Wish List
Houzz at a Glance Who lives here Kate and Paul O’Brien, both lawyers Location Highgate, north LondonProperty A flat in a Victorian terrace in a conservation areaSize 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and cloakroomArchitects Shinz Design ConsultancyPhotos by Simon KennedyWhat Kate and Paul O’Brien have done to their ground and first-floor apartment is truly impressive. “By extending at the back and into the side return we added just over 45 sq m of space and managed to include an extra bedroom, so now we have three,” says Kate. “And by moving the bathroom from an old extension at the back to the middle of the flat, we were able to have a kitchen that opens directly on to the garden.” The new kitchen is about three times the size of the original one. “It’s the most improved room, along with our bedroom upstairs,” says Kate.
A large roof light and a wall of glass ensures the kitchen stays bright and airy, whatever the weather. A careful combination of concrete and metal has created a room that’s sleek but full of character. “We had a really clear view on materials from day one. I wanted to use marble, brass, stainless steel and concrete,” says Pyne. The steel cooker hood adds an industrial accent.Laminate proved a practical and aesthetically pleasing choice for the cabinets. “Originally we were looking at reclaimed wood from old barns, but it was hard to find the right materials and because of the height the kitchen designers were worried that it would buckle.”Cooker hood, Wolf.
Divide and conquerAs kids get bigger, toys tend to get smaller. This sounds good in theory – no more ride-on plastic trucks or enormous dolls’ houses to contend with – but in their place come hundreds of fiddly little bits. Lego springs to mind, but also cars, miniature figures, beads, pens, you name it – all in need of a home that isn’t the floor. A cabinet like this takes inspiration from the larder, with lots of smaller drawers hidden away behind neat doors. It’s worth looking at tool storage, too, as many designs have lots of see-through compartments that can be ideal for storing and sorting tiny toys.
Bed
Q