Extension and renovation of 1930s semi-detached house

CONTEMPORARY REIMAGINING OF A 1930S TOWNHOUSE

Our clients Sei and Jon were actively looking to buy a place they could completely gut and redesign. They found their dream project in an architecturally attractive but tired property in East London and were excited to update this property into a stylish modern home.

“We could tell he was passionate about taking on the project.” – Sei

At our first meeting, Sei and Jon brought detailed architectural layouts and clear ideas of how they wanted the interior to look. From there, we discussed how we would implement their specific requests.

The semi-detached 1930s building had a lot of potential, but it needed updating to suit busy young business owners who needed a place that could serve equally well as an office and a home.

STARTING STRONG FOR LASTING STRUCTURES

When we arrived to survey the property, we found part of the roof was rotting, so we advised Sei and Jon that we replace the rotting section and construct additional support to ensure their roof was safe.

We also knew that they wanted to retain original features where possible, including the doors and floorboards. Given their condition, they needed to be treated, filled and restored to ensure a long-lasting quality finish.

We discussed this and other foreseeable planning and costing aspects at the start of the project. These early advisory sessions are critical, as they help us locate potential problems that aren’t always in architectural plans. We can then cost these additions to the work schedule and budget.

EXPRESSING CHARACTER THROUGH DESIGN

From the exposed brick wall in the kitchen and loft to the bright and cheerful extension, so many personal touches were added to this property. The bathroom’s glamorous yellow-gold fittings pop against the textured tiles of myrtle green, keppel and verdigris.

We particularly enjoyed installing the tiled fireplace in the living room, a feature that feels stylish and homespun, drawing the eye as soon as you enter.

Our team established harmony between these individual expressions of character and the original 30s fittings with cool, neutral tones throughout the home. Projects like these really energize our team, where we can get more creative and offer our expertise on how to best accomplish our clients’ ideas.

Sei and Jon’s property is now a welcoming space they can use with pride to host friends and business colleagues. The neutral space offers a calming zone to concentrate, while the tasteful features bring out my clients’ personal characteristics and make the house a home.  

“Martin was recommended by our architects. We clicked quickly. He's been part of a lot of high-end projects, which gave us the security to say ‘yes’. And he kept to his original quote!” – Jon

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