LUXURY HOMES 89 focused environment, using the level’ s lower light conditions to create a more atmospheric destination within the house.
A secondary basement room was intentionally designed without a fixed function. It can operate as a gym, home office or playroom, allowing future occupants to adapt the house without requiring substantial alterations. The formal dining room was approached with similar flexibility: its proportions, furniture and detailing allow it to serve as either a dining space or a study while retaining the presence expected of a principal reception room.
Original period features were retained wherever their condition permitted and used as the foundation for the new interior. Contemporary interventions were designed to sit quietly within this architectural framework rather than compete with it. Bespoke joinery, layered finishes and decorative lighting introduce warmth and definition while preserving the measured character of the townhouse.
A coffered ceiling in the dining room illustrates the project’ s approach to technical constraints. A ceiling reduction was required to accommodate pipework, and rather than attempting to disguise the intervention, Hill House Interiors
developed it as a deliberate architectural feature. The resulting coffering gives the room additional structure and integrates the necessary services into the overall design.
The existing staircase was structurally sound but visually understated. It was transformed with a specialist decorative finish and a considered lighting scheme, allowing it to function as a focal point and provide visual continuity between the different
levels of the house. Throughout the property, architectural and decorative lighting are layered to define circulation routes, highlight detailing and alter the atmosphere of the rooms at different times of day.
Material specification was guided by a clear hierarchy of investment. Bespoke joinery, furniture and lighting were prioritised as the elements most likely to establish the home’ s identity and retain their value over time. High-
ISSUE 77 2026 THE ART OF LUXURY