Twin Peaks House is a vibrant extension to a grand Edwardian homestead in Kensington. Originally built in 1913 for a wealthy family of butchers, when the surrounding landscape was pasture from horizon to horizon, the homestead endured as its acreage was carved up and subdivided into smaller terrace allotments. Our clients discovered the property decades ago during long walks around their neighbourhood, promising themselves that they would buy it should the opportunity ever arise. Many years later the opportunity did arise, and our clients made the leap. Not long after, they commissioned us to update the home for their family of five. They asked us to replace the pokey rear end of the house, shabbily renovated in the 1980s, with a generous extension that matched the scale of the original home and its voluminous garden. Our design intervention extends the massing of the original gable-roofed house towards the back garden, accommodating kids’ bedrooms, living areas downstairs and main bedroom suite tucked away upstairs gabled volume to the east earns the project its name, duplicating the main roof pitch at a smaller scale and housing dining, kitchen, laundry and informal entry. This arrangement of rooms supports our clients’ busy lifestyles with zones of communal and individual living, places to be together and places to be alone. The living area pivots around the kitchen island, positioned carefully to entice our clients' energetic teenaged boys with the aroma of cooking. A sculpted deck runs the length of the garden elevation, facing swimming pool, borrowed landscape and the sun. A first-floor hideout attached to the main bedroom floats above, vertical screening providing prospect and refuge. Neither quite indoors nor out, these spaces act as threshold between both, protected from the rain and flexibly dimensioned for either entertaining or retreat. Galvanised steel continuously wraps the exterior of the extension, distilling the decorative heritage of the original’s walls, roofs and gables into two cohesive volumes. The masculinity in this form-making is balanced by a light-filled, feminine interior. Its material palette of pale timbers and pastel shades are set against a textured white backdrop, with 2400mm high datum adding a human scale to the raked ceilings. Celebrating the tension between these design moves is a dramatic, top-lit 7m high void that slices through the centre of the house. Another type of threshold, the void bridges the old and the new, the private and the public, the formal and the informal. It acts as a clear spatial marker for each of these transitions and a living relic of the home’s long history.

Il corridoio filtro tra zona giorno e notte è valorizzato da una boiserie dipinta: parte inferiore bianca, una sottile linea nera di separazione e parte superiore - soffitto incluso - in verde, in continuità con la palette del progetto.

Maida Vale Apartment in Photos: A Visual Journey Tucked away in the serene enclave of Maida Vale, London, lies an apartment that stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of eclectic modern design and traditional elegance, masterfully brought to life by Jolanta Cajzer of Studio 212. This transformative journey from a conventional space to a breathtaking interior is vividly captured through the lens of the acclaimed photographer, Tom Kurek, and further accentuated by the vibrant artworks of Kris Cieslak. The apartment's architectural canvas showcases tall ceilings and a layout that features two cozy bedrooms alongside a lively, light-infused living room. The design ethos, carefully curated by Jolanta Cajzer, revolves around the infusion of bright colors and the strategic placement of mirrors. This thoughtful combination not only magnifies the sense of space but also bathes the apartment in a natural light that highlights the meticulous attention to detail in every corner. Furniture selections strike a perfect harmony between the vivacity of modern styles and the grace of classic elegance. Artworks in bold hues stand in conversation with timeless timber and leather, creating a rich tapestry of textures and styles. The inclusion of soft, plush furnishings, characterized by their modern lines and chic curves, adds a layer of comfort and contemporary flair, inviting residents and guests alike into a warm embrace of stylish living. Central to the living space, Kris Cieslak's artworks emerge as focal points of colour and emotion, bridging the gap between the tangible and the imaginative. Featured prominently in both the living room and bedroom, these paintings inject a dynamic vibrancy into the apartment, mirroring the life and energy of Maida Vale itself. The art pieces not only complement the interior design but also narrate a story of inspiration and creativity, making the apartment a living gallery of modern artistry. Photographed with an eye for detail and a sense of spatial harmony, Tom Kurek's images capture the essence of the Maida Vale apartment. Each photograph is a window into a world where design, art, and light converge to create an ambience that is both visually stunning and deeply comforting. This Maida Vale apartment is more than just a living space; it's a showcase of how contemporary design, when intertwined with artistic expression and captured through skilled photography, can create a home that is both a sanctuary and a source of inspiration. It stands as a beacon of style, functionality, and artistic collaboration, offering a warm welcome to all who enter. Hashtags: #JolantaCajzerDesign #TomKurekPhotography #KrisCieslakArt #EclecticModern #MaidaValeStyle #LondonInteriors #BrightAndBold #MirrorMagic #SpaceEnhancement #ModernMeetsTraditional #VibrantLivingRoom #CozyBedrooms #ArtInDesign #DesignTransformation #UrbanChic #ClassicElegance #ContemporaryFlair #StylishLiving #TrendyInteriors #LuxuryHomesLondon

Recibidor con almacenaje en todos sus lados: a la derecha un armario empotrado, de frente un banco con almacenaje, a la izquierda, los separadores de madera llevan integrados unos percheros retráctiles. Hall with storage on all sides: on the right a built-in wardrobe, in front a bench with storage, on the left, the wooden dividers have integrated retractable coat racks.

A traditional Villa hallway with paneled walls and lead light doors.
Inspiration för mellanstora klassiska hallar, med vita väggar, mörkt trägolv och brunt golv

Exempel på en mellanstor modern hall, med vita väggar och ljust trägolv

Inredning av en eklektisk hall, med beige väggar, mellanmörkt trägolv och brunt golv

L'obbiettivo principale di questo progetto è stato quello di trasformare un ingresso anonimo ampio e dispersivo, con molte porte e parti non sfruttate. La soluzione trovata ha sostituito completamente la serie di vecchie porte con una pannellatura decorativa che integra anche una capiente armadiatura. Gli oltre sette metri di ingresso giocano ora un ruolo da protagonisti ed appaiono come un'estensione del ambiente giorno.

Idéer för en mellanstor modern hall, med gröna väggar, mellanmörkt trägolv och brunt golv

Idéer för att renovera en stor funkis hall, med vita väggar och ljust trägolv

La porte en arche ouve sur la chambre. En haut du mur, une verrière en bois foncé ajoute du caractère et laisse passer la lumière.
Exempel på en modern hall, med beige väggar

The project began with a modest brief to address deferred maintenance and upgrade essential services in a family home that no longer met the evolving needs of its occupants. Chief among the challenges was the lack of adequate storage, a pressing issue given the changing requirements of the owners. As the design evolved, it became clear that there was an opportunity to restore the three-storey building to its former glory while enhancing and expanding its living spaces. This realisation shifted the project’s trajectory towards a more cohesive and ambitious vision, balancing practicality with an aesthetic recalibration that the property had long been missing. FPA set out to craft a home that intimately reflected its inhabitants, creating spaces that are not only functional but resonate with their lifestyle. The design achieves a thoughtful balance of preservation, enhancement, and innovation, resulting in a home that feels both timeless and tailored. The historical layout required minimal remodelling, with only localized interventions to improve flow and functionality. Additional space was gained through a hip-to-gable dormer extension under Permitted Development, seamlessly integrating new and old. Externally, traditional materials like London stock bricks and slates honour the building’s heritage, while internally, a warmer, more contemporary palette transforms the home. Plywood, used extensively for wall linings, flooring, and bespoke joinery, showcases the potential of a humble material, offering both simplicity and refinement. The material palette and finishes were deliberately understated yet sophisticated. Muted tones create calm and inviting spaces, while selective use of accent colours adds moments of joy and playfulness. The result is a project that feels grounded and serene, yet undeniably modern—a family home reimagined with sensitivity and character.

Entrance hall and stairs detail
Foto på en stor vintage hall, med grå väggar, mörkt trägolv och brunt golv

Chez Sophie & Nicolas, tout commence par l’entrée. Parce qu’une entrée de caractère donne le ton de toute la maison : nous l’avons sublimée avec la couleur picture red gallery de @farrowandball Ces teintes se prolongent jusqu’au salon. La lumière circule, créant une belle continuité jusque dans la cuisine. ✨

Duplex apartment decorated in a scandi/vintage style with eclectic, colourful touches throughout. Character added to a once plain hallway with colour on woodwork and beautiful wallpaper.

This hallway was a bland white and empty box and now it's sophistication personified! The new herringbone flooring replaced the illogically placed carpet so now it's an easily cleanable surface for muddy boots and muddy paws from the owner's small dogs. The black-painted bannisters cleverly made the room feel bigger by disguising the staircase in the shadows. Not to mention the gorgeous wainscotting that gives the room a traditional feel that fits perfectly with the disguised shaker-style storage under the stairs.

Pasillo abierto, con ritmo visual hasta distribuidor de habitaciones
Bild på en stor vintage hall, med vita väggar och mellanmörkt trägolv

Renovierter Eingangsbereich in dem der alte Terrazzofußboden erhalten ist. Treppenaufgang mit Kassetten verkleidet.
Idéer för en mycket stor modern hall, med vita väggar och terrazzogolv

Inspiration för stora moderna hallar, med vita väggar, ljust trägolv och brunt golv