St. John's Wood

Reconfiguring the Plan

A key challenge faced was overcoming the constrictions of the original layout in which a central staircase divided the plan, blocked views of the rear garden and constrained room widths. A new staircase was therefore designed to run through the middle of the house with a skylight drawing daylight through the core of the building. This reconfiguration enabled the master suite to occupy the full width of the house, with uninterrupted views of the garden to the rear from the bedroom.

The entrance sequence was carefully considered and enlivened by a shift in materiality from hard mosaic tiling in the porch to soft timber flooring in the wide entrance hall; natural light filters in through arched windows beside the front door, whilst the repositioning of the staircase allowed a sightline to extend through the full depth of the house to the rear garden. The ground floor layout was designed to encourage a sense of flow, with the kitchen, dining, and sitting room areas connected as one continuous living space.

Living Spaces & Below Ground

The upper floors accommodate three children’s bedrooms - each with a bespoke mezzanine level - individually designed in collaboration with each child, incorporating built-in furniture based on their hobbies and preferences.

Below ground, the basement level includes a gym, games room, and a sumptuous green velvet upholstered cinema. These spaces are separated by glazed partitions rather than solid walls, allowing light to pass through and avoiding any sense of claustrophobia. Full height sliding glazed doors connect the main rooms directly to the garden, creating a seamless relationship between inside and outside.

Interiors & Detailing

The interiors, designed in collaboration with Vanessa Cayatte, blend traditional detailing with a contemporary approach to colour and materiality. Of particular note is the softly honed master bathroom Calacatta Vagli marble which was sourced from a quarry that has since been closed. Throughout the house a series of discrete ‘nooks’ – including a window seat alcove lined with bookshelves, and a breakfast table set under a low ceiling – were introduced to provide a feeling of intimacy within the openness of the wider plan.

Wall panelling, coffered ceilings, and half curtains nod to the building’s original character, while a palette of leathers, natural timber, honed stone, and textured carpets bring warmth. The house is air conditioned throughout, with all servicing discreetly integrated.

Structure, Conservation, & Garden

With the exception of the front façade the house was completely rebuilt, allowing it to qualify for zero VAT rating. A new concrete and steel structure was introduced to improve acoustic separation between floors, whilst the rear elevation was reconstructed using reclaimed London stock bricks to match the existing character of the conservation area.

To the rear, a cedar-shingled summer house sits within the unusually large garden – used year-round by the family. The cladding was selected as much for its warm, textured appearance as for the distinctive scent of the cedar, whilst adjacent a half basketball court makes full use of the available outdoor space.

Photography by Julia Conway.