How to combine home and office

The brief was to remodel a derelict Victorian duplex in Maida Hill for a family of four.

It had good natural lighting, but bad everything else.

The family includes two working parents and their teenage children. The mother runs an architect's practice from home.

We started, as always, by improving the current layout to suit the brief.

On the ground floor, we've opted for an open-space sitting/dining area that can double as a meeting room.

A separate kitchen and a home office provide a separation between work and family life.

The upper floor hosts two children’s bedrooms, a master suite, utility space, and storage.

The second step was to fix the fabric of the building. We ended up removing many layers of cheap finishes. They dated back to the '80s when the house was council housing.

All electrical and plumbing services are new. 95% of the lights are now LED. A water softener and a water filter provide clean drinking water. They also prolong the life span of the boiler and appliances.

The materials and colours form a timeless, neutral palette. They include natural oak, black stone, and handmade tiles. These are all tied together by a warm, light taupe tint for all walls and woodwork.

We made all door openings extra tall to enhance the ceiling height and maximise the light.

The walls have an irregular texture, which reflects the light. It looks natural, much like white plaster, but it was much cheaper.

The trick is to paint the walls with wide, irregular brushstrokes. Use an extra-large paintbrush instead of the usual roller.

Custom-designed, built-in pieces serve a few tricky areas. They go under the stairs and in the lobbies to house coats, shoes, and utility cupboards. The all-black kitchen is also custom-designed.