To dwell and establish connections with a place is a basic human necessity often combined, amongst other things, with light and is performed in association with the elements that generate it, be they natural or artificial. And in the renovation of this purpose-built first floor flat in a quiet residential street in Kennington, the use of light in its varied forms is adopted to modulate the space and create a brand new dwelling, adapted to modern living standards. From the intentionally darkened entrance lobby at the lower ground floor – as seen in Mackintosh’s Hill House – one is led to a brighter upper level where the insertion of wide pivot doors creates a flexible open plan centred around an unfinished plaster box-like pod. Kitchen and living room are connected and use a stair balustrade that doubles as a bench seat; this allows the landing to become an extension of the kitchen/dining area - rather than being merely circulation space – with a new external view towards the landscaped terrace at the rear. The attic space is converted: a modernist black box, clad in natural slate tiles and with a wide sliding window, is inserted in the rear roof slope to accommodate a bedroom and a bathroom. A new relationship can eventually be established with all new and existing exterior openings, now visible from the former landing space: traditional timber sash windows are re-introduced to replace unsightly UPVC frames, and skylights are put in to direct one’s view outwards and upwards. photo: Gianluca Maver

Interior Designer: Graham Simmonds Photographer: Pablo Veiga

Open living and dining room gives an unobstructed view to the rear yard through large French doors. A continuous wall of built-in cabinets provides tons of storage with the stone wall and fireplace demarcating the two spaces. The ceiling heights have been raised two feet to ten feet overall creating a generous volume. The whole house is radiant heated using a Warmboard sub-floor product.

Nestled into sloping topography, the design of this home allows privacy from the street while providing unique vistas throughout the house and to the surrounding hill country and downtown skyline. Layering rooms with each other as well as circulation galleries, insures seclusion while allowing stunning downtown views. The owners' goals of creating a home with a contemporary flow and finish while providing a warm setting for daily life was accomplished through mixing warm natural finishes such as stained wood with gray tones in concrete and local limestone. The home's program also hinged around using both passive and active green features. Sustainable elements include geothermal heating/cooling, rainwater harvesting, spray foam insulation, high efficiency glazing, recessing lower spaces into the hillside on the west side, and roof/overhang design to provide passive solar coverage of walls and windows. The resulting design is a sustainably balanced, visually pleasing home which reflects the lifestyle and needs of the clients. Photography by Andrew Pogue

www.christianburmester.com

Once the traditional layers of the space were removed the new millwork made the space sing. The focal element of the living room, a clean lined floor to ceiling Macassar ebony wood fireplace was added with a honed limestone mantle anchored the new space.

The living room was restored to be a bright and crisply appointed space for entertaining and music. The original douglas fir flooring was refinished and complimented by the pale green painted trim. Photographer: Bruce Damonte

Foto: Lapetiteolga © 2015 Houzz

Intarya was briefed to design a duplex apartment at the high profile Lancaster’s development. It was therefore important to maximise the apartment’s distinctive architectural details such as the impressive double height ceiling of the Reception Room. Floor to ceiling joinery either side of the fireplace does this to excellent effect, using grey stained sycamore in a high gloss finish with antique mirroring to add to the glamorous feel of the interior.

Design by: Barbara Meister Interiors Photo credit: Studio KW Photography

Designed and built by Pacific Peninsula Group. Crisp and elegant Living Room. Photography by Bernard Andre.

Bob Narod, Photographer, LLC