The Makers House, Kingston Upon Thames, London
This project involved the comprehensive refurbishment and modernisation of a Victorian terraced house in South West London. The clients, both makers and designers, collaborated closely with our team to craft a bespoke living environment that reflects their creative spirit.
The primary objective was to reconfigure the ground floor, introducing a side infill extension and a garden studio gym space. The clients wanted an open-plan layout, with a notable reorientation of the kitchen to the front of the house—a configuration commonly seen in European homes. The kitchen, now the first room of the house, features a monolithic stainless steel island that houses most of the appliances. Low-level, wall-mounted cabinets wrap around the space, creating ledges that showcase the clients’ artwork and collectables.
A key feature of the ground floor is the internal courtyard, designed to maximise natural light flow into the kitchen and adjacent eating area. This courtyard, with a central roof light, creates a bright, airy atmosphere in the heart of the home. A rotating timber fin wall allows for flexible use of this space, transforming it into a secluded area for reading and yoga.
The primary objective was to reconfigure the ground floor, introducing a side infill extension and a garden studio gym space. The clients wanted an open-plan layout, with a notable reorientation of the kitchen to the front of the house—a configuration commonly seen in European homes. The kitchen, now the first room of the house, features a monolithic stainless steel island that houses most of the appliances. Low-level, wall-mounted cabinets wrap around the space, creating ledges that showcase the clients’ artwork and collectables.
A key feature of the ground floor is the internal courtyard, designed to maximise natural light flow into the kitchen and adjacent eating area. This courtyard, with a central roof light, creates a bright, airy atmosphere in the heart of the home. A rotating timber fin wall allows for flexible use of this space, transforming it into a secluded area for reading and yoga.
View of Reading Room from Sunken Living Room
On the first floor, the family bathroom underwent a dramatic transformation. Clad entirely in black D tiles, the bathing space is a retreat and design departure from the rest of the house with twin tubs designed for soaking after exercise. The tiles wrap seamlessly over the walls, ceiling, and sink area, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.
Throughout the home, bespoke joinery plays a crucial role in defining and accentuating spaces. The dressing room, for instance, is lined with deep blue wardrobes featuring bi-folding doors that reveal backlit storage for shoes and jewellery. Elsewhere, recessed brass flower-detailed handles—crafted by the clients—adorn the ground floor doors, adding a personal touch to the interior.
The design approach to the interiors was a collaborative effort with the Client leading on visual design details and materials for the spaces. The end result being a set of spaces crafted around light, colour and their free flowing way of living.
The design approach to the interiors was a collaborative effort with the Client leading on visual design details and materials for the spaces. The end result being a set of spaces crafted around light, colour and their free flowing way of living.
Original sketch of rear extension
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