Like many period properties its internal layout didn’t take advantage of the stunning garden at the rear with most of its public rooms concentrated at the front of the house. This is clearly at odds with how families desire to live today preferring instead a much closer connection to outside space. We therefore rationalized the existing ground floor warren of small rooms at the rear and created a new stunning open plan family room at as well as adding a generous vaulted master suite above at 1st floor level. Light now streams into the new family room though a full width glass wall which in part can be completely retracted to give the feeling of alfresco dining without actually being outside. We were also commissioned to design a beautiful bespoke walnut bookcase and media cabinet which neatly defines and separates individual living areas without fully compartmentalizing the space. A walk-on glass floor provides surprising visual connections and further daylight between the two new levels.