palette set the industrial tone in a south London house SMART SOLUTIONS Planning was key to achieving

CHILDREN’S BATHROOM The shower rail was made from copper plumbing pipes. Polished Murano plaster walls, colour matched, MWAI. Shower rail, £100, made to an MWAI design. Brushed stainless steel MPRO bather shower mix, £999, Crosswater

city 25bh

During the renovation of their Edwardian terrace, architect

Matthew Woodthorpe and his interior designer wife

Nadine were extremely conscious of being respectful to its architecture. ‘I wanted our home to honour the past and nurture a love of craftsmanship,’ says Matthew, who is founder of architectural practice MWAI.

‘We bought the house in a dilapidated state and took our time to work out how the spaces could evolve,’ he says.

‘We have two girls, Elizabeth and Inka, and we designed it to transition into their teenage years and beyond.

The main work involved creating a large open-plan extension at the rear to house a kitchen-diner and living space. ‘We worked hard to create something sympathetic, marrying old with new,’ says Matthew. Panelled cupboards – in keeping with Edwardian style – hide the usual kitchen paraphernalia along one wall, while metal garden doors and concrete floors add a modern edge. At the heart of the room is a generous bespoke table, handcrafted from antique oak veneer and brass, that can be reconfigured as two sections. ‘It’s the most hardworking piece in our home,’ says Matthew. ‘I love that we can seat 25 people for get-togethers.’

Spaces have been carefully planned to be flexible. The front sitting room is a practical space that accommodates playing and piano practice as well as part-time working.

Period features have been preserved, with original doors and openings left intact, cornices and skirtings restored and original brass hardware brought back to life. ‘Authentic finishes have a story to tell and are part of what makes a building feel special,’ says Matthew. Even the windows have been lovingly copied to the exact design of the originals –made in Lithuania by one of Matthew’s trusted craftsmen.

The house is effortlessly stylish but, just as the couple intended, it has a timeless elegance that will continue to improve with age.