Work In Progress: A Contemporary Home Reconfiguration In South London
A character-packed renovation, designed and planned by our experts, is well underway in South London; find out more about how our vision is shaping up for this beautiful family home.
The location
Nestled in the heart of Nunhead, South London, Buchan Road is a residential street characterised by its traditional terraced homes and is well-connected with the railway station providing convenient links to central London.
Pre-construction phase: A contemporary home reconfiguration
When our clients contacted us, they already had a clear idea of what they’d like to do to transform their existing property. Overall, they wanted a more functional, brighter, aesthetically-pleasing home. The brief called for a complete reconfiguration of the internal layout, with key actions to improve space management and enhance day-to-day living. Here’s what we outlined during the pre-construction phase of the work:
Altering the roof structure to boost natural light
One of the key architectural changes involved replacing the existing flat roof with a pitched roof design, which would create a more dynamic silhouette, while also introducing more natural light from above. To maximise this effect, our team added a large skylight into the new roof structure, so natural light can flow openly into living spaces during the daytime.
Creating a purpose-built kitchen for prime practicality
At the heart of this redesign is the kitchen and dining room, where we are completely reimagining the layout, and accounting for our clients preferences. Natural light is another factor that we are managing with the reconfiguration, and installing a large rooflight will be an eventual solution for this. We are also planning to fit an oriel window with a built-in bench seat, which will become a focal point of the dining area, while also optimising spatial arrangement and flow.This feature not only frames the outdoor view beautifully, but also brings a sense of calm and openness to the space.
Designing a larger living room for day-to-day relaxation
As for the living room, our aim was to create a larger opening between this space and the rest of the home, to create a clearer connection between the living and reception areas. This revised layout that we proposed in our design brief was essentially a translation of one of our clients’ most important factors; the home had to suit busy family life and entertaining loved ones.
Adding a Juliet balcony to the loft
As a continuation of the theme of boosting natural light, we added a Juliet balcony to the loft in the home. By choosing this feature to replace the original window, we were able to open up an otherwise confined space, boosting ventilation and light flow.
How we turned our clients’ vision into a working concept
Our team is still working on bringing this home to life, but in order to get to this stage, we have followed an extremely in depth set of actions. Take a look at this complete summary of how we turn your idea into a feasible plan.
Briefing & concept design
In order to start this project, we needed to lay a strong foundation, and in our process, we applied RIBA Stages 1 and 2: Briefing and Concept Design. This early phase is crucial in shaping the direction of the entire project, and for this home renovation, it helped us to align our client’s vision with practical, creative solutions that captured their requirements.
Concept creation
From here, we started the concept creation stage of the project by conducting a detailed measurement survey, capturing both the internal and external areas of the property. From this, we produced accurate drawings of the current home, including floor plans, elevations, and typical sections. These become the groundwork upon which all future design decisions are made, and for this project, they informed several choices made; from how we’d install the Juliet balcony, to altering the entrance to the living room.
Consultation
The next step of the process involves collaboration; we sat down with the client to talk about the ideas they had for their home – and as mentioned, in this instance it was very clear that the homeowners knew what they wanted to achieve. They told us about how they wanted to boost natural light, create more aesthetic points, and enjoy more family-friendly functionality from their home.
Concept design
At this point, we had a clear brief in hand, so we moved to the concept design stage. Here, we develop an initial response to the brief through architectural sketches and descriptive narratives. These early drawings (non-scale plans and sections) show the spatial arrangement and design intent, offering a first glimpse at how the project could take shape.
Concept package & client review
Finally, we presented the concept package to the client for review. Once approved, this acts as a sign-off on the overall vision and main goals of the project, setting the stage for the detailed design work that follows in later RIBA stages. For this home in South London, our clients were confident that we had met all of their requirements, and exceeded their expectations with a design solution that was completely bespoke to them. This custom aspect of our work is one that we take pride in, take a look at the bespoke staircase feature that we created on a recent project to understand just how committed we are to giving you something unique.
The result will be a beautifully reconfigured home that feels more spacious, connected, and inviting.
Create the home you’ve dreamed of with We Love Build
If you’re keen to turn your home into something that suits your every need through a custom renovation project, we are here to help. We Love Build works with homeowners across London, and we have a team of experienced tradespeople and professionals who will take your idea and turn it into reality. From project managers and architects to electricians and joiners, we have the in-house expertise to provide you with a move-in ready result. To find out more, take a look at our recent home renovation projects in London, or simply contact us to get started on creating your dream home today. In the meantime, prepare for your project by taking a look at our guide to residential planning permission.
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