Natural light is an asset to any home, anywhere in the world, but you could say that it’s especially important in London. When winter nights start in the early afternoon and rain is often in the forecast, capitalizing on sunshine is a must. “Light is our most important and powerful design tool, and we are careful to use it in the right way,” says architect Oliver Leech.

When his namesake firm was hired to renovate a traditional Victorian home in the South London neighborhood of Herne Hill, opening the property to daylight was a top concern. Much of the home had already been stripped of its historical details by former owners, creating what Leech calls a “blank canvas,” although its layout remained: the ground-floor common areas led to a private garden at the rear of the lot, while the bedrooms were located upstairs.

“There were segregated rooms with little natural light and very little connection to the garden,” Leech says. “An extension had been added to the galley kitchen, but it was of poor quality and had to be demolished.”

The current owners, a husband who works in finance and a wife who’s a teacher, have two young children and they love to entertain. “The brief was kept flexible and open, but there was a desire for a better connection to the garden,” Leech adds. The bottom line was simple: The house had to make the most of London’s summers.

The couple decided the keep the ground-level layout, with the kitchen and dining area off the garden, and the living areas near the front of the house. The upper stories originally had five bedrooms, but the owners opted to size down to four bedrooms to accommodate a larger primary suite. “In the renovation, their bedroom was extended across the full width of the house, with a very generous bathroom,” Leech says.

But fresh skylights brought about the biggest shift to the look and feel of the updated bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as the kitchen and dining areas.

“The skylight over the dining room is west-facing, so we kept it relatively small but it still creates a wonderful height to the space,” Leech says. “A further north-facing skylight over the kitchen entrance was made to be as large as possible, as it rarely receives direct sunlight. It also offers uninterrupted views of the sky and the wildflower roof.”

With a clear connection to the garden via large windows and sliders, the kitchen feels airy yet rooted in in traditional British design sensibilities. The dark emerald cabinets match the verdant views, and the mix of natural materials coordinates with the al fresco seating areas just a few steps into the sun.

“Having a very limited material palette is key to achieving a calm and serene atmosphere,” Leech says. “From this backdrop one can add impactful and bold items—but only in a limited way. The marble also complements the tones of the timber floors and wall colors, adding to the overall vision for the house.”

In the more private areas of the home, a limited color scheme provides a calm and cohesive backdrop (a must for the parents of two kids under five). “We try to make our houses feel timeless,” Leech says. “We used Paint and Paper Library’s Slate range, which contains soft muted whites and browns, to give the house its warmth and coziness.”

After a little over a year, the renovation of this four-bedroom, three-bathroom home wrapped up smoothly last spring. Leech says that he enjoyed the process and bonded with the couple over their shared tastes. “They completely trusted us to give them their dream home,” he says.

More projects by Oliver Leech Architects:

In England, a Couple Build a Serene Backyard Home for Aging in Place

A Painter and a Sculptor Craft a Gallery-Like Home in London

A Glass-Walled Rear Extension Revives a Cramped London Victorian

Project Details:

Architect and Interior Designer: Oliver Leech Architects / @oliverleecharchitects

Structural Engineer: Croft Structural Engineers

Contractor: Sutton Construction

Joinery: Weymont & Wylie / @weymontandwylie

Appears In

The Garden Is the Heart of This Revived London Terrace House