The blossoming of everyday life – this is how one might describe the transformation of a 1911 London house, carried out by the architects at Luumo. The project was not about reconstructing the past, but about restoring the building to its original concept and infusing it with a contemporary energy based on colour, light and the everyday needs of its inhabitants.
The house, situated in north-west London, has retained many of its original features, though years of successive modernisations had stripped it of some of its distinctive elements. The fireplaces had disappeared, and the two main rooms on the ground floor had been merged into a single space, disrupting the proportions typical of early 20th-century architecture. The floor coverings concealed the building’s history, whilst the narrow entrance hall heightened the impression of crampedness.
Restoring the logic of the space
The architects’ starting point was to restore the original functional layout. The living room and dining room have once again been given distinct boundaries, although they remain interconnected. A wide opening with a lintel organises the space and restores the proportions characteristic of the era in which the house was built. Equally important was opening up the living room to the hall – a move that transformed the narrow passageway, bringing more light and a sense of freedom into it.
New living area
As part of the reorganisation of the ground floor, a new passageway was created between the dining room and the kitchen. This seemingly minor adjustment has significantly improved the day-to-day functioning of the house, shortening the route and clarifying the relationships between the rooms. However, it was the kitchen itself that underwent the greatest transformation. The existing glossy lacquered units gave way to a U-shaped layout, which makes better use of the available space.
The decision that defined the character of the entire project was made at the stage of choosing the kitchen’s colour scheme. Instead of the planned blue, the architects opted for a vibrant yellow. The lemon-coloured fronts have become one of the strongest accents in the interior and have set the tone for the other rooms. It is a colour that enlivens the space and lends it an everyday lightness – in keeping with the idea that a home should be a place that inspires and energises.
Authenticity restored
Luumo’s design is based on the deliberate showcasing of existing features. The wooden floors, uncovered beneath the carpets, were restored whilst preserving the traces of time. Historic stucco work was recreated, the unevenness of the old ceilings was left as it was, and imperfections that lend the building its authenticity were embraced. The interiors are filled with patterned wallpapers inspired by the British decorative tradition, vintage furniture and family heirlooms. The result is a space that is bold in colour, yet cosy and rooted in the history of the place.
The result is a home that has regained its identity – not through a faithful imitation of the past, but through a creative dialogue between the building’s history and the contemporary needs of its inhabitants.
design: Luumo
photography: Tom Kurek
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