Astell Street

Only a few weeks after completion, the property in Cale Street SW3 (which also features on this website) was sold. Our clients then decided to purchase this 1950s terraced house, just around the corner, and embark upon another major renovation project with us. It is always a joy to work on a second project with a trusted client.

As at Cale Street, little now remains of the original building apart from the external walls. The rather sober front elevation belies the suc-cession of dramatic spaces which have been created within, and the only indication of the new basement, which has been excavated beneath the entire footprint of the house, is a discreet grille.

On entering the house, one is presented with an enfilade stretching to the living room beyond. The bright orange lacquered front door picks up on the similarly-coloured washbasin in the cloakroom, as well as the adjacent artworks.

New polished grey-lacquered oak boards (on piped underfloor heating) add a touch of glamour and help lead the eye to the living room and the antique Indian timber panels in the rear garden.

The original staircase to the upper floors has been clad in matching timber and has been extended down to the new basement. The mirrored panel slides open to access the cloakroom.

The living room occupies the rear ground floor area. Side and rear extensions provide additional usable space as well as plenty of natural light, which floods down to the basement kitchen via a strip of 'walk on' glazing by the fireplace.

As in the rest of the house, our clients have opted for a neutral paint colour scheme so as to highlight their artworks and furnishings.

At the rear of the living room, bi-folding French doors open onto a balcony overlooking the rear garden. This been excavated down to basement level and adjoins the kitchen and dining area.

On one side a 'living wall' ties the two levels together and, amongst other things, softens the acoustics in what could otherwise feel more like a gloomy and echoing lightwell.

Mirrored overhead cabinets maximise the prodigious daylight, the black and stainless steel extractor adds a touch of drama, and the yellow-lacquered larder provides a splash of colour.

As at Cale Street, we worked with Mowlem & Co on the design of the kitchen. This is located directly beneath the strip of glazing in the living room floor.

Bi-folding French doors provide access from the kitchen and dining area to the rear garden. Cantilevered concrete steps lead up from there to the back door at ground floor level.

The family room occupies the front of the new basement, and is lit by windows opening onto a lightwell beneath the grille in the front garden.

A few steps lead down to a bedroom and shower room located beneath the remainder of the front garden.

The neutral colour scheme continues to the top floor, which is entirely given over to the master suite.

The vista from the dressing room at the front to the bedroom at the rear has been emphasised by the 'punchy' lacquered architraves.

Bi-folding French doors in the master bedroom open onto a small terrace above the rear extension. A polished stainless steel planter provides privacy whilst managing to increase the illusion of space.

Burgundy-lacquered wardrobe doors in the master dressing room and a black and lime green theme in the master shower room add a touch of glamour.

The master bathroom is lined with lime-coloured glass on one side (in the walk-in shower area) and black ceramic tiles on the other. Two new skylights provide ample daylight.

In contrast, another bathroom is lined with slate strips, and features a freestanding bath, a built-in medicine cabinet with a wenge frame, and four niches which add some depth to the room.

This and the following sketches show the early concepts. The design of the rear extension and double-height lightwell evolved in response to the planners' requirements, and the kitchen units were installed on the opposite wall beneath the glass 'slot'.

Ground Floor plan..

Living Room..

Basement kitchen..

Rear Elevations.