Our clients own a multi-level Victorian property in lovely Blackheath (LB Greenwich), and we’re helping them to upgrade it.

Working with Wishbone Contractors, we are refurbishing the semi-detached period property and upgrading much of it to meet the busy family of four’s needs.

The property is a good size but had already been extended to the rear basement, creating an unusual configuration that saw the extension and lower level outrigger divide the new space in two. The lower level outrigger was a small, dark, fairly unusable space that prevented the rear from being fully opened up to its full potential.  Our first brief was to find a way to open this up to the rest of the lower ground floor space and to make it feel inclusive; this is challenging because it is at a lower level with a dropped ceiling level above.

Our interior design team worked through various options and eventually settled on opening this area up by removing both internal walls and converting it into a sunken snug, with visual connections to the adjacent open-plan dining area and kitchen areas. All this while creating its own defined seating area being sunk down at the lower level. There is a concrete “step” along the full length of the rear external wall which could not be removed. This has been cleverly incorporated into the snug design to form and be disguised as fitted seating.

A bespoke bookcase is suggested to break the space and act as an interesting but functional balustrade between the spaces with a clear, frameless balustrade to the steps between levels.

The ground floor reception rooms have the classic double pivot doors opening between the front and rear. While original to the property, these take up much-needed space with their swing path. New proposed sliding pocket doors will provide flexibility to the two spaces whilst maintaining traditional double doors visually.

The front reception room will be used as a formal sitting room, with the rear room able to be an additional family room, or converted into a closed-off guest room.

New pale, plank timber flooring throughout will modernise the look of the entire house, along with a new kitchen to the basement, new bespoke joinery to the reception rooms and bedrooms and two new bathrooms. The bathrooms have been designed with feature “finger” wall tiles, herringbone metro wall tiles and marble effect porcelain tiles to the master ensuite floor with a fun striped effect porcelain tile to the family bathroom floor. Both bathrooms have newly designed layouts along with carefully considered corresponding tile colours and brassware finishes.

If you are looking for a full Interior Architecture and design service, contact Vicki or Lisa here. We will be delighted to help.