When I met the clients of Hammersmith House, their four-storey semi-detached house in West London didn’t feel like one united home. The clients wanted to unify the house, make better use of every single space, and bring light in wherever possible. They also wanted to stay living at the property while the work was carried out, which meant doing the work in phases. We needed a masterplan for the whole house before starting anything so that nothing would have to be done twice. 

My vision was to keep the character of the original house but to insert new contemporary elements to bring the house up to date and connect all the spaces visually. The client wanted calm and minimal spaces, so we reduced the number of materials to a pared-back palette of white oak, black metalwork and white walls – and then introduced colour with artwork and furnishings. A huge new rooflight at the top of the stairs, and full-height glazing across the back and on the roof of the kitchen extension brought light into every nook and cranny. And I designed a new staircase, with elegant balustrading, to unify all the spaces top to bottom, and sit right at the centre of the house. 

There is a little nod to The Cloud House in this design – a pale pink loo with an arched inset and hidden lighting – which I hope brings joy to anyone visiting this small but important room!

If you have a home and the style feels disjointed or you would like to do a project in phases, do get in touch.