Overview

The attic of this 1900s property had partially been converted in the past but needed brought up to modern standards. As well as stripping out the attic in order for it to be rebuilt, the first and ground floors were also fully restored. In the attic space a master suite was designed including a walk-through wardrobe and ample built-in storage. As the attic was a later addition to the property, a modern space was created to contrast with the other floors where period features were restored with a contemporary feel. Downstairs, the kitchen was relocated, a utility room added and the existing bathroom reconfigured.

In addition, the outdoor space was improved during the works. After clearing away dilapidated storage and removing many well-established plants, the garden was landscaped to create a sleek, low maintenance outdoor space.

To ensure this maisonette was safe and compliant, the entire property was first stripped back to the lathe and plaster to allow for new plumbing and electrics to be installed throughout. We were keen to reconfigure room layouts as much as possible while keeping the upper staircase in place in order to keep to budget. On the first floor this entailed moving two doors in order to create a modern sized kitchen with utility room and large pantry. In the attic space, previous wall positions were largely retained but with doors moved and walls added to create a walk-through wardrobe and a hidden shower enclosure in the en-suite. Adding rooflights, pushing the walls back and raising the ceiling allowed the attic landing to be transformed into a spacious and comfortable reading area.

Storage was a key feature in this brief so I focused on maximising the space by including a good deal of built-in storage features. This included built-in bathroom cabinets and shelving to take advantage of unused space inside the walls as well as window seats with cabinetry below. In the master bedroom a wall of wardrobes was built in addition to floor to ceiling shoe shelves.

Taking cues from the history of the dwelling, a traditional cast iron fireplace was installed in the second bedroom but in the living room, a contemporary marble fireplace was installed. Likewise, the ground floor cast iron spindles were cleaned and faithfully restored then a simplified balustrade was fabricated for the attic landing to reflect this.