Family town house residence

This is an elegant, high-ceilinged, three storey over basement terraced town house, close to the city centre. The design brief called for updating the original layout so the house could function more efficiently to suit contemporary family needs. This included bringing natural light in to a previously dark and underused basement area and creating bright open plan living spaces on the principal floor.

MFI reconfigured the basement by making extensive structural modifications, removing internal walls and creating three new utility spaces concealed behind floor-to-ceiling pocket doors in dark stained oak. The upper ground floor was also reconfigured to open up the entertaining area and create a small office space for the family with views of the garden. Areas of glazing were introduced to brighten the entrance hallway and basement staircase.

The owners’ preferred decorative style was contemporary for the family area in the basement and classic for entertaining clients on the upper ground floor, where comfort became the key driver in selecting furniture. Lighting design was a key element in adding aesthetic interest and a sense of drama to the social areas while also providing optimal light for household tasks.