Bright and airy renovation fills 1930s home with light

Project: Knolehurst

Location: London, United Kingdom

Award: Residential Interiors: One-off Homes (Over £1M), Silver, 2023

Design Practice: Charlton Brown Architecture & Interiors

Client: Private

When tasked with renovating a 1930s home in Hampstead, north London, Charlton Brown were given a simple brief: it should be flooded with light. The resulting interiors scheme focuses on natural, high-quality materials such as timber and stone, and beautiful craftsmanship – lending each space its own personality.
From the outside, the family home has an elegant, traditionally-inspired appearance with strong Arts and Crafts references. The designer’s addition of unique flourishes – such as a triple-height porch and glazed balustrades – offer clues to the strikingly contemporary interiors within. The spacious entrance hall has become a focal point of the design, bringing sunlight into the centre of the house which reflects across the tall, light limestone walls. Above, timber walkways link the five bedrooms to the main staircase, with a bespoke lighting fixture completing the look.

Design highlights

Along the oak floor of the entrance hallway, six glazed inlays allow natural light to stream into the hallways below. A transparent partition continues this sense of spaciousness in the basement family room, while also providing innovative wine bottle storage. In addition, a deep lightwell, lined with a lush green planted wall, brings light into the basement gym, complemented by bespoke tables in powder-coated steel and Verde Alpi marble.

Photo credit: Dirk Lindner