In the evening, the dining room of our Islington extension becomes a warm and inviting space for family time. Being partly sunken, it creates a stronger connection to the garden while allowing for a taller floor-to-ceiling height.
Photo: @james_retief
#diningroom #londonproperty #islington #modernliving #leibal #dontmoveimprove #houseextension
The joinery series continues into the dining area of our ex-council house transformation, where we designed a bespoke table and bench to suit the homeowner’s way of entertaining. We tested different seating layouts and concluded that the dining table legs should be positioned at the ends to allow three people to sit comfortably in a row within the compact space. As a result, we turned this unconventional detail into a feature, working closely with our joiner to resolve the technical constraints in an elegant way.
Photo: @clickclickjim
#ribalondon #tabledesign #joinerydetail #bespokeinterior #dontmoveimprove #archdaily #bermondsey #furniture
Our Islington extension accommodates a serene kitchen-dining area connected to nature. Only partly extended into the side return, it allows the garden and natural light to flow towards the heart of the house.
The old kitchen was only 2.4 meters tall. To gain height, we lowered the extension by 45 cm, bringing the garden level in line with the internal seating area to enhance inside-outside connection. The exposed structural ceiling joists add depth and height to the space.
Swipe to see the before image
Photo: @james_retief
#contemporaryarchitecture #lightandspace #bespokeinteriors #leibal #islington #londonpropertymarket
The lobby of our Artist Studio conversion is designed to capture natural light from the floor above, which is set under a fully glazed roof. A slim stair made of 8mm steel sheets allows maximum natural light to penetrate towards the floors below.
#dontmoveimprove #artiststudio #kensington #londonproperty #stairdesign
Before & After: House extension in Islington
We’re excited to announce that our latest project has been shortlisted for Don’t Move, Improve! 2025 @nlalondon annual competition celebrating London’s best homes.
Our clients, a family of four, entrusted us to turn a former HMO into a home reflecting their personality and passions while creating an enhanced connection with the garden. During its use as an HMO, most of the Victorian features were lost. We turned this constraint into an opportunity by insulating the entire house internally without losing character, which together with an air source heat pump boosts the property’s environmental credentials.
The extension is crafted from reclaimed bricks for a lasting design that reconnects with its surroundings. The floor level is sunken 40 cm until the the garden matches the seating level. A brick stair leading to a terrace becomes part of the composition.
We look forward to sharing more of our journey with @dont.move.improve
Photo: @james_retief
#dmi2025 #houseextension #islington #dezeen #beforeandafter #londonhomes #londonproperty #dontmoveimprove #brickarchitecture
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