A House with a Sunlit Kitchen

Living in our newly transformed home is a revelation… feels like an entirely different house. We set out to create a family home for the next 30 years, and the results exceeded our expectations. Before, the house was cold, outdated, and lacking basic necessities like insulation and a functional family bathroom. The kitchen was tiny and impractical, and the layout made it impossible to manage two young children without constant stress. Now, it’s everything we dreamed of: warm, eco-friendly, and tailored to our family’s needs.

Pencil and Brick’s team was exceptional. During the project, they uncovered serious structural issues: rotting joists and a void under the house caused by a collapsed drain. They acted swiftly and decisively, stabilising the house and repairing the underlying issues while keeping us informed every step of the way. The challenges were daunting, but their expertise turned potential disasters into opportunities.

The new kitchen-diner has been life-changing … bright, spacious, and perfect for family life. The family bathroom is another highlight, designed for the children’s comfort and safety. Sustainability was central, and we’re thrilled to be off the gas grid, running on solar energy with excellent air quality throughout the house.

The team’s guidance, especially on balancing priorities, was invaluable. They transformed a stressful process into a collaborative journey, and their professionalism gave us complete confidence. Pencil and Brick didn’t just build our house; they gave us a home we’ll treasure for decades.

“Pencil and Brick were a pleasure to work with. They were clear and quick in communications. They helped us prioritise when compromise was required, and are honest and direct. We engaged them as architects, project managers, and builders to renovate our Victorian home. The complete service made a stressful process as painless as possible and meant the project was finished within expected budget and on time. They collaborated with us, listened to our requirements and tailored their approach to our needs, offering clever solutions to tricky areas…They have transformed an uncomfortable house into a home we look forward to returning to and waking up to.”

Seán and the team at Pencil & Brick have been amazing on this second residential job they have been doing for me on Forest Road in Walthamstow. They take the time to go through what is needed and are knowledgeable on what is possible. They manage to make my big ideas reality! Their professionalism and understanding of the process to achieve planning for your project is second to none. The whole team is very patient and listen to your thoughts and work through them with you and then they miraculously produce all these options for you that you didn’t think possible. And they somehow remain totally calm when you are having a bit of a meltdown (guilty) and come up with a solution for you.

I have worked with Pencil And Brick on a few projects. One was a particularly tricky one where planning permission was proving difficult. They were with me every step of the way and saw the application through til the successful end! We are now working on another project which I am looking forward to fulfilling. They have a wealth of professional connections that make life so much easier. I have used other ‘planners’ and have been very nervous and the process has not been smooth but with Seán I feel I am in safe hands. Trusting your professionals is a very large part of your build journey and I can say I trust Seán and the team.

A year ago I found myself in quite a tricky situation with the local authority during a project I had started that was threatening to unravel in an expensive fashion. Sean (and Matt) took over the project, somehow managed to bring calm to a difficult situation and I can now see light at the end of a long tunnel. His architectural work is first rate but of equal importance is his ability to deal with people in contentious professional situations, which having learnt the hard way, is one of the most important things in this business.

“Pencil and Brick bring a fresh, sometimes quirky approach to their projects: they are not afraid to introduce statement colour or eye-catching features to the interior design. These London architects are experts at sympathetically reimagining Victorian homes to create spaces that are contemporary yet retain character and avoid blandness”

24 Housing