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From split roof-height rear extensions to airy internal courtyards, architects are pushing the boundaries when it comes to defining what makes a successful family home. If you’re looking for renovation inspiration, these are the projects with the wow factor
This historically sound but derelict townhouse went through a three-year, roots-to-rafters renovation. No.8 was all but dismantled, then meticulously pieced back together. From the street, the only signs of modernity are its masterfully remade heritage features: a new roof, repointed brickwork, sash windows, and a lime-rendered facade all doing their bit to preserve the traditions of this inner-city conservation area. But inside, the transformation is palpable. Hand-sketching, holistic rendering, and boundary-pushing considerations of levels, volume, height, and light turned it into an archetype of radical restoration. Turning what was a dark and dingy building into a warm, inviting family home, the 120-year-old terrace now stands as HUTCH’s flagship of architectural revival.
When Sarah Peake took on this dated Chelsea townhouse, it was crying out for an overhaul. While this was a full renovation project, the architectural bones, including high ceilings and well-proportioned windows, were all there to start with. Both Sarah and the owners were keen to maintain and enhance the traditional architecture of the house, but they wanted to bring in contemporary touches through statement furniture and colourful fabrics. Sarah researched the period of the house and installed cornices and architraves appropriate to the era, and she increased the height of the doors, added taller skirting boards and restored the French windows and original panelling on the first floor. The combination of traditional architecture and contemporary furniture and fabrics gives the house a lively, modern feel without deviating too far from its history. Nature was a key reference point for the clients, so Sarah used a lot of cloud and botanical motifs, wood and greens, as well as Japanese design, which inspired much of the art.
This beautifully constructed garden room measures 28.5 sqm with a huge, structurally significant and architecturally designed 1.5m overhang roof, which adds a striking visual element to the building. The framework of this garden room is made using Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs), with steel structural supports for the canopy. The garden room is built on top of concrete raft foundations and is cladded in a beautiful cedar wood with bi-folding doors. Its main use is as a ‘gin and tonic bar’ for the client and a lovely space to entertain guests. It also has a wc and integrated sink, plus a hidden storage area for gardening tools. Within the Hawksbeck range, anything with an overhang is considered part of the Modern range – these are the most popular designs and can be fully customised.
This property was something quite special. When Irene and her team took it on, it was a house that had been untouched for over 30 years and she brought a full turnkey design service to the project – interior architecture, interior design, all the furnishings and artwork, and project management from start to finish. The house had very few architectural features and the layout of the original design didn’t work for the client. Gunter & Co worked hand-in-hand with an architect to keep the façade of the property and some of the joisted floors, but start afresh with the rest. The staircase was re-positioned, and they added a ground floor extension, a new rear façade, and new glazing at the front and back – changes which helped to create an entirely new identity for the property. The interiors offer a contemporary concept packed with light, neutral tones, lots of green to bring in a sense of the outside and fully embrace Irene’s love of biophilic design. She layered in natural woods, lightly stained oaks and marbles to celebrate the calming feel she wanted to create with the new character of the property.
This property had already been extended but lacked soul and personality. The South African/Columbian clients hailed from areas of outstanding natural beauty where the environment is often referenced within the fabric of the architecture and interior design of homes. The Vawdrey House were therefore keen to bring elements of their heritage into the design of the home while being mindful of the building’s own Victorian history. Creating a highly functional home with spaces that evolved through the day to create different moods and served different purposes was the priority, so the team secured planning for an unusual split roof-height rear extension to allow impressive ceiling heights within the kitchen space, as well as an internal glazed courtyard. Mixing textures and styles, with a focus on natural materials such as oak, polished plaster, leather and exposed brickwork, resulted in an eclectic home which is in part playful yet also deeply soothing and restful.
The clients had been working with Takero Shimazaki Architects for over a year to develop an architectural design and to get planning for this accessible, modern home in Dulwich. Following an accident, the homeowner uses a wheelchair and after years of living in adapted apartments which didn’t suit his needs, he was determined to design a home that really worked for both him and his growing family. Tucked away behind a row of Victorian houses on a quiet residential street, the house is accessed down a narrow lane. The discreet and unassuming entrance does not prepare you for the reveal of this 4,000 sq ft three-bedroom, Japanese-inspired home. Set over ground and lower ground floors, the house was carefully designed around three internal courtyards to maximise the feeling of light in the subterranean areas. The floorplan was carefully developed by the architectural team to make the open-plan spaces easy to navigate.
