kitchen island; beyond, white oak stair treads glow softly under the skylight’ s wash.
Materials become storytellers. In the principal suite, a continuous, cast-stone vanity and bathtub appear as a single, sculptural form against dove-taupe walls. Polished-nickel taps fl oat above the washbasin; a single globe wall light and the sash window’ s generous light combine to create a moment of calm serenity … part gallery, part spa. On the ground fl oor, a kitchenette and study nook tucked neatly behind restored timber panelling, offering a private retreat for early-morning coffees or home-office hours. Elegance was achieved through disciplined restraint. By paring each room back to its essentials, Tiam Architects lets honed limestone, lime-washed plaster and warm timber carry the narrative. A muted palette and precisely crafted shadow lines cultivate a hush that feels luxurious without making a show of it. Classical proportions persist, yet their profi les are pared to crisp edges, lending modern clarity to a Georgian shell. The result is a space that feels timeless and freshly alive, a quiet sanctuary where simplicity, comfort and understated sophistication effortlessly converge.“ We knew the family longed for generous, connected spaces without losing any of the townhouse’ s character,” explains Tiam co-founder Bahar S. Tabatabaei.“ Our
task was to act as both storyteller and swordsmith, crafting interventions that would resolve the problems of darkness, disconnection, and underuse, while bringing the building’ s soul into the light.” Rather than masking any surviving historical architectural fabric, Tiam’ s design amplifi es and enhances it. In the living room, restored limestone surrounds sit beneath delicate cornices. At the same time, oversized sliding pocket doors open onto a garden-facing snug, creating a vista that stretches through three interlocking volumes. Upstairs, six well-proportioned bedrooms boast bespoke joinery and en-suite bathrooms; their muted palette of chalk white and dove grey amplifi es natural light at every turn. By discreetly adding a rear and lower-ground extension, Tiam Architects expanded Chester Row’ s living space by 200m ²; a 70 % uplift achieved entirely within planning and conservation rules. The project wields architecture as quiet transformation: honouring the late Georgian fabric while fl ooding the interior with daylight and calm, delivering a home that is at once period-rooted and unmistakably contemporary … a sanctuary in one of London’ s most storied districts.
www. tiamarchitects. com
INTERIORS & INTERIOR DESIGN
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