A House with a Lions Head
Borough: Hackney
Service: Design and Build
*Winner of the Kitchen Project category at the 2025 London Master Builder Awards
Project Overview and Goals:
This project reimagined a lower ground floor and garden within a conservation area in Hackney, where extensions are strictly regulated. It is an example of what can be achieved with clever use of space and bringing the outside in when extending isn’t possible.
Key objectives included reconfiguring the layout to optimise space (for example we increased floor to ceiling heights), improve accessibility, and create seamless connections between the interior and exterior. Moving the kitchen from the rear to the front of the lower ground floor unlocked the opportunity to access the garden through the proposed dining area. Central to the scheme was this opening and a lowered
patio was introduced to provide direct access to the redesigned garden, enhancing indoor-outdoor flow and
usability. A two-tone colour scheme was applied throughout to bring together the interior and exterior spaces.
Bespoke joinery maximised storage and refined the interiors, while careful material choices created a cohesive, elegant finish (Louis Baker )
Key Highlights:
The project showcases expert craftsmanship and innovative design. A bespoke two-tone kitchen features maple veneer shelving, fluted glass, integrated lighting, and a custom
terrazzo worktop. The WC includes bespoke stained-glass windows (by a local artist) with modernist and Art Deco influences and of course the continuation of the two-tone colour split colour. Outdoors, a lowered patio leads to a
redesigned garden with corten steel planters, a water feature, and clay pavers (Bracher Garden Design), all tied to the interior through the continuous two-tone palette. Every element demonstrates precision, creativity, and a balance of functionality and artistry.
Challenges and Solutions:
The team delivered the project in just 13 weeks, navigating tight deadlines, complex bespoke elements, and site constraints. The project required coordination with multiple specialists to deliver unique elements such as a terrazzo worktop, stained glass, bespoke joinery, and a metal staircase. These components demanded precision and collaboration, particularly to integrate them into a cohesive schedule without compromising quality. Logistical challenges arose with the rear garden, where heavy materials and large items needed careful manoeuvring, requiring collaboration with neighbours and innovative site management. Technical challenges included substrate issues in the rear garden, resolved through creative drainage solutions to ensure a fully functional permeable paving system.
Additionally, integrating all steelwork and a recessed kitchen extractor within the lower ground floor ceiling required meticulous planning to maintain a clean and continuous finish.
Client Experience:
Out clients remained in the home throughout construction. Clear communication, thoughtful site management, and meticulous workmanship made the process seamless. The team’s problem-solving and care, such as lowering the garden to enhance flow, transformed the property far beyond initial expectations.
This thoughtful transformation not only expands the home’s functionality but also elevates its design identity, setting a new benchmark for contemporary extensions in London’s conservation areas.
