Ardilaun Road

Refurbishment and extension of a Victorian house in Highbury. 2011

This late Victorian house was completely refurbished, and extended upwards into the roof to provide a guest bedroom and bathroom, and down into the cellar to provide a media room and utility facilities. The existing side return extension was replaced and the rear ground floor completely opened up to the garden. The very slim frames of the new sliding doors recall the astragals on the original sash windows and red brick detailing around the new opening repeats the treatment of the original openings.

The new floors to top and bottom are simple, white and straightforward, while the original floors between are elegant, rich and characterful. Grey marble flooring flows through the kitchen out into the garden, and veined arabescato marble defines the bathing areas of the master en-suite bathroom. A fully integrated music system, cinema projection and surround-sound systems are discretely designed into bespoke joinery in the basement media room.

Every room is different, attuned to its own role in the house. The distinction between original and new is subdued, creating a house which feels whole and balanced.