The project was to convert two floors of an 18th C coach house in Bermondsey. The major constraint was the lack of direct sunlight. We relocated the living room to the upper level, where there was the best available natural light. The kitchen was moved into what had been a small laundry area, allowing the creation of one big family space. Bedrooms were moved to the ground floor. They face a narrow courtyard which backs onto a neighbouring glass curtain wall, providing reflected light. External walls, formerly shot blasted brick, dark brown and light absorbing, were given a lime / sand slurry and painted white to bounce the light around. Exposed timber and steel beams were fire protected and also painted white. Pale white ash was used throughout for both flooring and built-in joinery.