London Mews, William Smalley

A series of rotating grey oak fins recall the original stable frontage when closed, but opens to provide careful control of light and privacy to the ground floor study of this London mews house.

The oak boarding is taken inside to line the study, with brass hooks hanging coats, pictures and bespoke lights. Steps of the stairs extend to form a desk and bookshelves, and the timber continues to the first floor to provide a backdrop to the clients’ collection of pictures. Here the staircase was opened up with a water-cut polished brass handrail, and the kitchen reorganised in oiled oak and green-veined marble.

On the top floor a shower room was squeezed into an extension on the mansard roof, accessed through a secret door in the wardrobes. The polished plaster shower has an opening glass roof, and a window looking along the treetops of the gardens behind.

Viaduct helped Smalley with the sourcing and delivery of furniture for the project.

Design: William Smalley Architect

Photography: Alexander James and Michael Sinclaire