Light and Dark House
Refurbishment of a Grade 2 listed Georgian house in London.
London, UK
2013–2016
Sector: Residential
Project Status: Completed
The project seeks to invigorate an approximately 300 year old structure with the new, whilst retaining all the quirkiness of the old. The layering that new insertions, juxtaposed with sloping floors and walls, pregnant ceilings, and creaking staircases, are celebrated and retained.
The owner’s art collection was taken as a starting point for the chromatic concept for the house. Photography was interpreted as the art of light and dark. We wanted the pictures in the collection to be the protagonists, and the room colours had to provide the right backdrop and atmosphere. This was achieved by painting each room a single colour for walls, ceilings, doors, architraves and window frames. The colours were chosen by considering the artwork, orientation and function and were tested through extensive full room samples.
Overall the client’s aim, whilst requiring the house to be upgraded technically, was to notice a few changes, a few surprises, but generally to feel the house had always been like this.