Home That Grows With You

Walthamstow Family House, Phased Over 12 Years

This was our first home - a true diamond in the rough: a tired old house in a great location. Just the two of us back then, we spent the first year ‘camping out,’ getting to know the spaces, watching how the light moved, and developing a long-term masterplan for how the house could work for us.

In Stage 1, we tackled the dark centre of the house—‘perforating the core’ with carefully placed openings to bring in natural light. We also overhauled outdated services throughout.

Stage 2 brought more ambitious changes: a side extension, major structural works, and an open-plan kitchen/dining/living area that opens out to the garden. We also dug out and tanked the existing basement to create a laundry and storage zone—for six bikes even before we had kids.

Stage 3 was all about the outside. We completely overhauled the garden to create a mix of spaces everyone could enjoy: a climbing frame disguised as a pergola, a ‘boardwalk’ through lush planting, dining areas and a patch of lush lawn. It's a private, green retreat and an extension of the home—and a joy to watch the seasons unfold from the house.

Now, 12 years later, we’re a family of five. The house continues to work hard, flexing and adapting as our needs change. And we’ve learned to be ruthless about what stays—good design makes room for the things that matter.