Past and present unite in this extended Victorian terrace, creating a calm kitchen that’s effortlessly warm, grounded, and full of personality. KBB journo Lou O’Bryan discovers more…

With plans to renovate their doer-upper in south-west London on hold for two years, homeowners Natasha and Andy used the time to understand how they lived in the house and what truly needed to change. It quickly became clear that transforming the damp, poorly lit, and uninviting kitchen was a top priority.

The vision

“Andy loves cooking, and we spend most of our time in the kitchen – whether we’re working or entertaining – so we wanted a more open space that felt warmer, cosier, and better connected to the garden,” says Natasha.

The pair also wanted to ensure that any updates retained touches of traditional charm in keeping with the home’s Victorian roots. “Having grown up in a Victorian townhouse in Newcastle, I’ve always loved homes with original character, where nothing feels too ‘new’.”

The couple approached local architectural practice Studio Werc, after seeing other projects they recently completed in the area. Natasha was particularly struck by their blend of warmth with a kind of refined minimalism. “I loved how carefully they thought about texture, light, and proportions, and it was similar to what we wanted to achieve,” she explains.

The brief

Director Ed Ward and his team worked with the couple to turn their brief for a calm, cosy yet elevated home into thoughtful architectural decisions, focusing on seamlessly connecting the old and new parts of the property.

“We wanted the house to feel relaxed and grounded – a place where you naturally exhale,” says Natasha. “Rather than anything overly polished, we wanted to emphasise character and texture, using natural materials, soft colours, layered lighting, and timeless architectural details. The new space had to work equally well for cosy nights in and long summer lunches with family and friends, while adapting to the needs of working from home and evolving with our family over time.”

The renovation

To achieve this, the back of the house was opened up with thin-framed industrial glazing and a full-width extension topped with a glazed roof, flooding the new kitchen-diner with natural light. Exposed floor joists bring rhythm overhead, while a warm terracotta herringbone floor adds depth and comfort underfoot. The garden was redesigned in tandem, ensuring it felt like a natural continuation of the interior.

“The designer carried the colours and textures outside, creating visual harmony and distinct areas for dining and relaxing,” says Natasha. “It now feels like an additional living space we enjoy year round and, as it’s the main view from the house, it has completely transformed the mood inside.”

Elsewhere, internal walls were removed to create a better flow, and the bathroom was relocated into the side extension, allowing more space for the calm kitchen and earning itself a showstopping skylight above the bath, perfect for stargazing soaks.

The calm and warm kitchen

At the heart of the renovation sits a hardworking kitchen that makes everyday life easier, with generous preparation space, a sociable island, and a traditional pantry area. A lift-up dining bench maximises the storage space. Yet the true centrepiece is the freestanding island, inspired by traditional haberdashery cabinetry.

“I love vintage pieces and wanted to bring that feel into the space,” says Natasha. “I sketched up a standalone piece of furniture and worked with an amazing carpenter to bring it to life. It’s perfect for hosting guests at the stools, and it’s also a brilliant preparation area.” Soft, truffle-toned cabinetry, brass rails, traditional lighting, and characterful hardware complete a warm scheme that’s rich in old-world charm.

The design details

Drawn to the sun-baked textures of the Mediterranean – warm plaster, weathered brick – and inspired by the intimacy of sitting at a chef’s table, Natasha envisioned a calm home that felt both relaxed and immersive, with spaces that offer moments of escapism.

“I wanted the kitchen to be somewhere you can sit, gaze out over the garden, and almost feel like you’re on holiday, forgetting entirely that you’re in the middle of London,” she says.

This sensibility flows throughout the home, where other spaces were also elevated with layers of tactile textures to harmonise with the soft palette of the kitchen extension – bouclé, oak, and dark marble in the living room, and zellige tiles, warm brick flooring, and vintage brass fixtures in the spa-like bathroom.

“The renovation has transformed how we live,” Natasha reflects. “From cooking, working, and hosting in our versatile kitchen, to retreating to the comfort of the front room in the evening, we genuinely enjoy every corner. It has taken our appreciation of home to a whole new level.”

Builders: TGH Construction | Garden design: Lilly-Joan Richardson Garden and Landscape Design | Landscapes: The Garden Builders | Photography: Chris Snook

This house tour was featured in the March 2026 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

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