Our clients lived in the house for over a year to experience the atmosphere of the existing spaces before approaching SSMB to help them ‘make more sense of the layout.’ Although the entrance level was spacious, light, and inviting, the lower ground floor had been sadly neglected with dark and disconnected rooms that were underutilised.

We carefully studied the clients’ requirements, balancing their desire for a generous family room connecting seamlessly to the outside with the need for a comfortable home study. It quickly became clear that relocating the living room and study to the lower ground floor would naturally encourage the family to use the space as part of the whole house. To enhance the connection with the outdoors, we extended the original narrow lightwell into the garden, creating a generous terrace with a wide staircase leading up to the garden, strengthening the relationship between inside and outside.

The clients were enthusiastic about retaining the original character and period features of the property, while also incorporating modern, comfortable living. We embraced this challenge, carefully integrating their ideas into the new layout and specifically the design for the kitchen, bathrooms, and bespoke joinery throughout, all while respecting and preserving the existing fabric of the house.