’Twas the night before Christmas, designs sent for each house,
No computers were stirring, not even a mouse;
When onto the desks there arose such a sight,
Green moss sprouted softly & spread through the night.
Follow the link in the bio to explore our 3D scan of the studio.
#architecture #christmascard #studiomcleod #rewilding #nightbeforechristmas “
The Orangery- after and before.
Really this room didn’t require a huge amount of work. We did open doors into the billiards room as windows looking from one to the other felt frustrating and rather like an after thought.
In adding the double doors we blocked up the original entry way from the billiards room side. We also reopened an old arched door from the drawing room for flow.
So you can now do a loop around the house including the billiards room without turning back. Great for hide and seek!
I added this old French chandelier which @macintoshantiques refurbished and had painted in the same colour for me.
And wall lanterns I added from @maryhossackantiques
It was too big a job to get the Victorian heating system running again despite the gubins ( technical term) of it still being in situ. So I settled on 4 @castrads under the slate with copper pipe, wall mounted.
I love the slightly knackered bath stone floor and grills. I love that I can nip I’m here for herbs when I’m cooking, that at Halloween in hosts many children for pumpkin carving competitions and that I can dream of actual oranges and tree ferns and ultimately a handing swing seat in here one day.
We need to do a final sage green paint on the outside too and refit a few bits of glass. But she’s good for now.. Makes my heart swell a bit.💚
Pic 1 @paul_whitbread_photo
Design @ceceelargent
Architect @studio_mcleod
#orangery #victorian #renovation #renovating #littlegreenepaintcompany #sagegreen
The Loft- after and before
When we started this project the loft was derelict. It’s apparently where the maids slept in Victorian times. So I hope it wasn’t quite as derelict then. We’re talking rodents and old water tanks with contaminated water.
I wanted to be able to house as many people as possible and we were loosing bedrooms downstairs to staircases and missing supporting walls. ( more on that later)
The rooms had to interconnect so I decided to think of it as a family suite. We managed to hoof a bathroom in at the end. ( technical term!) Complete with tiny roll top bath and a sink from a ship I found at a reclaimation yard.
Two big things happened up here. We insulated, as much to keep the heat out as well as in. ( last but one pic) it was stifling up here before. But also there are purlins running the length of the roof. Previously they ran in front of the window. I couldn’t get past the feeling that gave the room. It made it feel like an after thought.
The remedy was to move the windows to the roof line as high as we could get them. Without interfering with the ridge line.Thus making the purlin a window sill and giving clear line of sight out of the window. See pics 7 and 8.
The colour was inspired by the original colour. I wanted it to feel authentic. We put three cabin beds in with drawers underneath for guests clothes. So a family of 5 can sleep up here. I also put a kitchenette in. ( pic for another day) It’s a wee way from the kitchen!
The slightly surprising gift 🤥( last pic) was that this side of the house which dates to late 1600s was insulated everywhere with sawdust. That meant the plumbers couldn’t solder anything so everything was tightened and secured by hand. 😮💨
Photos @paul_whitbread_photo
Interior design @ceceelargent
Architect @studio_mcleod
Curtains @nestdesign.co.uk
#loft #renovation #somerset
Playful pattern in this perfectly panelled parlour!
The timber panelling at our Grade II Listed project, Thornhill House, was salvaged from Wandsworth Manor and now makes the perfect backdrop for contemporary furniture and curiosities!
#ThornhillHouse #Putney #ArchitectureStudio #InteriorDesign #OldMeetsNew #TimberPanelling #ContemporaryFurniture #LondonHomes #OpenHouseFestival2025 #OpenHouseLondon #OpenHouse #LondonArchitecture #Architecture #ArchitectureLovers #ArchitecturePhotography #LondonLandmarks #Heritage #GradeIIListed #VisitLondon #London #UKArchitecture #Interiordesign #Design
📸 @annabel_elston
The entrance hall: after , before and little during ( more in stories)
This is by far the biggest part of the project.
When we bought the house, the stairs, whilst being Victorian, were not original. They were at one side of the house, which when you ascended delivered you all the way at the east side of the house, and at the start of a very long, draughty corridor.
I felt the house needed a heart. A centre. And I felt it had to be a vertical and horizontal heart.
Above the original entrance hall was a bedroom with a more ornate ceiling that didn’t made sense. There was also a doorway hanging in space half way up the existing staircase. So I made the assumption that once there had been a double height entrance hall. And frankly I was the girl to put it back!
When I put it to the architect he agreed it was a good idea and we set about a plan. He came up with the oval shape. And the idea that we would be linking family life, which I loved.
Before it would have been a walk to the bedrooms and I think putting my then 7 year old to bed would have felt a bit odd. But now I can stand in the hall and yell “ where are the car keys” and everyone can hear me! And more importantly I can hear her should she need me.
We put in a log burner. I decided if the heart of our home was warm the rest of the house would feel warm. And it does.
There’s more to do here. Furnishings need to be found and I dream of a giant rug. But it’s good for now.
Photos 1-6 @paul_whitbread_photo
Photos 7-8 before
Photos 9-10 during ( not for the fainthearted.)
Interior design @ceceelargent
Architect @studio_mcleod
Lantern @retrouvius
Wall lights @agapanthusinteriors
Tiles #emeryetcie
#interiordesign #redesign #renovation #staircase
The Terrace : after and before.
I thought on this slightly wet November day you might appreciate this.
This area immediately off the kitchen is covered by glass.
These pictures were taken only 10days ago. Early November.
It’s a space we use all year round. On a sunny winter day it’s as good as a sunny summer one.
On rainy days you’re protected by the glass. It’s a dream spot. Very well used, many celebrations with loved ones have happened here in the short time we’ve lived here.
I wanted to transform the outside and bring it in.
So I chose Little Greene Sage green paint for the windows.
I also felt I wanted to see through to this area from the drawing room. Which is the window at the far end. Doing that connected the spaces and gave us line of sight.
Like in so many cases in the project, we started to make the opening, only to discover it had previously been a window. Albeit a much larger one. I decided to keep it narrow so we didn’t make the drawing room into a greenhouse!
The table is enormous can seat 14. Looking forward to the years of joy this space with bring. 🥂
Photo @paul_whitbread_photo
Design me @ceceelargent
Architect the very brilliant @studio_mcleod
Paint @littlegreenepaintcompany
Light @agapanthusinteriors
A huge thank you to our wonderful clients, amazing volunteers and of course the 400+ visitors at this years @opencity_uk 2025 !
We’re very humbled to be part of such a great community and hear all your wonderful comments about this special home!
#OpenHouseFestival2025 #OpenHouseLondon #OpenHouse #LondonArchitecture #Architecture #ArchitectureLovers #ArchitecturePhotography #LondonLandmarks #Heritage #GradeIIListed #VisitLondon #London #UKArchitecture #Interiordesign #Design
📸 @annabel_elston
We’ll be sharing the story of this very special home at @opencity_uk 2025 tomorrow, Saturday 20th September from 09:30am until 16:30.
We hope to see you there, more information at the link it our bio.
#OpenHouseFestival2025 #OpenHouseLondon #OpenHouse #LondonArchitecture #Architecture #ArchitectureLovers #ArchitecturePhotography #LondonLandmarks #Heritage #GradeIIListed #VisitLondon #London #UKArchitecture #Interiordesign #Design
📸 @annabel_elston
