When my partner and I first purchased our home in Bath, we wanted to create something that felt like a true reflection of us, inviting, warm, and full of character. The English weather can be rather dreary so my goal was to design a space that also felt like a hug. Somewhere that brought warmth and freshness even on the greyest of days. I also wanted it to be reflective of the studio’s house style and to really have fun with it. It also had to be functional as at the time, I was using it as an office so I needed space for samples, design boards, and a revolving door of suppliers and clients. On top of that, we love to host so it needed to feel open and easy, the kind of home where people can just walk in, sit down, and stay for hours.

When we bought it, it was far from that. The house had previously been a student share and let’s just say it hadn’t been particularly well looked after. The rooms were boxed in and dark with little flow between the spaces. The kitchen and dining are  which I knew would be the heart of our home were especially gloomy. I wanted to change that completely, to renovate nd open up spaces with lots of light flooding in and make it a proper gathering space. Adding a large glazed skylight transformed the entire feel of the ground floor. Suddenly, what had been cramped and tired became bright and expansive.

One of the most delightful surprises came later in the renovation process. It hadn’t been disclosed that the house had an additional loft space and when we discovered it during a walkthrough it felt like finding hidden treasure. We opened it up, added a staircase, and turned it into a guest bedroom. It feels tucked away and peaceful with clever built-in storage that holds clothes and the inevitable overflow of books we’ve accumulated over the years.

The kitchen, though, is the true hub of the home. The island anchors the space and draws everyone in, it’s naturally become the place for morning coffee, casual dinners, and late-night chats. We designed the cabinetry with a touch of personality too. My partner is Cypriot so we incorporated a pediment-style detail on two of the kitchen cabinets as a subtle nod to his heritage.

Outside, the home opens onto a little garden that feels incredibly private, it’s a secluded pocket overlooking Bath. The house sits on top of a hill, so from the upstairs windows in our bedroom as well we get the most stunning views of the city. 

This project taught me a lot about the importance of light and flow in a home. By reconfiguring the layout and paying attention to the small details, the ones that tell your story, you can completely transform how a space feels and functions. What started as a dark and dated house is now a place that feels joyful, generous, and truly ours.