Situated in the Barnsbury Conservation Area of Thornhill Grove in London, a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse was in need of refurbishment. The clients, an art historian and museum curator, were looking to blend the contemporary with the classic. Enter Architecture for London, a renowned London-based practice with a special sympathy for historic buildings and a considered approach to environmental impact. Project architects Amrit Marway and Ben Ridley took inspiration from curator Jim Ede’s Kettle’s Yard where modern meets antique across furniture, fittings, and objects. (We photographed and profiled the space in 2018 for our post 12 Design Lessons from Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge.) In keeping Georgian details in tact while extending and opening up living spaces, the architects set about to unveil interiors to entertain, raise children, to think, to read, and write in. Join us for a tour of the result.
Photography by Nick Dearden for Architecture for London.


The lower ground floor was formerly a dark space with a “convoluted kitchen arrangement” as the architects describe. Here, a modest side addition was made to accommodate a shower room and pantry off the kitchen. The original timber joists in the ceiling were exposed and painted white. These updates resulted in a kitchen/dining space that is light filled and multi-functional.















For more historic London homes see our posts:
- Making History: A Primrose Hill House Brought Back—and Forward—in Time By Mark Lewis Interior Design
- A Composed Life: A Rarefied London Townhouse Remodel by Jonathan Tuckey Design
- The New Road Residence: A Curated London House from Hostem
- House Call: A Georgian Townhouse in Edinburgh Remodeled for an Artist
- A Rescued Georgian in a ‘Time-Capsule Enclave’ in the Center of London
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation