The right wall is lined with floor-to-ceiling cabinets that provide loads of storage.
They built a bookshelf into the back of the glass foyer. A glass sliding door opens up to the master suite.
A small open study area was placed in the master suite, close to the doors. Behind it, in the hallway leading to the bathroom, a row of wall-like wooden panels conceal floor-to-ceiling wardrobe space.
The couple’s bedroom is minimalist to match the rest of the space. They kept the original heater.
Hill and Palwyn added custom closets to the bathroom.
The bathtub is a vintage piece bought for $70 from Lassco, the London Architectural Salvage and Supply Co. It used to be located in a church nearby, and served as a beer tub for the couple’s first party. They had wooden legs put on it temporarily and then left it as is.
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See more photos of this home
TELL US
What do you think of this once-derelict home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here: Kelly Hill and Michael Pawlyn, their daughter Umi, son Sol, and their dog, Daisy
Location: Shoreditch, London, UK
Size: 110 square metres; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
A small entrance room leads into the open-plan space. The couple used mostly recessed lighting to accentuate the architectural elements and give their home a soft glow in the evenings.
Since moving to their home in 1996, the couple has seen their Shoreditch neighbourhood develop from mostly live-work spaces into one of London’s most trendy areas. “I think my kids have really benefited from living in central London and being able to walk around and explore and have the city as their garden,” says Hill, pictured at their dining table.