Playful details and tactile materials add standout character to this home’s considered extension and renovation in west London…

Searching the words “charred timber” may not be the most typical way to find an architect for your home renovation, but that’s how a west London couple were introduced to Rider Stirland Architects. “They loved the idea of using richly textured charred timber on their house extension, and a Google search led them to Charred House, a project on our website which we had clad in blackened wood,” director Barry Stirland tells KBB journo Amelia Thorpe.

The plans

After an initial meeting, the couple commissioned the practice to take on their project to reconfigure and renovate their detached Edwardian house in Acton, which they share with their two teenage girls. “After moving in some five or so years ago, they completed a loft extension to make two lovely bedrooms for their daughters,” says Barry. “Now, it was time to sort out the ground floor with its kitchen, which they felt was disproportionately small for the size of the house and their love of cooking and entertaining.”

The kitchen was often noisy as well as cramped, without easy access to the living areas. “As a result, the ground floor was not well used and all the rooms felt compromised,” notes Barry.

To reconfigure the space, boost the amount of natural light, and improve the connection with the garden, Rider Stirland drew up plans to demolish the 1980s-built conservatory at the rear of the property, replacing it with a wrap-around extension across the back and side of the house. It’s clad in charred Accoya wood, a long-lasting timber that requires less maintenance than painted timber and adds the rich character the homeowners desired.

The extension

The extension made space for a large, open-plan kitchen-dining-living area. It opens onto the garden and is filled with light from new glazing and skylights. “To help the family visualise the plans, we used VR software to build a computerised 3D model, and gave them Oculus headsets so that they could walk around the space and get a sense of how it would feel,” he explains. “By that stage, we had narrowed down the options to two layouts. So, it helped them decide which version to select.”

To support the upper floors while maximising the height of the extension, in keeping with the tall ceilings of the original rooms, a structural beam runs across the width of the rear.

“We brought in curves to hide the beam and to bring in a sense of playful character, echoed in doorways and furniture detailing, such as the built-in joinery in the living area,” says Barry. “The homeowners also wanted to reference a love of New York Art Deco style, something they have enjoyed on their visits to the city.”

The kitchen design

Supplied by Swedish specialist Nordiska Kök, the bespoke kitchen is made of a dark stained oak. It is contrasted with light-coloured natural quartzite for the island, worktops and splashback. “The super-size island features lots of storage, plus a wide counter for bar stools, making socialising easy,” notes Barry.

“Because they love cooking and didn’t want the smell of frying or grilling drifting deeper into the house, we worked with a specialist to create an industrial-strength extractor hood, which runs the entire width of the hob area, so that it covers the Japanese grill and rice cooker they often use on the side, too.”

The cabinetry features slender frames, blending the style of traditional cabinets with clean-lined contemporary furniture. Ribbed detailing above the hob is picked up in the pendant lights and the walnut living room joinery.

“Every detail is carefully considered,” says Barry. “We had lots of fun designing the playful tiled floor in the kitchen, which is also eminently practical.” Easy to clean, the tiles run on into the utility room. This is where the garage once was and is now used as the space for housing the boiler cupboard, washing machine and tumble dryer, as well as a large sink for washing the family’s mini cockapoo, when she comes in from a muddy walk.

The finished project

A new ground-floor cloakroom and ensuite bathroom to the principal bedroom on the first floor complete the project. The rooms throughout the home echo the sense of timeless, yet spirited, design. As Barry concludes, “the individual blend of traditional and modern, of practicality and style, allow the owners to enjoy every aspect of their home.”

Photography: Chris Wharton

This house tour was featured in the July 2025 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

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