Light Touch

Clever design tricks were used to create a bright, welcoming interior, from the loft to the basement, in this expertly redesigned family property.

- Andree Frieze

Loft and basement extensions are difficult to perfect. The former risk being all awkward angles and unusable corners, while the latter can result in a dark, cavernous space. We spoke to Emily and Charles Simmonds, their architect, Alex Tart, and interior designer Marilyn Johnson about how they ensured this did not happen when they redesigned the Simmonds’ family home in south London.

Can you tell us about the basement? 

AT My design for this space, which includes a media and dining area, and an office, was dictated by the fact that, from here, Emily and Charles wanted to be able to easily access the kitchen-dining room, and the garden, on the floor above. We kept the original staircase within the old part of the house, but decided to install a new staircase, with a glazed side panel, between the basement and the ground floor.