Classic townhouse refurbishment

An architectural and interior design project in Kensington, resulting in an elegant and relaxed family home.

Moving across Europe into a large unloved house in Kensington, with two households worth of furniture, two families to merge and an architect that decided to retire two weeks in. It was all a bit too much.

The client we met at the start of this project was rather disheartened. We soon turned things around - preparing a detailed project plan, calling in the right team of specialists and obtaining all the necessary permissions. The house was then stripped back to its bare bones, a blank canvas ready for a complete redesign.

The works took eighteen months. During this time many original features were restored, the basement was extended and the house underwent a complete modernisation including underfloor heating, thermal insulation and a new audio-video-data system.

Our clients asked for a neutral colour palette to offset the artwork and furniture they were bringing from their previous homes. We selected a number of greys with yellow and pink undertones for walls and woodwork and a parquet floor in oak stained grey by the timber specialist Ebony and Co. The result is neutral but also warm and welcoming.

The lighting design has a big part in this project. It includes concealed fittings, task lighting, natural brass and glass chandeliers by David Chipperfield for Viabizzuno and a giant piece by Bocci - a cluster of cast glass spheres - that hangs like a sculpture over the main stairwell.

We worked closely with the clients to position their modern classic furniture - mostly by B&B Italia and Maxalto - paintings and objets d’art, then helped selecting a few finishing pieces.

The house was then ready to welcome the newly formed family in.