STUDIOBUA Studio Bua remodels cramped Victorian townhouse to create a light, storage-filled family home StudioBua has completely transformeda once darkand cramped Victorian fourstorey townhouse inLondon intoa light-filledhomewithplentyof storage. The house now hasanuninterrupted flow andissuitable forentertaining andfamilylife. Mark Smyth, co-founder of Studio Bua comments, “We were initially approached by the client to rework the ground and basement floors. Once work commenced, it quickly turned into the transformation of the entire house. The space was dark, compartmentalised and 36 - www.refurbandrestore.co.uk
unsuitable for a young family. We have created a scheme that is toddler-friendly but also has sophisticated spaces for the adults to enjoy when the kids have gone to bed.” The house had anorth-facing kitchen extension built in 90s,which was dark, badly insulated and poorly planned. The kitchen needed to be better suited to family life, with plenty of space for breakfast, homework writing and to accommodate highchairs. Due to budget restrictions and sustainability concerns, Off-the shelf kitchen units
allowed for more money to be spent on the finishes, fixtures and fittings, including high quality quartz worktops and German appliances.A bespoke,oaklinedoriel windowseat has been added to create a cosy breakfast and play area, which adds a warm, tactile element to the otherwise minimal space.This small intervention allows the owners to cook while entertainingt heir two small children. The layout was informed by Studio Bua co-founder Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir’s observation of her own daughter playing in their Bua-designed kitchen in Oslo.
