A Private Sanctuary in Muswell Hill

Louise and Akin’s home was a two storey workers cottage in Muswell Hill. They wanted more space, more light and more privacy from the street. They also wanted it to be a practical, sustainable and beautiful home for their family: a haven for the family to come home to. Their low cost extension – project managed themselves – has been paired with a strong sense of cultural identity, to deliver a private sanctuary.

The cottage had one large open plan living and dining room, with a separate galley kitchen. Louise and Akin loved the open views through the house, but felt exposed to the street when visitors called as the front door opened straight into the living space. They wanted the kitchen to be part of the dining area, and for there to be multiple areas for the family to socialise both together and separately.

The renovation – which was all done under permitted development – added a porch to form a threshold to the front of the house, carved out an entrance hall from the existing living room, and extended at the rear of the cottage to add a large kitchen dining room. The kitchen is repurposed as a boldly painted utility room.

Inspired by this extension? contact us to talk about your project.

African Heritage

Following an interiors workshop with Collective Works, Louise and Akin specified and sourced the furniture and fabrics themselves, bringing colour and elegance to the house. They were inspired by the bold colours and homely feel of Upside Down House – a previous project by Collective Works.  Akin is British-Nigerian, Louise has dual heritage – Yorkshire in the North of England and Zulu South African and they wanted to bring colour, texture, art and fabric to the scheme that revisited their heritage and family.

Deep colours drench the existing cottage’s rooms – a dusty pink in the library sets off a richly patterned african mask inspired wallpaper, the snug is dark and moody in complementary and deep greens, and in the utility a bold red terracotta contrasts the dark blue kitchen units. The extension embraces the delicate pink of unfinished plaster, reflecting the light into the home and providing a gentle foil to the bright fabrics and african inspired wall tiles.

Sanctuary

In contrast to the dark and cosy cottage rooms, light washes in through the roof lights in the extension above the dining table and brings light into the centre of the house. Long views through the house connect it with the garden at front and back – from a bamboo hedge at the front which filters the light into the library – to the green of the spacious rear garden.

The extension is carefully stepped to create a feeling of enclosure and provided an opportunity to add a window seat for cosy contemplation and a connection to the outdoors, even on the coldest days.

A home is somewhere safe to return to – from a day at work, with friends or like Louise and Akin’s eldest child now – from time at university. Their private sanctuary welcomes them into a space which is very much their own.

Get in touch for a conversation about making your house your own.