Radical Transformation Simple Cottage in Twickenham

wood floor interior design with stand lamp

A forlom semi-detached cottage in Twickenham, south-west London, is the latest home of a young German architect. He had realized the potential of the house while previously living opposite. Although it had been untouched since the 1940s, with no bathroom and only an outside WC, he could see that the warren of small rooms could be reconfigured and a radical transformation would be possible. Every inch of space was studied in great detail and many innovative ideas introduced. The hall was widened: and outer wall was pushed into a narrow side passage and the newly formed dining area was lit from above by glass panels inserted into roof.

Instead of conventional set of doors, a wall of glass now opens the ground floor to the garden. The staircase wall was also removed, allowing light onto the stairs and room for plenty of built-in seating beneath. A partly open-plan kitchen runs along one wall with a laundry concealed by cupboards at one end. From what appeared to be some impossibly small spaces on the upper level, there is now a master bedroom, luxurious bathroom, a further bedroom and a large sleeping-platform inserted under the roof and reaches by a ladder. This transformation beautifully illustrates how cramped old houses can easily adapt to contemporary living, given the right architectural vision and building skills.

white simple chair and sofa furniture