Featured in: The Times 

Our clients brought us on board just as the project was breaking ground back in Spring 2022. They had been working with Takero Shimazaki Architects for over a year by this point to develop the architectural design and to get planning for this accessible, modern home. Following an accident our client uses a wheelchair and after years of living in adapted apartments, which didn't suit his needs, he was determined to design a home that really worked for both him and his growing family. They had reached the point in the process where they had a clear vision for the architectural envelope but needed help planning, designing and curating the interior fittings, fixtures and furniture. Feeling overwhelmed by the choice, they wanted to engage us to help make this architectural beauty feel like home. While accessibility was a key focus of this project, our clients were clear that they didn't want to sacrifice the aesthetic of the design to achieve this. Even though practicality is always at the heart of what we do, this project really pushed us to focus on the details to ensure that every element worked seamlessly for our clients. It has been a real learning experience, one we're very grateful to have had. It will definitely impact how we approach projects in the future and has given us some real insight into the importance of accessible design. We are incredibly proud to have been part of such a revolutionary project.

Tucked away behind a row of Victorian houses on a quiet residential street in Dulwich, the house is accessed via a discreet entrance, down a narrow lane. The unassuming entrance does not prepare you for the reveal of this 4000 sq ft three-bedroom, Japanese-inspired home. Set over ground & lower ground floors, the house was carefully designed around three internal courtyards, to maximise the feeling of light in the subterranean areas. The floorplan was carefully developed by the architectural team, to make the open-plan spaces easy to navigate. We overlaid our furniture to ensure that there were no pinch points or awkward narrow spaces, while still achieving the warm aesthetic our clients desired.

The core finishes palette of glass, stone, timber, brushed metal & Clayworks lime plaster was the foundation on which we began layering the interior design. A major part of our brief was to enhance the 'indoor/outdoor' feel of the architecture with the furniture & styling. We curated a palette of organic materials to emphasize this connection. We were careful not to introduce many more hard finishes, to keep the palette clean and restrained. We sourced brushed nickel ironmongery & sanitaryware to work harmoniously with the slim profile frames of the architectural sliding doors. We also had the grab rails refinished to match to ensure that they felt cohesive with the rest of the design. All the joinery is made of matte oiled oak, and we selected timber tones in the FF&E to complement this. For the soft furnishings, we curated a beautiful soft palette of natural, textured tones to compliment the Combe Brune limestone. The curtains in this project make a real difference to the overall feel of the interior spaces. The clients were nervous about covering too much of the expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing, but we felt strongly that sheer curtains would help to add a layer of softness that would not only connect all the spaces but make them feel so much cosier. It was one of their first comments, seeing the house installed for the first time that the curtains actually enhanced the design, rather than taking away from the architecture. This harmony is key to the project's success.

The primary ensuite presented one of the most interesting challenges. The couple wanted their double vanity to function for them both, without having different levels for the sinks. So we created a bespoke double vanity with drawers to one side and a cantilevered stone shelf on the opposite to allow comfortable access. The shower seat is also a perfect example of how we resolved a practical challenge with an aesthetically pleasing solution. Our client required a seat in the shower but didn't want it to be finished in a cold stone. Instead, we designed a slatted, floating Iroko bench, which would allow water to pass through and add a sense of warmth to the shower area.

Our clients have a real appreciation for craftsmanship and were keen for us to represent this in our selections for furniture & accessories. Many of the unique accessories we sourced were made by talented artisans in the UK & Japan. Given the expansive nature of the internal spaces, we had much of the furniture commissioned bespoke to fit perfectly into the design. The most successful bespoke element is the bed in the primary bedroom. The client needed the bed height to be relatively low. However, we wanted to ensure that the bed did not feel lost in the large space. So to compensate for the height we made use of the lateral space and designed a bespoke walnut framed full-width headboard, with integrated floating bedside tables and brushed nickel grab rail, that would make our clients transfer from wheelchair to the bed as easy as possible. Another of our favourite bespoke elements is the sideboard in the dining room. This cabinet needed to conceal a service riser, but we wanted to make sure it still felt freestanding. The slim, refined profile of the metal frame, juxtaposed with solid oak doors perfectly encapsulates the balanced design philosophy of this house.