Houzz Tour: An Edwardian House With a Tricky Layout Gains Flow
A home with a multi-level living space that wasn’t working gets a clever rejig, a new loft – and an improved view
The owners of this beautifully redesigned five-bedroom house in north London’s had lived in it for a couple of years before approaching architect Lu Bai of Matthew Giles Architects.
The property is built into a steep hillside and, as a result, has lots of split levels. This made the original lower levels tricky to lay out successfully, and a big part of Lu’s brief was to rearrange these to maximise light, views and circulation.
The property is built into a steep hillside and, as a result, has lots of split levels. This made the original lower levels tricky to lay out successfully, and a big part of Lu’s brief was to rearrange these to maximise light, views and circulation.
The oak veneer kitchen and fluted island, clad in solid oak, are as beautiful as they are functional.
“The worktop colours were the owner’s idea,” Lu says. “She wanted a lot of earth tones in the house, so there are terracottas, greens and no stark whites.
“Because we had to work with the existing walls, there was a lot of boxing-in to conceal columns and nibs, plus added insulation,” Lu explains of the wall above the sink. To avoid lots of ‘ins and outs’, she brought the whole wall out. Then, to take advantage of the new, much thicker surface, she created this distinctive, curved niche to avoid wasting the available space.
“We love arches,” she says. “It’s also a nod to the Edwardian features, as houses of this period tended to include rounded, decorative corners.”
Walls painted in Stone ll, Paint & Paper Library. Terrazzo worktop, Diespeker & Co. Terrazzo floor tiles, Otto Tiles. Gold pendant lights, H&M Home. Wall and dining room lights, Swivel UK.
“The worktop colours were the owner’s idea,” Lu says. “She wanted a lot of earth tones in the house, so there are terracottas, greens and no stark whites.
“Because we had to work with the existing walls, there was a lot of boxing-in to conceal columns and nibs, plus added insulation,” Lu explains of the wall above the sink. To avoid lots of ‘ins and outs’, she brought the whole wall out. Then, to take advantage of the new, much thicker surface, she created this distinctive, curved niche to avoid wasting the available space.
“We love arches,” she says. “It’s also a nod to the Edwardian features, as houses of this period tended to include rounded, decorative corners.”
Walls painted in Stone ll, Paint & Paper Library. Terrazzo worktop, Diespeker & Co. Terrazzo floor tiles, Otto Tiles. Gold pendant lights, H&M Home. Wall and dining room lights, Swivel UK.
Lu says that in most of their recent kitchens, her team have avoided wall cabinets so as to free up space for artwork and display. The arch creates the perfect location for this.
Find a renovation specialist for your project by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Find a renovation specialist for your project by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The tall units house a fridge-freezer, storage and an ingenious “dirty kitchen”, as Lu describes it, tucked behind the tall door closest to the worktop.
Kitchen, Union Bespoke.
Kitchen, Union Bespoke.
“The ‘dirty kitchen’ contains all the things you don’t want to see – the microwave, toaster, oven,” she says. “The worktop continues inside and it’s also somewhere you can put all the washing-up before you deal with it.”
The exposed original brickwork is a nice visual contrast when the door is open.
The exposed original brickwork is a nice visual contrast when the door is open.
The dining end of the kitchen opens onto a terrace. On the level below, there are doors to another terrace, plus full-height fixed glazing and a clerestory window to throw yet more light into the area. This and the rooflight were existing, but enlarged by Lu; all the other glazing is new.
“They wanted as many windows as possible, but we didn’t want to give them a glass box on the back of their house,” she says. To minimise overheating further, the new glazing has a solar coating. “We also always try to make sure all rooms are cross-ventilated,” she says.
The owners, who have Italian and Cypriot roots, entertain a lot and come from big families, restaurateurs on one side. So in the key job of reconfiguring the living areas, Lu created space for them to move furniture and host up to 40 guests for meals.
“They wanted as many windows as possible, but we didn’t want to give them a glass box on the back of their house,” she says. To minimise overheating further, the new glazing has a solar coating. “We also always try to make sure all rooms are cross-ventilated,” she says.
The owners, who have Italian and Cypriot roots, entertain a lot and come from big families, restaurateurs on one side. So in the key job of reconfiguring the living areas, Lu created space for them to move furniture and host up to 40 guests for meals.
There’s a great view from the kitchen-diner. Previously, the kitchen had been on the lower level. “The view was one of the reasons we moved it up here,” Lu says.
More: Should I Live On-site During My Kitchen Renovation?
More: Should I Live On-site During My Kitchen Renovation?
The stairs have been turned 90 degrees. “We also knocked out the wall to the existing kitchen, which has opened up the view from the front door to the terrace,” Lu says.
She incorporated a drinks kitchen and bar on this level. The wall cabinet is a midcentury vintage piece chosen by the owners; the worktop is brass.
She incorporated a drinks kitchen and bar on this level. The wall cabinet is a midcentury vintage piece chosen by the owners; the worktop is brass.
This is where the original steps were.
The striking, full-height window that vertically spans both levels – all 4.5m of it – was quite a mission to order and install. “There was a lot of bargaining between us and the glazing company not to have a joint in it,” Lu recalls.
Pendant light, vintage.
Pendant light, vintage.
Lu restructured the balcony, re-paved the existing lower terrace and changed the steps and landscaping around it. She also changed the exterior brickwork, which had been red multi stock and is now a linear long-format red brick. The new steps are sandstone.
Lu also designed a loft space for the family with sliding windows.
Sandstone on steps, London Stone.
Lu also designed a loft space for the family with sliding windows.
Sandstone on steps, London Stone.
The lower area on the right, beneath the new kitchen, was originally external storage and the ceiling was too low for it to be useable as anything else. “We dug down deeper and it now contains a playroom, an office, a bathroom and a gym/guest room,” Lu says.
The windows are anodized aluminium and the railings have been powder-coated to complement the windows.
The windows are anodized aluminium and the railings have been powder-coated to complement the windows.
Lu also designed planters between the lower and upper levels of the house. These are stepped in order to allow more light into the sunken terrace and prevent the brick wall from being overbearing.
At the front of the house, the old living room has become an entertainment room, with a big projector that comes down from the ceiling, seen here in its box at the top of the shelves.
The fireplace surround was replaced by a terrazzo design sourced by the owner and the cornicing was repaired.
Oak joinery, Union Bespoke. Vintage Oak parquet flooring (here and throughout the house), Broadleaf Timber.
The fireplace surround was replaced by a terrazzo design sourced by the owner and the cornicing was repaired.
Oak joinery, Union Bespoke. Vintage Oak parquet flooring (here and throughout the house), Broadleaf Timber.
The beautiful vestibule, enclosed by glass doors, is original and Lu simply had it repainted.
The hallway contains another archway, painted red and used for coat storage. Originally, this space was part of the living room.
The door to the new living/entertainment room is on the left, just before the red arch. On the right of the hallway is a door into another front room, now a study.
The glazed doors ahead have replaced the original wall Lu removed that blocked the view. Previously, to get into the old kitchen, you had to walk through what is now coat storage in the red arch area, through a living room and then go down some stairs (the ones Lu moved).
There’s another arched feature visible from here that Lu added: a high window in the location of what used to be a bedroom and a bathroom. “Instead, we created this double-height space, because the house was big enough to take it,” she says.
The door to the new living/entertainment room is on the left, just before the red arch. On the right of the hallway is a door into another front room, now a study.
The glazed doors ahead have replaced the original wall Lu removed that blocked the view. Previously, to get into the old kitchen, you had to walk through what is now coat storage in the red arch area, through a living room and then go down some stairs (the ones Lu moved).
There’s another arched feature visible from here that Lu added: a high window in the location of what used to be a bedroom and a bathroom. “Instead, we created this double-height space, because the house was big enough to take it,” she says.
The family bathroom is on the first floor. Double basins have been mounted onto a midcentury sideboard topped with marble.
Windows were upgraded throughout to double-glazed sashes.
Tiles, Terrazzo Tiles. Sanitaryware, Lusso Stone.
Windows were upgraded throughout to double-glazed sashes.
Tiles, Terrazzo Tiles. Sanitaryware, Lusso Stone.
In the loft, Lu created a new bedroom for the owners with lots of storage. It has a great view of Alexandra Palace.
Opposite the bed, an en suite bathroom features a midcentury sideboard housing double basins.
White zellige wall tiles, Planet Tiles.
White zellige wall tiles, Planet Tiles.
Lu designed a planter to contain pots. “They have so many plants and it’s a very well-lit room,” she says.
The exterior of the house was also spruced up.
The owners were really happy with the transformation, leaving this glowing review on Houzz: “Matt and Lu worked on our full house redevelopment and we could not be happier with the final result. They have such a great energy and are genuinely great to work with.
“They took our traditional Edwardian home and, while being sympathetic to its history, transformed it into something that is both original and breathtaking in its design,” the review continued. “I love retaining original features, but I also believe that buildings need to move forward and adapt to withstand the test of time. Matt and Lu managed to do this while always keeping an eye to how it would stay in keeping with its environment. I can highly recommend working with them.” And in fact, since signing up to be part of Houzz Pro, Lu says 30% to 40% of their enquiries now come directly through Houzz.
Tell us…
Have you found a pro for your project through Houzz? Let us know in the Comments – and share your thoughts on this beautiful renovation.
The owners were really happy with the transformation, leaving this glowing review on Houzz: “Matt and Lu worked on our full house redevelopment and we could not be happier with the final result. They have such a great energy and are genuinely great to work with.
“They took our traditional Edwardian home and, while being sympathetic to its history, transformed it into something that is both original and breathtaking in its design,” the review continued. “I love retaining original features, but I also believe that buildings need to move forward and adapt to withstand the test of time. Matt and Lu managed to do this while always keeping an eye to how it would stay in keeping with its environment. I can highly recommend working with them.” And in fact, since signing up to be part of Houzz Pro, Lu says 30% to 40% of their enquiries now come directly through Houzz.
Tell us…
Have you found a pro for your project through Houzz? Let us know in the Comments – and share your thoughts on this beautiful renovation.
Who lives here? A family with three daughters aged between 9 and 15
Location Muswell Hill, north London
Property A semi-detached, double-fronted Edwardian house
Size Five bedrooms and five bathrooms
Architect Lu Bai of Matthew Giles Architects
Project year 2022
Photos by French & Tye
The house was not extended downstairs; rather, Lu substantially reconfigured what was already there. The kitchen is on the same level as the front door; a lower level within this newly open-plan space is perfect for entertaining.
“We kept the existing rear wall of the house, but completely rebuilt the extension, which was already there,” Lu explains. “We also changed the glazing to make more sense of the spaces within and to boost the light.”
Lu also converted the loft, now the main bedroom and en suite, and dug into an existing storage room to create liveable basement rooms. The whole project took a fabric-first approach to improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, including energy-efficient glazing, heating and ventilation, low flow-rate taps and shower heads, and minimal impact to the soft landscaping in the garden to maintain rainwater absorption, plus new landscaping with native vegetation.