Tour an 18th-Century Townhouse Updated to Gain Light and Openness
Watch and read how an architect found on Houzz created brightness and breathing room in a lovely London family home
Mitchell Parker
June 25, 2023
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
What do you do when your 18th-century London townhouse lacks natural light and openness? You find an architect who specializes in enhancing those very things.
That’s what these homeowners did when faced with a dark and cramped mid-Georgian property in the Kensington area of central London. After searching Houzz for local pros who knew how to work with light and glass, they found and hired Mark Barratt of Cato Creative.
Barratt added large-format skylights and full window walls at the rear of the building to flood the home with natural light. Interior glass walls and doors allow the light to venture deep into the home and be shared among rooms, creating a feeling of openness. Meanwhile, a mostly off-white palette further brightens the home, while black details give it a contemporary air that also highlights its traditional architectural features.
That’s what these homeowners did when faced with a dark and cramped mid-Georgian property in the Kensington area of central London. After searching Houzz for local pros who knew how to work with light and glass, they found and hired Mark Barratt of Cato Creative.
Barratt added large-format skylights and full window walls at the rear of the building to flood the home with natural light. Interior glass walls and doors allow the light to venture deep into the home and be shared among rooms, creating a feeling of openness. Meanwhile, a mostly off-white palette further brightens the home, while black details give it a contemporary air that also highlights its traditional architectural features.
House at a Glance
Location: Kensington area of London
Size: 3,789 square feet (352 square meters)
Architect: Mark Barratt of Cato Creative
Prior to the updates, the homeowners had discussed turning the property into multiple flats (apartments) or maisonettes (duplexes). “Then we talked more about their objectives and came up with the conclusion that actually the best thing to do was to create a warm, incredible family home,” Barratt says.
The ground floor features a living room and this combined kitchen and dining area. Sunlight pours into the space through an oversize skylight. Glass-panel doors lead to two balconies overlooking a below-ground outdoor area off a living room in a daylight basement (see below). “Light is incredibly important, especially in central London properties where space can be quite tight, and what we want to do is create a feeling of openness, a connection with the outside space,” Barratt says.
He kept the color palette simple with off-white walls. “It’s a very subtle off-white rather than something that’s trying to present itself as a cool version of a white,” Barratt says. “The architecture and the features stand out rather than lots of colors.”
Watch now: Step inside this updated London home on Houzz TV
Location: Kensington area of London
Size: 3,789 square feet (352 square meters)
Architect: Mark Barratt of Cato Creative
Prior to the updates, the homeowners had discussed turning the property into multiple flats (apartments) or maisonettes (duplexes). “Then we talked more about their objectives and came up with the conclusion that actually the best thing to do was to create a warm, incredible family home,” Barratt says.
The ground floor features a living room and this combined kitchen and dining area. Sunlight pours into the space through an oversize skylight. Glass-panel doors lead to two balconies overlooking a below-ground outdoor area off a living room in a daylight basement (see below). “Light is incredibly important, especially in central London properties where space can be quite tight, and what we want to do is create a feeling of openness, a connection with the outside space,” Barratt says.
He kept the color palette simple with off-white walls. “It’s a very subtle off-white rather than something that’s trying to present itself as a cool version of a white,” Barratt says. “The architecture and the features stand out rather than lots of colors.”
Watch now: Step inside this updated London home on Houzz TV
The kitchen features a clean, contemporary look with light gray cabinets (Slate III by Paint & Paper Library) and marble-look quartz countertops.
Find a kitchen designer near you
Find a kitchen designer near you
Barratt relocated a staircase leading to the basement to a new position below the dining area skylight to bring light down into that lower level. A wall of glass panels — some reeded — delineates the kitchen and dining areas from a living room (called a reception area in the video) and a more formal dining table while allowing light to be shared among the spaces. Black details add a graphic element that highlights architectural details.
The home’s entry hallway and staircase can be seen on the right.
Watch now: See more of how this home came together on Houzz TV
The home’s entry hallway and staircase can be seen on the right.
Watch now: See more of how this home came together on Houzz TV
At the home’s entry, the hallway features three large arched doors with glass panels, also with some reeded sections, that connect to the living room. The kitchen island is visible at the end of the hallway.
The flooring is handmade tile in pistachio and light gray. “They are from a well-known traditional tile manufacturer that makes tiles specifically for this kind of property,” Barratt says. “We wanted to use the traditional tile in a slightly more interesting way. And we picked colorways not to be expected and laid them in a way not to be expected.”
An engineered oak staircase with ornate metal balusters leads up to the second floor (called the first floor in England.). “The minute you walk in the front door you’ve got this incredible showstopping feature,” Barratt says.
Tile: Winckelmans
Shop for kitchen and dining furniture
The flooring is handmade tile in pistachio and light gray. “They are from a well-known traditional tile manufacturer that makes tiles specifically for this kind of property,” Barratt says. “We wanted to use the traditional tile in a slightly more interesting way. And we picked colorways not to be expected and laid them in a way not to be expected.”
An engineered oak staircase with ornate metal balusters leads up to the second floor (called the first floor in England.). “The minute you walk in the front door you’ve got this incredible showstopping feature,” Barratt says.
Tile: Winckelmans
Shop for kitchen and dining furniture
Here’s a look at the arched metal-and-glass doors connecting the living area to the entry hall.
The second floor contains the primary bedroom suite with a bathroom and a large dressing room with wardrobe cabinets (visible to the right of the bed). Stately gray paneling (Mole’s Breath by Farrow & Ball) defines the bedroom suite entrance, which can be closed up with pocket doors. “What we wanted to do was create a sort of palatial hotel experience,” Barratt says.
A home office is down the hallway to the right.
Overhead, a stairway leads up to more bedrooms and bathrooms on the third and fourth floors.
A home office is down the hallway to the right.
Overhead, a stairway leads up to more bedrooms and bathrooms on the third and fourth floors.
The bedroom suite dressing area features large wardrobe cabinets painted a gray teal color (Mr. Clifton by Coat). Barratt strategically placed the dressing area at the front of the home to mitigate noise from the street reaching into the bedroom. He also addressed acoustics within the walls, floors and ceilings. “It’s a very calm and quiet area,” he says.
Watch now: Step inside this light-filled London home in the latest episode of Houzz TV
Watch now: Step inside this light-filled London home in the latest episode of Houzz TV
In the primary bathroom, off-white plaster, called Tadelakt, was hand-applied to the walls using traditional tools. “All the walls have a Moroccan, traditional Spanish feel,” Barratt says. “You get this really lovely texture element to it. It looks fantastic. And it’s durable. Perfect for a bathroom.”
Across from the freestanding tub and shower area sits a dark-stained oak veneer vanity with a substantial stone-look Dekton countertop.
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity
The staircase off the kitchen leads down to this daylight basement (called the lower ground floor in England), which features a living room that opens to a backyard patio.
Cutout staircase dividers on the third floor allow light from a fourth-floor skylight to shine through.
Watch now: Tour this light-filled home on Houzz TV
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Get more home design ideas
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Watch now: Tour this light-filled home on Houzz TV
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Get more home design ideas
Hire a design professional
Shop for your home
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This is absolutely my favorite renovation. I'm actually thinking about implementing all your ideas in my home.
Gorgeous remodel!
Lovely space. Really enjoyed the conversation, too.