When EMR Architecture were appointed to transform this period home, the lower ground floor was dark, cramped and uninviting. With its low ceiling heights and awkward layout, it was far from the vibrant heart of family life the clients envisioned. The solution was bold: lowering the floor by 55 cm to increase head height, reconfiguring the entire 90 sqm
level — including a new 15 sqm conservatory — and turning an underused basement into a series of light-filled, highly practical spaces.
A spacious new plant room was created beneath the front external stairs, freeing the interiors for living space. The reworked lower ground floor now includes a utility room, a shower room, a gym, a cosy TV room with wine cellar, and a super-practical yet stunning kitchen. The conservatory and re-designed garden steps and planters connect indoors with outdoors, bringing light and greenery deep into the plan.
The upper ground floor was also reconfigured to improve circulation and storage. A new wardrobe in the entrance hall adds everyday practicality, while wide brass-framed Crittall doors redefine the living room. This partition functions both as a striking design feature and as a fire-rated division, balancing safety with elegance. At the rear, a small former utility space was converted into a bright home office with views over the landscaped garden — a serene retreat for work.
Throughout, EMR advised the clients on interior design choices, ensuring that every architectural decision was matched with warm, layered interiors. The result is a family home that demonstrates how clever design, structural interventions and bespoke detailing can transform underused areas into the most loved spaces in the house.