A grand Victorian, locally listed terrace house in a beautiful conservation area of North London served as the canvas for this luxurious Bohemian project. The clients, a judge and her international mediator husband, alongside their two young children, wished for a complete refurbishment of their home whilst respecting and restoring its original period features. The brief specified the need for additional storage alongside designing vibrant, personality-driven spaces throughout the house. The design needed to provide a tasteful and refined backdrop for the owners' beloved objects and artwork, avoiding a formulaic or themed style.
- Dressing Room: A luxurious set of wardrobes providing ample space for clothing and accessories. - Enchanted Garden Bedroom: A sweet, nature-inspired room for the younger daughter, creating a whimsical and serene retreat. - Library in the Clouds Bedroom: A playful and imaginative bedroom for the older daughter, fostering creativity and exploration. - Dramatic Shower Room: A striking and luxurious shower room within the mansard conversion, adding a touch of opulence. - Living Room: A comfortable and intriguing space designed for entertaining, blending cosiness with captivating design elements.
The project brief was to create lots of new space by extending the property with a mansard roof conversion and to design gorgeous personality driven spaces while restoring and respecting the original grand Victorian home.
Many of the original internal features of the home had been lost over time, such as fireplaces, doors, and coving. These elements were carefully reinstated, selecting items that matched the original Victorian design. Any remaining historic features were preserved and restored, including the beautiful original cornicing in the entrance hallway, a stained-glass window overlooking the back garden, and the original room layout and proportions. These meticulous restorations ensured that the historical integrity of the home was respected.
The interior design embraced a luxurious Bohemian style, featuring a bold and rich palette of greens, pinks, dramatic marbles, and pale natural oak chevron parquet floors. Key pieces of existing artwork, personal objects, and furniture were sensitively incorporated into the new design, ensuring that the style was not formulaic but personal and reflective of the clients' unique taste. This approach created a home that feels both curated and lived-in, with each space telling a part of the family's story.
To accommodate their young family, additional space was created by converting the attic into a habitable area and extending it with a dormer mansard extension. This transformation provided a beautiful new bedroom, a shower room, and a large laundry cupboard. The traditionally detailed timber staircase was extended to the converted loft space, enhanced by a large new roof light that flooded the stairs with natural light.
The new loft bedroom was inspired by the avid reading habits of the clients' 8-year-old daughter. Designed to resemble a library that can be slept in, the room features a hanging chair and a large window bench seat, providing comfortable reading spots with views over the London rooftops and gardens. This design fulfilled the playful and functional requirements of the brief, creating a space where imagination and relaxation coexist.
For their nature-loving younger daughter's bedroom, we created an 'Enchanted Forest.' This whimsical space features a large mural-style wallpaper of a peacock in a tree and golden bee handles on the wardrobe. The room's design is both enchanting and functional, providing a magical retreat for a young child.
To meet the clients' need for ample storage, a huge new wall of full-height wardrobes was installed in the master bedroom. These wardrobes were meticulously designed with drawers, shelves, and hanging space to accommodate the couple's extensive clothes and shoe collection.
In the new shower room, we used a dramatic palette of dark green marble, brass, and terrazzo to create a small but perfectly formed luxurious retreat.
Sustainability and energy efficiency were key drivers of the scheme which we took seriously. The new roof used two types of high-performance insulation, ensuring excellent heat retention and low heating requirements. Double-glazed sash windows and roof lights enhanced thermal efficiency, making the loft bedroom both comfortable and energy-efficient. Existing damaged items in the house, such as floorboards, were donated to timber merchants for reuse, minimising waste and adhering to sustainable practices. The structural scheme was designed to minimise steel usage using a mainly timber frame construction, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the renovation.
About Nancy Gouldstone Architects
Nancy Gouldstone Architects are a London based Architecture, interior design and garden design practice that offer local and international services. We are passionate about creating and delivering exceptionally beautiful homes and gardens for our clients. We plan and manage the whole process from start to finish, offering a full set of services for luxury architecture, interior design, garden design and project management; freeing up our clients time and ensuring their projects are beautifully executed and run smoothly, on time and in budget.
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Whether you're hosting a cosy family dinner or a grand soirée, the design of your kitchen plays a pivotal role in creating a welcoming atmosphere. By blending functionality with aesthetic appeal, you can craft a space that not only meets your practical needs but also enhances the overall experience for you and your guests. After all, a well-designed kitchen is the heart of memorable gatherings. Here, Charlie Smallbone, the founder of Ledbury Studio, shares his insights on three key elements that make a kitchen perfect for socialising.
An island is an indispensable feature for any party kitchen, transforming the space into a lively, social hub. This versatile centrepiece invites guests to gather, chat and savour appetisers while meals are being prepared. My island designs often incorporate a breakfast bar, providing extra seating that encourages interaction and connection between guests and hosts. It also doubles as a practical area for buffet-style serving, allowing guests to effortlessly help themselves to food and drinks. The Kensington kitchen has a beautiful island with breakfast bar, prep space and sink.
A dedicated home bar can transform your kitchen into the ultimate entertainment powerhouse. With an array of spirits, mixers, and professional bar tools at your disposal, you’ll be mixing cocktails like a seasoned mixologist. Incorporating features such as a wine cooler, ample space for glassware and smart storage for all your essentials ensures that everything you need is always within reach. By strategically placing the bar away from the main kitchen area, guests can serve themselves without interrupting the chef’s flow. A well-stocked home bar not only enhances the functionality of your kitchen but also creates a perfect spot for socialising, making sure the good times keep flowing.
Integrating a dining table into your kitchen creates a seamless flow from meal preparation to dining, eliminating the need to relocate to a separate dining room - a practice that now feels outdated. This design keeps everyone at the heart of the action, fostering a lively and inclusive atmosphere. A perfect example is our St John’s Wood kitchen, where banquette seating is elegantly built into the island. This arrangement not only enhances the functionality of the space but also encourages longer, more relaxed meals, allowing guests to linger and enjoy each other's company. By combining the practical aspects of a kitchen with the comfort of a dining area, this setup elevates the entire entertaining experience, ensuring that your kitchen remains the true heart of your home.
About Ledbury Studio
Charlie Smallbone needs little introduction. The founder of iconic brand Smallbone of Devizes, he has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s latest venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of original materials whilst creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.
Di Henshall, Design Director of Di Henshall Interior Design has given her insights into the industry.
Di Henshall studied interior design at Liverpool College of Further Education, since changed to Liverpool Polytechnic, since changed to Liverpool John Moores University. She became an Export Designer for Hygena, Liverpool, (largest kitchen manufacturer in the world at the time) designing showrooms and exhibitions around the world, plus designing cabinetry and fittings for private residences in the Middle East. After emigrating to Australia, Di became an Interior Designer for a group of architects in Melbourne (Victoria) – DCR Architects, working on public buildings, restaurants and private residences. She then started her own business, Di Henshall Interior Design, in 1988; and started her own cabinetmaking business, Resident Hero, in 1992. Henshall qualified as a licensed builder in 2000. She guest lectures at various locations, such as Sunshine Coast University, TAFE College and various Housing Industry Association functions.
Di Henshall Interior Design has won over 30 design awards and citations. They design all over Australia and New Zealand, and have worked on projects as far a field as Fiji and the United States. They have a team of seven in the design company and a further sixteen in their custom/bespoke furniture and cabinetry factory.
I always knew from about five years old that I wanted to be a designer, I just didn’t know anything about buildings, so I started designing dresses - all of which looked exactly the same, just different patterns! When I was about twelve, I knew then that I would be either an architect or interior designer. I chose interior design, and I am grateful that I did.
Like most designers, the exciting part is starting with a brief that is going to be challenging. I usually start off with a tiny sketch pad and scribble ideas down, taking into account all the usual elements, such as the personality of the clients, what the use of the building is, who is going inhabit the space, what the orientation is, the architectural intent, if applicable, the budget, etc.
We specialise in major renovations, basically pulling apart all elements and designing a totally new and vibrant residence. In the past year we did exactly that for a large, waterfront house that needed to be reinvented both inside and out. We have just finished it and when the clients saw it for the first-time last week, the wife burst into tears with happiness – hugely rewarding. We also spent four months designing the interior of a superyacht. Another one of the projects we have been working on in the past year is the major reconstruction of a beachside house that is in the process of being put back together, totally unrecognisable from its former self. We usually have anything up to twenty projects on at once, all at various stages.
I actually love the variety of the projects we undertake rather than having one particular favourite type. Designing offices and medical practices is always challenging because there are usually several or more stakeholders that all have a say in what is designed. It is a diplomatic juggle to make sure that we reach a design solution that everyone is happy with and that it is equally practical and workable for both staff and clients/patients.
Dealing with suppliers. We spend an inordinate amount of time and energy chasing suppliers for the right information, truthful delivery dates and proper product specifications. This was exacerbated to the extreme during Covid, as the supply chain was practically broken, freight charges went through the roof and suppliers felt the need to say what they thought you wanted to hear rather than the reality.
I learn something new every working day of my life. Technology, product innovation, new manufacturing processes, trends, computer assisting drafting, installation advances – all of these things have advanced dramatically since I started and they will continue to change. What I wish I knew before I started was more about the business side, things like contracts, budget discussions, asking for payments, understanding balance sheets and spreadsheets, financial forecasts and what to do when you can’t pay bills – all of those things were learnt the hard way.
Maybe two things – take a tape measure with you everywhere and measure everything you use or have in your own home, for example the height of a coffee mug, the height of a hanging rail in a robe, the height of a dining table or a lounge chair – I can’t believe how many qualified designers I have employed that do not understand measurement. Without understanding measurement, it is very hard to be a good designer. The other thing I would say is don’t be influenced by trends, they are called trends for a reason.
I think people are finally starting to collectively understand the overwhelming waste that the world produces, including throwaway fashion, throwaway furnishings and electrical goods. There is a move towards people recognising the value in good quality gear that will last the distance. Recognising the effort and talent that goes into creating beautiful timeless pieces, such as lighting and furniture, so they don’t go out and buy a cheap copy. I hope that this trend continues, not for the sake of our business but for the sake of our planet and our children. We, therefore, have to keep creating things and spaces that people don’t regard as something they can get rid of or change in a couple of years’ time.
It is an honour to be recognised as being worthy of the society. The society is incredibly active and supportive of its members, which is refreshing and reassuring to be part of it. I would like to contribute as much as possible as a member and hope I get some opportunities in the future to do so.
About Di Henshall Interior Design
Award-winning interior design and full-fit-outs of custom furnishings working all over Australia and New Zealand. A highly trained design team specialising in major renovations, new builds, offices, restaurants, hotels and private residences. We have our own furniture and cabinetmaking business and source products from all over the world. We are also a building company that works closely with architects and other parties to deliver exceptional design solutions.
At the halfway mark of 2024, it’s the perfect time to showcase some of the standout Ledbury Studio kitchen projects completed in the first six months of the year. The team has successfully completed stunning kitchens in Kensington, St John’s Wood and Hampstead, ranging from a basement setup to the top floor of a seven-storey townhouse. Despite their varied styles, these kitchens share Ledbury Studio’s hallmark features: the exquisite use of wood grain and metallics, creating unique and striking finishes in each space.
“I’m constantly interested in moving ahead to the next idea and trying out a new technique - pushing the boundaries of what materials can do and the effects we can achieve,” says Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio. “I’m obviously enormously proud of the beautiful kitchens the team has created and completed so far this year, but my mind is always sometime in the future, planning our next several projects!”. For the moment, though, here are some of the highlights of the three most recent.
This elegant Edwardian home needed a kitchen to match its classic lines, for which the Ledbury Shaker kitchen was the perfect fit. This modern interpretation of Charlie's original painted kitchens from the 1980s features beautifully crafted furniture, updated cornicing and bespoke aged-brass handles. It blends seamlessly with the house's age while maintaining a contemporary style. Painted in a muted colour pale^e of soft white, it incorporates luxurious materials such as Arabescato marble worktops, splashback and a specially designed integrated double sink. The cooker hood above the Wolf range cooker is finished with textured Marmorino Venetian Plaster for added visual appeal.
Charlie designed this kitchen to maximise the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. The light accentuates the classic light oak cupboards, which were sanded back to reveal the grain and then coated with a pale pigmented wash. To maintain a contemporary aesthetic, the base cabinets are handleless, while the wall cupboards feature on-trend ribbed glass. Additionally, the wall cupboards are adorned with patinated brass handles, matching the brass surrounds and kickplate on the base cabinets.
A notable feature is the sink, crafted from hardwearing Diamond quartzite. Not only does it have a stunning appearance, but it also catches the morning sunlight. The worktops are made from the same material, edged in patinated brass and underlit. This, together with LED lighting above and below the cupboards, adds real wow factor after nightfall.
The owner of the Kensington kitchen sought a design that seamlessly blended her Australian Scandi aesthetic, characterised by the cool simplicity of Scandinavian style and the warmth of her native Australia. To achieve this, Charlie selected oak for the cabinetry, book-matching it on the drawers of the hob run and island, while painting the full-height cupboards white. Additionally, Charlie incorporated fluted oak panels on the outside of the island and around the base of the breakfast bar. A Statuario marble worktop cascades down the end of the island in a stunning waterfall effect, adding a touch of elegance to the design.
All the hand-crafted handles are made of patinated brass, matching the kickplates, furniture surrounds, and the sculptural brass hanging structure above the island. This sculptural piece not only serves as an eye-catching focal point but also provides task lighting and additional storage.
Following the previous collaboration between architectural bureau IK-architects and Norwegian developer Predio, creating HG-31 attic apartment in Oslo, architects continued their cooperation and presented another renovated attic apartment - a brutalist two-story apartment, inspired by Tom Ford’s style in Oslo.
The apartment has two floors and thoughtful zoning, which separates the public area from the private area. This is a full-fledged one-bedroom apartment for a young person or a couple without children, with a large kitchen-living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a wardrobe hidden behind the head of the bed.
The interior design was inspired by Tom Ford’s timeless appeal - the style of the apartment could be described as classic simplicity with a hinge of brutalism. In the apartment, which is a renovation project of an abandoned attic, architects managed to preserve the original, authentic structure of the concrete wall, which was later adapted to the interior in the brutalist style.
According to the client's brief, the team mounted a glass wall between the bedroom and the shower, delineating an additional attraction area. As in the HG-31 project, a sliding system was created in the form of a dark monolithic box, which hides the entire kitchen, its technical part, sliding facades that hide the entrance door.
The architects faced the task of creating a bright, cosy and pleasant interior that would organically implement an element of brutalism. Even though the interior contains many dark colours, due to a well-thought-out design strategy, the interior itself is not dark. It combines warm wood, red metal and chairs, and the sky-blue colour of the art piece on the wall. The stairs from the first to the second level are made of raw black metal, covered with a matte transparent varnish, and on the first floor, and MicroCement is used for the floor covering.
“In the project, we used a concrete wall, a concrete floor and raw black metal, which plays well in contrast with the wooden elements. In my opinion, it is this unusual concrete approach that distinguishes the apartment from the classic wooden Scandinavian style”, shares Kateryna Yarova, chief architect of IK-architects.
This project is a great example of two amazing teams, Predio and IK-architects, working together to create a modern, stylish, and practical living space in the historic centre of Oslo. This realization is not only a testament to high quality but also an embodiment of the aspiration to improve the quality of life in cities through sustainable development and the enhancement of design and functionality in real estate.
The Ukrainian architectural bureau IK-architects has been developing design projects for more than a decade. They specialise in Scandinavian design, minimalism, and blending different styles and trends.
Predio is a Norwegian development company that specialises in lofts conversions in Oslo. They carefully choose the best locations in the city to create luxury apartments, penthouses, and townhouses geared towards being great property investments. Predio's goal is to enhance urban living through sustainable development and their expertise in residential and commercial real estate. IK-architects has teamed up with Predio for several years now.
The following project was accomplished in collaboration between leading Predio architects and IK-architects designers. Before, they have also made HG-31 attic apartment in Oslo together.
Developer company Predio Svein Stokke, Andrii Soloviov, Andriy Ponomarenko
Interior design by IK-architects Kateryna Yarova, Khrystyna Stavytska
Location: Oslo, Norway Built area: 87 m² Completion year: 2022 (The year of construction is 1988) Construction: COWI Furniture manufacturing: Lachma Client: Private Status: Completed Cost: £350,000
About IK-architects Good design is not visible, good architecture is imperceptible – it's just a comfortable state and space for the user; but this is a colossal effort and knowledge for the designer.
The luminous dome-shaped window, reminiscent of a crystal, which opens up endless possibilities for natural light to flow, plays a pivotal role in transforming the attic space HG-31 in the heart of Oslo into a true architectural gem. This unique renovation project is the result of the joint efforts of the development company Predio and the Ukrainian architectural firm IK-architects.
One of the main goals of the project team was to create a functional and cosy space that would allow residents to infuse their personal elements into the interior. Through carefully thought-out planning, the lower level of the apartment is divided into two main zones: the public zone (with a foyer and a kitchen-living area) and the private zone (with two bedrooms and a bathroom). In the central part of the upper level, there is a mezzanine - a relaxation area and an open terrace, perfect for barbecues and relaxation with incredible views of the city and the fjord.
However, the main highlight of the apartment is the polygonal window, which became a key architectural element. Its crystal-like form not only adds uniqueness and sophistication to the space but also allows abundant natural light to enter, giving the living space a distinctive character. Moreover, this window opens up breathtaking views of the historic part of the city and the modern residential quarter.
In the HG-31 project, a strong emphasis was placed on using natural materials such as parquet flooring and wooden decorative elements. These details add warmth and a natural feel to the apartment, as well as unify all the rooms into a single, organic space.
This project serves as a shining example of collaboration between two outstanding teams - Predio and IK-architects - who have combined their knowledge and creative talents to create a modern, stylish, and functional living space in the historic heart of Oslo. This realisation is not only a testament to high quality but also an embodiment of the aspiration to improve the quality of life in cities through sustainable development and the enhancement of design and functionality in real estate.
Development company Predio focuses on loft conversions in Oslo. The capital's best locations are selected for new developments, and luxury apartments, penthouses and townhouses that are outstanding property investments are built with design, specification and purpose in mind.
Predio aims to improve the quality of life in cities through sustainable development, through deep knowledge and experience in residential and commercial real estate development.
The Ukrainian architectural bureau IK-architects has been developing design projects for more than 10 years. Key stylistic trends: Scandinavian design, minimalism, eclectic combination of current styles and trends. IK-architects has been cooperating with Predio for several years. The HG-31 project was created in collaboration between leading Predio architects and IK-architects designers.
Furniture manufacturing Lachma Construction physics - COWI
Year: 2022 Location Oslo, Norway Area: 87 m2. The year of construction is 1988
Charlie Smallbone’s designs can be seen throughout this Kensington home, where he and the Ledbury Studio team were tasked with creating furniture for several spaces. Harnessing a style his client coined as ‘Australian Scandi’, Charlie designed beautiful and harmonious pieces for the kitchen, dining area, TV snug, home office, utility room and hallway.
Reoccurring themes such as the use of pale oak, fluted finishes, brass handles and marble countertops tie the rooms together. As such, far from being a collection of rooms under one roof, the spaces are united by the warmth of the materials and the pleasing lines of finely crafted bespoke furniture.
Highlights of the kitchen include natural and painted oak cabinetry, which has been book matched on the drawers, as well as fluted on the outside of the island. All the handles are patinated brass, as are the kickplates, furniture surrounds and the sculptural brass hanging structure above the island.
Over in the dining area, the enviable drinks cabinet ties in with the kitchen design, featuring fluted oak and glass, along with a Statuario marble worktop and panelling. The glass cabinet is lit from within to create a display of the contents, while the open shelves have a mirrored panel behind to reflect the displayed bottles and decanters. An eye-catching wall-hung fluted TV cabinet continues the aesthetic at the other end of the room, in the TV snug.
Stunning floor-to-ceiling cabinetry ensures the home office downstairs is kept clutter free and takes advantage of the high ceilings. The furniture, like the kitchen design, features fluted oak doors, an internally lit fluted glass cabinet and hand-made patinated brass handles. However, to create a contrast with the oak, Charlie chose walnut for the desk and lower section of the cabinetry. A lovely detail is the burnt orange leather inset on the desk, the colour of which is mirrored in the orange paint finish at the back of the fluted glass cupboard.
In the hallway on the lower ground floor, furniture has once again been used to make the most of the space available. Here, Charlie designed a boot area with racks and built-in seat, plus floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and cupboards to store all outdoor wear in one place. Once again, fluted oak and brass handles unite the design with the spaces upstairs. Meanwhile, there are pale oak cabinets in the compact utility room. These have been teamed with a rich but practoical ombre quartz and complemented by deep green tiles in the cloakroom.
In collaboration with C.P. Hart’s professionally qualified Design team, the owners of Sundridge Park, a residential property in Kent, created three distinct bathrooms: a primary suite, a playful cloakroom, and a marble-adorned shower room.
“The vision for Sundridge Park’s primary suite revolved around their brief of a generous freestanding bath and a spacious walk-in shower,” the Design team recalls. “Favouring contemporary interiors with classical elements, they opted for the striking Amazzonite tiles from our Cosmopolitan collection, juxtaposed with a traditional cast iron bath and accompanying brassware.”
The owners specified C.P. Hart’s exclusive Camden bath, painted in a muted sage to accentuate the green highlights from the Amazzonite tiles. The suite’s brassware – a combination of our classical Original and Waterloo ranges – is finished in ‘Unlacquered Brass’, a characterful finish that will develop a unique patina over time.
For the vanity unit, IdeaGroup’s Smyle was a natural choice, specified for its meticulously fluted wooden fronts and impressive storage capacity. Twin Cielo Era washbowls, finished in ‘Lino’, were chosen for their unassuming simplicity, allowing the textures of the brass taps, vanity fronts, and stacked tile backdrop to sing.
“The shower room was conceived with meticulous attention to detail,” shares the Design team. “We extended the gold theme into this space, incorporating brassware selections from our Original and Waterloo ranges. To maintain a cohesive aesthetic, we colour-matched the brassware’s finish with the basin stand, towel radiator, and Matki Eauzone shower screens, strategically installed in the corner to optimise space.”
To add to the bathroom’s grandeur, the owners chose our Cosmopolitan Arabescato Oro marble-effect tiles. Crafted from rectified porcelain, these tiles not only exude the luxurious appearance of natural stone but also provide enhanced durability in a wet environment.
In contrast to the shower room, the cloakroom’s design draws on contemporary influences centred around the fluted concrete basin by British makers Kast. “The Kast Elm Mini basin is a true masterpiece. Specified in ‘Sage’ and mounted against soft blue stacked tiling, it perfectly sets the tone for the cloakroom.”
“We completed the basin with bespoke Samuel Heath unlacquered brass taps. Underfoot, wooden flooring owes the space its warmth whilst proving a functional choice for its hardwearing properties in a high traffic area.”
C.P. Hart’s award-winning Design Service offers a seamless client experience at every step. Two individuals are assigned to every project: a qualified designer to make the best possible use of available space, propose creative solutions, and interpret each customer’s vision, and a sales consultant to manage the process. To find out more, please call C.P. Hart on 020 7902 1020, email [email protected], or download a brochure here.
About C.P. Hart
C.P. Hart are an established bathroom supplier with over 80 years’ experience of specifying and sourcing the world’s most innovative and durable premium bathroom products. A successful Contracts division works for architects, interior designers and builders, often on major commercial property developments and hotels. While a highly qualified in-house design team works with individual and private clients, ensuring that each of these bespoke bathrooms is unique.
This traditional cottage in Cheshire has been adapted to meet the exact preferences and lifestyle needs of our clients. The existing kitchen was cramped with a very low ceiling meaning they couldn’t properly enjoy cooking and entertaining – something that was really important to them. Our solution was to build a bespoke contemporary extension that integrates with the existing property.
This single storey rear extension steps down from the existing ground floor entrance level opening out into a large open plan kitchen, sitting and dining area. We incorporated the existing kitchen space but dropped the internal floor level so that it connected seamlessly with the new extension. By building a brick wall along the boundary with the main road, we created a visual and acoustic barrier and reoriented the view towards the garden.
For this cottage transformation, we kept continuity between the old and new interior, with an open aspect from the front door that led through the existing entrance room and through to the new extension. The rhythm of the existing oak beams are translated into the new glulam frame accentuating the connection, and the contrast between the existing space and the light filled extension creates a visual and physical link the minute you come through the front door.
With full height bi-fold doors to the rear and side, the new kitchen now feels part of their lovely garden and gives them a sense of being immersed in their surroundings - in all weathers. Nestled within the embrace of nature, this kitchen exudes a sense of belonging, as if it were an integral part of its lush surroundings making it the perfect place for dinner parties and family get-togethers.
The main part of the structure is a glulam frame which we have left exposed internally, with a long slot roof light centrally over the space which helps define the kitchen, dining and sitting zones. Because the glazed element of the elevation is south facing, we introduced a deep overhang creating a covered walkway and ensuring solar shading in summer time.
By leaving the wood structure exposed, with its natural grains and hues, and also leaving the brick wall exposed internally we have created a warm and textured backdrop for the interiors. We have used a contemporary colour palette that complement these materials, elevating the design and creating focal points within the extension. The dark green kitchen echoes the tones of the garden whilst the timber accents tie in with the structural frame. The stone effect porcelain tile runs from the inside to the outside further under pinning the sense of being immersed within the garden.
This residential project beautifully illustrates the art of blending contemporary design with traditional charm to create a space that is both visually stunning and highly functional. By carefully considering the clients' desires, architectural constraints, and environmental factors, we have succeeded in crafting an extension that seamlessly integrates with the existing property while meeting the needs of modern living. Every detail of this extension has been thoughtfully planned to enhance the overall living experience and breathe new life into a traditional home.
About Kimble Roden Architects & Designers
Kimble Roden’s practise mission is to create outstanding architecture and interior projects tailored to meet the needs of our clients. We will bring an outstanding level of creativity and technical brilliance to residential projects. Whether you are building a new home, renovating, extending or have an interior design project we can offer a turnkey solution for your project and bring a level of professionalism that sets the standards in client care. We will provide you with complete peace of mind and add value to your home.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a retro styled residential design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Harmony World Consultant & Design.
Harmony World Consultant & Design was commissioned to design interior space for The Catania Wuhan project.
SBID Awards Category: Residential House Under £1M
Practice: Harmony World Consultant & Design
Project: The Catania Wuhan
Location: Wuhan, China
In a globalised city, art and life have never been separated. Under the trend of the overall environment, the design of this project tends to create an artistic living space, which can better experience the architectural form and space volume by emphasising artistic decoration and infiltrating art.
We provide each viewer with a certain identity of presence in this immersive space, which means that they have various possibilities to reconstruct their feelings as individuals and continue to write stories. This is the meaning of our design.
The integration of various design elements in the space has become our main design consideration. In order to continue the cultural attribute of the integration of multiple cultures, we also focused on the retro style of multi focus, artistic and cultural heritage and French elegance when creating this house style.
The overall beige tone shows its elegance to the audience. At the same time, the entrance is a master sculpture from the Paris. Through the appreciation of artistic sculpture and the continuity of metal chandelier space, the audience is constantly attracted to explore the space, to re-establish their feelings of space in their minds and create the artistic atmosphere of Home Gallery. It shows the collision and integration of modern and classical art in space as a whole, and the experience of "crossing multi-dimensional space" is completed by the design. Innovation and retro, collision and blending, thus reflecting the instantaneous eternity of the concept of art space.
As one of the most prestigious awards in the world, SBID has attracted the attention and participation of many internationally renowned designers with its strict selection criteria. From a professional perspective, SBID focuses on exploring, summarising and exploring the latest trends in the field of design. It also has high standards and requirements for the design works participating in the awards. Every year, authoritative experts in the industry assess the technical content and aesthetic creativity of the entries, and is committed to commendation, reward and publicity of various excellent designs.
The SBID Design Award has a very high competitiveness and influence in the international design industry. Being shortlisted for the SBID Design Award is not only a recognition of designers' professional ability, but also a recognition of their design achievements in the world.
Questions answered by Hongjun Lin, Managing Director at Harmony World Consultant & Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a nature-inspired, family home design by Pia Design, click here to read it.
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