Search

House in Brixton in the UK by A Small Studio

In 2009, A Small Studio Ltd. completed a commission to renovate a Regency home in Brixton, London. A Small Studio is a fairly new architecture and urbanism practice based in London, set up by designer Helena Rivera.

Above is a corner of the sitting room with a rare Penguin Armchair by Theo Ruth for Artifort (Holland 1950) and a painting by artist Mariana Rebolledo. The trunk is Victorian and the world globe dates to 1952.

From the designer:

The house had undergone many renovations and quick-fix jobs throughout its lifetime. The client –- a young professional family — wanted to restore the original features without designing a pastiche replica of what the house once was. A large portion of the schedule of works had to do with demolition and stripping out the existing house to reveal what was underneath. Decorating was an important aspect of the job to highlight the homes’ features and sense of scale adequately.

A Small Studio designed an open-plan layout that provides flexible accommodation for the family. Midweek, this social space acts as the hub for family life allowing ample movement between the kitchen, sitting and dining area where the children will play and do their homework. During the weekends, dining takes centre stage as the G-Plan table expands to allow seating for 12 adults. This ground floor is versatile enough for furniture to be organized accordingly while maintaining a dignified aesthetic.

The top floor of the house contains the bedrooms that are simple but were brightened with the addition of double-glazed sash dormer windows. Meanwhile, most family activity has been designed around the mid-level floor, where the bathroom was enlarged to include a hidden shower and a large roll-top bath. The main room was converted into a flexible, durable, water-resistant and chalk-proof children’s play space by day and home theatre by night. Joining the bathroom and the playroom is a hallway that was converted into a cosy family library. The space was ideal for a library because it was dark enough to protect books from exposure to natural daylight, and large enough to — almost — take on the function of a separate room, as was the custom in Regent London.

An interior of the sitting room. Sofa designed by The Ruth for Artifort, 1950.

The main entrance. A natural sisal runner protects the renovated staircase.

The dining area with a painting by artist Juan Antonio Roda and a G-Plan 1967 oval extending dining table. The chairs are 1950 Ercol stacking chairs. The steel tubes in the chimney are the original 1850 sash window weights.

The dining and kitchen area. Bespoke joinery for the kitchen cabinets painted in Pea Green by Little Greene Paint Company. Spider Pendant and wall light from the 1950’s.

The kitchen has been designed with kitchen-less furniture. This is an Art Deco side chest that doubles-up as a work top.

A bedroom converted into a flexible, durable, water-resistant and chalk-proof children’s playspace. Rubber flooring by The Rubber Flooring Company and Blackboard Paint on the wall.

The hallway converted into a family library.

The bathroom has been fitted with a roll-top bath and a hidden shower. Painting by Soledad Silva.

Photos by Manuel Vasquez.

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk, is a Jersey girl living in SoCal. She dreams about funky, artistic jewelry + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, making music, and drawing.