Portobello Road

Existing features were carefully retained and elevated wherever possible, with original cornicing, timber flooring and built-in joinery preserved, adapted and refined to create a home that feels elegant, tactile and rooted in the client’s way of living.

On the ground floor, the home has been reshaped to support both day-to-day living and entertaining. An earthy toned kitchen by Cor Domi sits alongside an expansive dining setting for hosting, while bespoke wine storage and integrated refrigeration are cleverly built into the staircase, transforming an awkward space into a striking and highly functional feature. In the formal reception room, existing joinery was mirrored and refined to create balance and provide a gallery like setting for art and objects collected during the client’s travels.

Careful planning and coordination were required to resolve the terrace works, particularly in relation to privacy, drainage and neighbouring properties, but the result is a sociable indoor-outdoor space that feels both intimate and expansive. Landscaping continues the wider design language, with structured planting and bonsai creating a natural dialogue between the interior and exterior.

Wellness was another defining part of the brief. In the principal suite, a steam shower and microcement clad sauna have been integrated into the ensuite to create a spa-like retreat within the home. At roof level, a bespoke gym with views across Notting Hill adds another layer of everyday functionality and has been designed with future flexibility in mind, allowing the space to adapt as the client’s needs evolve. Throughout the house, natural finishes including limewash and clay plaster introduce softness, depth and tactility, reinforcing the serene atmosphere that underpins the entire project.

Sustainability informed the project from the outset. Rather than replacing for the sake of it, the design focused on retaining and reworking existing materials and features, including original wood flooring, wardrobes and joinery, reducing waste and preserving embodied carbon. Upgraded double glazing and carefully coordinated mechanical and ventilation strategies improved comfort and efficiency, proving that responsible design and high end residential living can, in fact, get on very well together.