We enlarged the second-floor accommodation of a large Haringey house to create a sophisticated family bathroom and stairwell. The house is flanked by two similar houses, each with flat-roof dormers clad in lead and hanging tile, visible from perpendicular streets. This encouraged a flat-roofed dormer geometry but offered flexibility in materials, albeit within the tone of the conservation area. A choice was made to clad the new dormer in an upmarket, vertically-oriented, standing seam zinc with freeform, steel window arrangement to optimise views and privacy. Planning consent was acheived without complication. At the interior, a soft, fresh colour pallette is combined with classical shapes which have modern detailing, in acknowledgement of the historic setting and the occupant’s 20th-Century British lifestyle.