Oliver Leech Architects designed the five-bedroom house for multipurpose entertaining, designing rear and side extensions on the ground floor and a loft extension. A challenging aspect of the renovation involved digging a basement under the full footprint of the house to create a separate hideaway including cinema room, study, kitchenette, and guest facilities. Oliver Leech Architects have balanced the interiors to feel both intimate and open. The careful treatment of natural light places attention on restful sitting areas, creating a close connection with the outdoors. Soft furnishings including thick curtains create a cocoon-like sense of privacy. Two glazed lightwells form discreet courtyards on either side of the dining area, offering further views to greenery and a cross breeze through the house. Designed with a window seat for quiet reflection, the lightwell at the entrance to the kitchen extends down into the basement. At the other end of the room, a snug area offers a relaxed and informal space and comfy, tactile furnishings, with a view overlooking the patio and established garden. Exposed Douglas fir timber fins offer structural detail to the side extension and filter light through the glazing and into the main kitchen and dining area. Steel columns and timber beams make a striking feature of the ceiling, complemented by concrete flooring, raw oiled timber cabinets and brushed copper worktops. Raw, exposed natural materials throughout the house are balanced by soft furnishings. On the ground floor, textured panels of fluted timber conceal a utility room and guest bathroom, keeping the ‘back of house’ areas out of sight of dinner party guests. The reeded timber pattern is mirrored on the large door that separates the kitchen and bar area. In a seamless finish, the door pivots back and when it is in its open position it sits completely flush to the wall. What the client said: “The Pink House is a coalescence of our favourite places all in one; London is a busy, chaotic city compared to our rural home, so we wanted the architecture and interiors to feel like a calm cocoon where we could relax with friends and as a family.” “Oliver Leech Architects were an excellent addition to the project; they masterfully organised the flow of spaces, creating quiet zones and open spaces with well matched materials that will add character to the house over time.”