A peaceful courtyard home
in the heart of the city

The primary considerations for the design and restoration of this central London property, slipped between 12 immediate neighbours in a conservation area, were its long and narrow proportions, and how to optimise all opportunities to create a bright and spacious home.

Tucked between two terraces, the existing and neglected building was demolished, leaving just the party walls and a clean slate, that measured 34 metres in length, with widths of between three and four metres.

Set back from the road, the front façade now echoes its neighbours, and the addition of a small porch gives weight and a sense of belonging.

Inside, natural materials, neutral colours and quiet contemporary craftsmanship, sit lightly together to create a calm uncluttered aesthetic.

An oak staircase, capped with a circular skylight, floods natural light down into the building. A bathroom tucked below the stairs makes the most of available space within this narrow plan.

A new kitchen is housed in the one breach of the long and narrow shape of the building. Opening on to the main living area, it amplifies the feeling of space in the busiest part of the home.

This is a modern, efficient and highly crafted home, with spaces for both connection and solitude, a perfectly formed sanctuary in the middle of a busy city.

The central courtyard is a crucial element of the design, a tiny outdoor oasis that also throws light into the depths of the interior.

Within the restriction of this tightly packed neighbourhood, precisely placed windows capture reminders of the outside world, with views and glimpses of greenery and the Chelsea skyline.