THEPROPERTY
Alate-GeorgiansemiinEastLondon.Thelowergroundfloorhasakitchen/dining/livingareaandWC.Upstairsthere’salibrary,homeofficeandguestbedroom,plusabathroomandlaundry.Onthetopflooristhemasterbedroomsuite.
DININGAREA
The owner brought on MartynClarke,whohasbuiltareputationforthoughtfully designedcontemporaryresidentialprojects.Theexistingfloorplandidn’twork,thebathroomstotherearoftheupperandlowergroundfloorsblockedoffthegardenandtheplacewascramped,withboxyroomsandnarrowstaircases.Thehousewasalsotheonlyoneleftinthestreetwithoutasideextension–givingita‘missingtooth’frontage.Thislackprovedtobeanadvantage,makingtheplanningapplicationabreeze.
It took the team a year to complete the project.Thetwo-storeysideextensioncreatedanewkitchenandWConthelowergroundfloorwithanextendedbedroom(nowthehomeoffice)andbathroomplusstudyareaontheflooraboveandboostedthehousefrom1,400to2,100squarefeet.Thenthelowergroundfloorwasopeneduptocreateopen-planliving,diningandkitchenareas.
Abolddecisionwastakentoexcavatethefloordowneightinchestogivethediningareaamoreimposingheight.Thiswasabigdrainonthebudget,notleastbecauseitledtothediscoveryofwater-loggedfoundations.Itwasthelowpointintheprojectbutitwasbettetogetitsortedsoonerratherthanlater.Intheend,theaddedhasslewasworthittogettheextraheight.Thegarden,nowmadeupofcontrastingblocksofformalboxhedgingandfree-formmeadowborderedbybleachedlimesandcopperbeechesisnowthefocalpointofthehouse.
Araisedareawrapsaroundtheroom,servingasdisplayareaandextraseatingforparties. The floor wasexcavatedbyafurthereightinchestogetmore height inthisroom.
KITCHEN
Designer Martyn Clarke hadtheconfidencetogoforacontemporarylookwithaverysimplepaletteofmaterialsincludinggreyflamedgraniteacrossfloorsandworktopsandwhiteoakwoodworkthroughout.
Here,aselsewhere, asimplepaletteofmaterials set the tone, using mostly black,whiteandgrey,graniteandoak.
LIVINGROOM
Stepsdividethelivingroomfromthediningarea,zoningtheopenplanspaceandmakingeachareafeelbigger.
LIBRARY
Thisroom,whichhadretaineditsoriginalfeatures, was planned tobeacontrastwiththerestofthehousewithdarkgreywallsandrichtonesinthefurniture.
The circular picture is a nightscene ofsmalltownsinSouthAfricabySouthAfricanartistHenkSerfontin.
STAIRCASE
AnotherofMartyn Clarke’smasterstrokeswastoreplacethenarrowandricketyoldstaircasewithslattedoakthatletslightpourrightintothecentreofthehouse.
STUDYAREA
Thisstudyareaintheentrancehallontheuppergroundfloor is the perfect nook for concentrating.
OFFICE
Thisroomwasdesignedtomaximiseviewsoverthegardenandthesedumroofsoyou canappreciatethemwhile working.
GUESTBEDROOM
Theexistingfeaturesinthisroom were preserved.TheAfricanfigureswerepickedup inCapeTown.
MASTERBEDROOM
Thisspace feels completelyneutralwiththepaletteofgrey,black,white that's usedthroughoutthehouse. Calmingtextiles add interest.
BATHROOM
Themainbathroomisintheuppergroundfloorextension,litfromaboveviaalargerectangularskylightthatprovidesdramaandprivacy.The bathroom is also where the laundry is done, in hidden built-in cabinets.
SeethefullrangeofMaterialLifefurnitureatmaterial-life.co.uk,viewMartynClarke’sportfolioatmartynclarkearchiture.com.
Photography–RachaelSmith