Ronald Tillemann, Rotterdam

Nestled into a hillside, this timber-framed family home enjoys uninterrupted views out across the countryside of the North Downs. A newly built property, it is an elegant fusion of traditional crafts and materials with contemporary design. Our clients had a vision for a modern sustainable house with practical yet beautiful interiors, a home with character that quietly celebrates the details. For example, where uniformity might have prevailed, over 1000 handmade pegs were used in the construction of the timber frame. The building consists of three interlinked structures enclosed by a flint wall. The house takes inspiration from the local vernacular, with flint, black timber, clay tiles and roof pitches referencing the historic buildings in the area. The structure was manufactured offsite using highly insulated preassembled panels sourced from sustainably managed forests. Once assembled onsite, walls were finished with natural clay plaster for a calming indoor living environment. Timber is a constant presence throughout the house. At the heart of the building is a green oak timber-framed barn that creates a warm and inviting hub that seamlessly connects the living, kitchen and ancillary spaces. Daylight filters through the intricate timber framework, softly illuminating the clay plaster walls. Along the south-facing wall floor-to-ceiling glass panels provide sweeping views of the landscape and open on to the terrace. A second barn-like volume staggered half a level below the main living area is home to additional living space, a study, gym and the bedrooms. The house was designed to be entirely off-grid for short periods if required, with the inclusion of Tesla powerpack batteries. Alongside underfloor heating throughout, a mechanical heat recovery system, LED lighting and home automation, the house is highly insulated, is zero VOC and plastic use was minimised on the project. Outside, a rainwater harvesting system irrigates the garden and fields and woodland below the house have been rewilded.

Foto: Edzard Probst; www.derFotograf.de

Contemporary living room

We loved transforming this one-bedroom apartment in Chelsea. The list of changes was pretty long, but included rewiring, replastering, taking down the kitchen wall to make the lounge open-plan and replacing the floor throughout the apartment with beautiful hardwood. It was important for the client to have a home office desk, so we decided on an L-shape sofa to make maximum use of the space. The large pendant light added drama and a focal point to the room. And the off-white colour palette provided a subtle backdrop for the art. You'll notice that either side of the fireplace we have mirrored the wall, gives the illusion of the room being larger and also boosts the light flooding into the room.

© Andrea Zanchi Photography

Dario Brillante Fotografia

Shannon McGrath

Simon Whitbread Photography

Interior Design by Donna Guyler Design

Im großzügigen Wohnzimmer ist genügend Platz für eine Sofaecke zum fern sehen und zwei Recamieren vor dem Kaminfeuer.