Balham Home

The brief for this project was to refresh and rework an existing family home without undertaking structural alterations or significant building work, focusing instead on thoughtful space planning and a series of carefully considered design interventions to better support day-to-day family life.

On the ground floor, the layout was refined to address a common issue in terraced houses, where the front room can become underused. Here, it was reimagined as an elegant yet comfortable sitting room, with a framed television positioned above the fireplace so it recedes when not in use, and furniture chosen to balance formality with relaxation. Lightened wall finishes provide a calm backdrop, while colour and pattern are layered through furnishings and artwork to bring warmth and personality.

The middle room was transformed from a pass-through space into a purposeful study, with additional shelving introduced above existing low-level cupboards, integrated reading lights and finishes that subtly link through to the kitchen. A small walk-through bar area was introduced to give this transition space focus, strengthening the connection between the front rooms and the kitchen and ensuring it feels like a destination rather than a corridor.

The kitchen was refreshed through painted joinery, updated hardware, new pendant lighting and considered furnishings, creating a cohesive backdrop that complements the adjoining spaces.

In the basement, a former children’s playroom was elevated into a more versatile media space, designed to suit teenagers and adults alike. Equally suited to films, music and games, or settling in to watch a big match. Throughout the home, the emphasis was on coordinated finishes and layered lighting, creating spaces that feel calm, functional and well connected, with elements that can be repurposed or relocated as family life continues to evolve.