Open plan is dead. Here’s how to build the perfect London home

Building or renovating a house in the capital, is anything but easy. We spoke to the experts at De Rosee Sa Architects about how to do it the smart way

London is a notoriously cramped city; 8.1 million people looking for a bit of space to call their own. In its finest boroughs, such as Kensington and Chelsea, one per square metre will cost you in the region of £19,500.

So how best to work with space when it’s limited, comes at a high premium, and planning regulations can be a considerable pain in the glazed rear extension?

We asked the experts at De Rosee Sa Architects, an award-winning firm in Notting Hill for some choice tips. Max De Rosee, director and co-founder at De Rosee Sa, gives us his six tips to build a perfect London home.

Be smart with limited space:

“I would rather buy a smaller property with great light than a larger gloomy one” says De Rosee. “Light is so important not only within interior architecture and design but for wellbeing. The right colours, materials and finishes can also hugely enhance the sense of light in a space.

“Pulling up carpet and replacing with a solid floor will instantly make a room feel more spacious. Carpet will absorb light in a room, whist a solid floor will reflect and bounce light around a room.

"I would rather buy a smaller property..."

“If it is possible, try and increase ceiling heights. Take down false ceilings and consider exposing roof rafters. Installing larger internal doors can make a big difference, you’ll be surprised at how this will make openings feel more generous.

“Whist maximalism is very much on trend, go easy on pattern as too much can make a room feel much smaller than it actually is.”

Bring the light in:

“There two things to consider when working with light, natural light and artificial light.

“To maximise natural light, we will put in new openings (doors, windows, rooflights) if possible, subject to planning permission.

“We make existing openings bigger (again subject to planning permission) and we will re-organise the interior spaces of a property so that all spaces have natural light if possible, or alternatively arrange them so they are not far from borrowed light through another space.

“With artificial light, especially LED lighting, it is important to make sure what’s emitted is not too cold and stark. We use warm LEDs, and use downlighters sparingly. We love lighting interiors with floor and table lights, which give a warm feel and much better atmosphere.

Cove lighting is not acceptable in a living space, sorry!”

Consider the residents be they pets, children or you working from home:

“We encourage clients to think about how their home will work in two, three or four year’s-time” says De Rosee. “Kids grow up, they go to bed later, they want their own space, will you be working from home?.

“Essentially it is a consideration of privacy, not being too prescriptive, allowing a certain loose fit to the way spaces might be used. Open plan is not the answer, we think it’s better to provide a few spaces with varying degrees of privacy.”

Embrace the trends with longevity:

“I am really enjoying using wooden panelling in interiors. We want to develop this textural quality further, both in patterns (fluting) and materials (stone). I am seeing wooden floors cut across the grain, which I really like and would like to incorporate in to a future project.

"Open plan is not the answer, we think it’s better to provide a few spaces with varying degrees of privacy..."

I’d love to use a glazed white brick on external walls as well. The trend for mixed metals and materials is great and I hope this continues – it’s really OK if you mixer tap is brass and your oven is stainless steel!”

Somewhere for a long soak:

“Your bathroom should be more than a place to wash, it should invigorate your senses. Use the best quality fittings you can afford and that you will enjoy using. Incorporate natural materials, introduce symmetry into the room and apply decorative wall light fittings.”

And don’t forget the extras that make a difference:

“A beautiful garden. A great view. Investing in art!”

Want some further design inspiration? Check out this Red Rocks Ranch…

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