Houzz Tour: London Victorian Gets a Sympathetic Makeover
An architect brings back the period charm as he expands and improves the functionality of a garden apartment
How do you renovate a Victorian building without losing its character? It is a question that many homeowners ask and an important consideration for architect Lior Brosh. So when a professional couple from California asked him to restore and expand their small garden apartment in London, he did his research thoroughly in order to create a modern, functional space that highlights its history.
Before: “The front of the property was very 1970s, with crazy paving on the ground,” Brosh says. The front door also wasn’t original. “We wanted to bring back the old charm, so we had a look at the neighboring properties and tried to match the original door.”
He also replaced the unplasticized PVC windows with wooden sash windows whose slim double panes look like single ones. “A hundred years ago, the windows weren’t perfect,” Brosh says, “so I took the glass to a factory that specializes in tinting it to make it look slightly imperfect.”
Brosh also changed the door hardware and found a light similar to one the building originally would have had.
He replaced the paving with York stone, which appears on other properties along the street.
He also replaced the unplasticized PVC windows with wooden sash windows whose slim double panes look like single ones. “A hundred years ago, the windows weren’t perfect,” Brosh says, “so I took the glass to a factory that specializes in tinting it to make it look slightly imperfect.”
Brosh also changed the door hardware and found a light similar to one the building originally would have had.
He replaced the paving with York stone, which appears on other properties along the street.
Before: The building had been divided into apartments, and a kitchen was located in the hallway with a spiral staircase next to it. “I wanted to bring the original staircase back and put it where it was before,” Brosh says.
“When renovating a period property, I usually go along the street and politely ask neighbors if I can take a look to find original features,” he says. “I also go through council websites.”
“When renovating a period property, I usually go along the street and politely ask neighbors if I can take a look to find original features,” he says. “I also go through council websites.”
A New Staircase Made to Look Old
For the staircase, Brosh meticulously copied an original one that was in a neighbor’s home. Even the banister is true to the period — the joints are visible, but it still feels smooth to the touch.
For the staircase, Brosh meticulously copied an original one that was in a neighbor’s home. Even the banister is true to the period — the joints are visible, but it still feels smooth to the touch.
Brosh wanted the flooring throughout to feel like the original wood. First he removed the laminate and installed underfloor heating.
Before laying engineered oak on top, he used an aging technique on the boards, which involved putting them in a giant machine with chains and stones for a few minutes. The machine tumbles the boards so that they come out looking distressed.
He then stained them dark with Old English oil. “The flooring on the stairs didn’t look old enough,” he says. So with his attention to detail, he went over each tread with a hammer.
Engineered oak flooring: Natural Wood Designs; wall paint: Skimming Stone (below rail) and Wimborne White (above rail), Farrow & Ball
How to Add a Radiant Heat System
Before laying engineered oak on top, he used an aging technique on the boards, which involved putting them in a giant machine with chains and stones for a few minutes. The machine tumbles the boards so that they come out looking distressed.
He then stained them dark with Old English oil. “The flooring on the stairs didn’t look old enough,” he says. So with his attention to detail, he went over each tread with a hammer.
Engineered oak flooring: Natural Wood Designs; wall paint: Skimming Stone (below rail) and Wimborne White (above rail), Farrow & Ball
How to Add a Radiant Heat System
Under the stairs there’s a drawer for shoes, and behind that is a cabinet with a push-to-open door. This is for bulky equipment such as the vacuum cleaner.
17 Ideas for Storage Under the Stairs
17 Ideas for Storage Under the Stairs
A Traditional Fireplace With Modern Efficiency
To the right of the entrance is the living room, which the owners wanted to keep simple. There are a couple of shelves in the alcove for books and digital equipment.
This ceiling is quite low, but rather than install spotlights, Brosh chose a flush-mount fixture.
There was no fireplace, so Brosh did his research to make sure he found one to match the original version that would have been installed when the building was constructed. In the fireplace is an energy-efficient bioethanol fire.
Fireplace and bioethanol fire insert: Acquisitions Fireplaces; ceiling light: Mai, Lucente; sofa: Made; coffee table: designed by Brosh Architects
To the right of the entrance is the living room, which the owners wanted to keep simple. There are a couple of shelves in the alcove for books and digital equipment.
This ceiling is quite low, but rather than install spotlights, Brosh chose a flush-mount fixture.
There was no fireplace, so Brosh did his research to make sure he found one to match the original version that would have been installed when the building was constructed. In the fireplace is an energy-efficient bioethanol fire.
Fireplace and bioethanol fire insert: Acquisitions Fireplaces; ceiling light: Mai, Lucente; sofa: Made; coffee table: designed by Brosh Architects
Before: The lower ground floor had a bedroom at the back and the kitchen opposite the entrance.
After: Brosh turned the bedroom into a kitchen and planned for an addition at the rear. “I located the kitchen here, as it’s the first door you come to, so it’s easy to dump your bags,” he says.
“It’s also between the dining and living rooms, so you can easily move between the two.”
Find an architect or a building designer for your project
“It’s also between the dining and living rooms, so you can easily move between the two.”
Find an architect or a building designer for your project
Playing With the Light
“I also used the kitchen as a light transfer, as the light at the front of the property was quite weak,” Brosh says. The high-gloss cabinets reflect rays from the back garden into the living room. “Light manipulation plays a big part in making a tiny home feel bigger,” he says.
The resin countertop and backsplash are durable and have a high shine. Brosh chose a marble finish to tie in with the fireplace in the living room.
Kitchen cabinetry: Such Designs; countertop and backsplash: Neolith; instant hot water dispenser: Quooker
“I also used the kitchen as a light transfer, as the light at the front of the property was quite weak,” Brosh says. The high-gloss cabinets reflect rays from the back garden into the living room. “Light manipulation plays a big part in making a tiny home feel bigger,” he says.
The resin countertop and backsplash are durable and have a high shine. Brosh chose a marble finish to tie in with the fireplace in the living room.
Kitchen cabinetry: Such Designs; countertop and backsplash: Neolith; instant hot water dispenser: Quooker
Lighting concealed below the wall cabinets helps illuminate the room in the evening.
The simple, functional layout consists of drawers and base cabinets with full-height wall cabinets above. The sink has a practical instant hot water dispenser and sits next to an integrated fridge-freezer.
Find a kitchen designer in your area
The simple, functional layout consists of drawers and base cabinets with full-height wall cabinets above. The sink has a practical instant hot water dispenser and sits next to an integrated fridge-freezer.
Find a kitchen designer in your area
A new addition at the rear contains a dining area that looks out to the garden.
Once again, Brosh wanted to keep as much of the original building in place as possible. At the back of the garden, for example, is a rather wonky wall. “I convinced the owners to keep it, as it’s part of the area,” he says.
The wall needed to be repaired, however, so Brosh asked the contractor to ensure that it was structurally sound while keeping the same imperfect look. “We positioned a couple of uplights along the wall, which make it look beautiful in the evening,” he says.
Once again, Brosh wanted to keep as much of the original building in place as possible. At the back of the garden, for example, is a rather wonky wall. “I convinced the owners to keep it, as it’s part of the area,” he says.
The wall needed to be repaired, however, so Brosh asked the contractor to ensure that it was structurally sound while keeping the same imperfect look. “We positioned a couple of uplights along the wall, which make it look beautiful in the evening,” he says.
The Building’s Story Goes On
Before: There was already an addition on one side of the building, which Brosh wanted to show in some way.
Before: There was already an addition on one side of the building, which Brosh wanted to show in some way.
“I had the option to wipe out this extension completely, but I wanted to keep the story alive,” he says. The doorway, with its white walls surrounded by exposed brick, nods to what was there before.
Next to this is a cabinet that hides the water heater, fuse box and other utilities, as well as an area for dishware.
Next to this is a cabinet that hides the water heater, fuse box and other utilities, as well as an area for dishware.
The huge patio doors contain hidden technology that allows them to be used for heating the room. Electricity passes through a transparent metal oxide coating via buzz bars at the top and bottom. With this addition and the underfloor heating, there was no need for radiators.
Patio doors: IQ Glass
Patio doors: IQ Glass
“Although the [10-foot] extension was new, we wanted to retell the story of 150 years,” Brosh says. About 80 percent of the new edifice is built from bricks he recycled from other areas in the home, such as the removal of a chimney. The remainder were reclaimed bricks from the same period.
The garden wall on the left was falling down, so the team demolished it, cleaned every brick and put them all back again.
The interior wall was also part of this garden wall. For this section, Brosh’s team built a block wall and covered it with the same bricks, but this time each brick was cut into three parts.
The garden wall on the left was falling down, so the team demolished it, cleaned every brick and put them all back again.
The interior wall was also part of this garden wall. For this section, Brosh’s team built a block wall and covered it with the same bricks, but this time each brick was cut into three parts.
On top of the addition, Brosh planted a wildflower meadow. “It’s simple. You make the roof watertight as you would do anyway, put down soil and sow seeds,” he says. “Soil provides natural insulation, and it brings wildlife to the area.”
How to Install a Green Roof
How to Install a Green Roof
Brosh says he tries to minimize exterior spotlights. Two sconces cast a glow up and down the wall instead.
Subtle Lighting Creates a Glowing Landscape
Subtle Lighting Creates a Glowing Landscape
Brosh tucked in a powder room under the stairs. Since it’s a dark space, he decided to give it a feel of old London. The wall was in bad condition, so he employed the same process he’d used in the dining room of cutting the bricks into three to lay them over the surface.
The wallpaper is a map of Victorian London from the period when the house was built. He added to the atmosphere by choosing a light fixture with a gold coating (not shown) that gives off a warm glow.
Wallpaper: Antique City Plan of London, Wallpapered; sink: Alape
The wallpaper is a map of Victorian London from the period when the house was built. He added to the atmosphere by choosing a light fixture with a gold coating (not shown) that gives off a warm glow.
Wallpaper: Antique City Plan of London, Wallpapered; sink: Alape
Upstairs is a bedroom, a bathroom and an office. Brosh removed a sash window in the bedroom to make way for French windows, but rather than throw it away, he used it on the landing instead.
He kept the molding that was around the window and installed double doors from the same period as the window itself. The doors lead out to a little balcony, which sits between the old building and the new addition, so it doesn’t look out on the neighbors.
Brosh hunted around for a local craftsperson to make the balustrade at a cost-effective price. The balcony looks out on the greenery of the wildflower roof, so he chose a treelike Mooi pendant light to tie inside and out.
Brosh hunted around for a local craftsperson to make the balustrade at a cost-effective price. The balcony looks out on the greenery of the wildflower roof, so he chose a treelike Mooi pendant light to tie inside and out.
Before: The original sash window didn’t bring as much light into the room.
Where’s the Laundry Basket?
Rather than having a deep, imposing closet, Brosh split the wall in two with high cabinets and drawers below.
There are drawers to the side for folding clothes away, a middle top drawer for accessories, and three drawer fronts below that open together as one large space for laundry.
A hanging rod displays everyday clothes, while the cabinets above are for items that aren’t needed as frequently.
Wallpaper mural: Westminster Bridge London: Wallsauce; browse wallpaper murals
Rather than having a deep, imposing closet, Brosh split the wall in two with high cabinets and drawers below.
There are drawers to the side for folding clothes away, a middle top drawer for accessories, and three drawer fronts below that open together as one large space for laundry.
A hanging rod displays everyday clothes, while the cabinets above are for items that aren’t needed as frequently.
Wallpaper mural: Westminster Bridge London: Wallsauce; browse wallpaper murals
Brosh used dark surfaces in the bathroom and enhanced the drama with lighting. In addition to using practical task lights, he created an atmospheric glow by laying strip lighting beneath an almost transparent composite countertop.
There’s also a concealed strip above the dropped ceiling, which washes the wall next to the tub with light.
Wall tiles: Strata Tiles; cabinetry: Brosh Architects; sink: Alape
There’s also a concealed strip above the dropped ceiling, which washes the wall next to the tub with light.
Wall tiles: Strata Tiles; cabinetry: Brosh Architects; sink: Alape
The ceiling in this room was 10 feet high, so Brosh lowered it by about 1½ feet. A hatch near the door provides access to the space above, which can be used as useful storage.
“I blocked off the parts you can’t reach, so you don’t lose anything at the back,” he says.
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“I blocked off the parts you can’t reach, so you don’t lose anything at the back,” he says.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Apartment at a Glance
Location: A conservation area in Hampstead, north London
Size: 753 square feet (70 square meters); two bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Architect: Lior Brosh of Brosh Architects