Material gains

With a strong focus on its fabric and finishes, as well as bespoke features, this mid-century home has been cleverly reimagined as a light-filled, modern space

- 

As they had previously been in a rental home on the very same street as this house, Emanuel and Carmel knew that they were happy to remain in the neighbourhood. 'We've been around here for many years, and we like the area; I even lived nearby in my twenties,' says Emanuel. 'It's fair to say that we were looking for a project. We wanted to put our own stamp on something, whether that was with a self-build house or a renovation.'

Aside from its desirable location, this mid-century terraced property appealed to the couple as it felt like a peaceful sanctuary. 'We decided we weren't that keen on living in a flat with someone on top of us or underneath us,' says Emanuel. Last but not least, the house was just outside the conservation area, which many of the other houses on the street fell under, giving the couple greater flexibility in pushing through their desired plans for updating the property.

FORGING RELATIONSHIPS

This would be the first major project that Emanuel and Carmel had undertaken in the UK, having previously done renovations overseas. They enlisted the help of MW Architects, who came recommended through a planning consultant friend.

'Architect Matthew Wood had experience of projects in this locality,' explains Emanuel. 'When we met him, we told him our thoughts and it was clear that there was agreement between us on what we envisaged, and at the same time we had sympathy for his vision. So there was a feeling that he was someone we could work with — and the fact that he came recommended by a planning consultant was a step in the right direction.'