Our refurbishment of Kingsway Place in Clerkenwell, London has completed. Originally the cookery and laundry teaching facility of a nearby Victorian school, the building had been converted into two flats, which we have connected to form one spacious house.

Key to the brief was to make the existing flats work as one contemporary home by improving the circulation between spaces and giving it a luxurious feel while repairing and retaining as many of the original features as possible. Uniting the building, the original roof has been kept and all the living areas have generous proportions with high ceilings. The layout and spatial organisation have been made more functional while creating a continuous walk through the rooms to the upper floors.

The first floor main living area is a double height space, with original queen post trusses retained as a decorative timber feature. Wood is a key element of the material palette, even extending into the bathroom. Newly-installed chevron timber flooring brings warmth throughout. Creating a mezzanine study above the contemporary kitchen was possible due to the generous ceiling height. While stripping out the building, the team discovered blocked original stoves which were reinstated and reused as fireplaces for the new house.

The master and guest bedroom suites are located on the ground floor, with luxurious ensuite double bathrooms where the walls and floors are clad in Noir St. Laurent marble. Redesigned as a wine cellar, the basement also provides storage space.

Complimented by the exposed brickwork of an adjoining wall, the original staircase has been kept. Beside it, a bespoke built-in joinery piece extends across a whole wall providing further storage, display and desk space. The joinery is intricately detailed, with recessed lighting added.

While all original windows have been kept, they have been improved internally by repainting and draught-proofing. New automated blinds and curtains have also been fitted.