A flexible family home with flair in Clapton
It was 2017 when current owners, Emma and Ross Perkin, purchased this four-bedroom home – but it looked a little different. With the kitchen hidden in the basement, a small dark bedroom leading to the garden and the bathroom occupying the biggest room, its former layout was awkward and impractical. But given the couple’s experience as the founders of Emil Eve Architects, they were able to look past the old arrangement and imagine a brighter future. Not only did the house promise the work-and-life partners more space for their growing family, but a personal project to get stuck into. As Ross put it when we visited them after the job was complete: “It needed a lot of work – the architect’s dream.”
The couple, who were then expecting their second child, moved in and lived here for a little while in order to best understand the light, views and orientation. “We came up with the idea of an L-shaped extension on the ground floor,” Ross revealed. “And we went for an extension upstairs as well, to add a bathroom of the first floor and create a nice little roof terrace on top of it, accessed on the second floor.” The result is a series of outdoor spaces, which includes the beautiful courtyard reached via the kitchen. Thanks to sliding doors and expansive glazing, pretty greenery now pours into the living spaces.
We love what they’ve done with the place. The bespoke joinery in the dining area, which features bookshelves and a window seat to curl up for a read, is a highlight – as are the outside plants that come right up to the glass, creating lush views. By decorating this area with their kids’ drawings, Ross and Emma have added plenty of character and charm to it too. The sea-blue kitchen is also family-friendly: as well as brightening the room, the surface looks towards the courtyard so parents can keep an eye on children playing outside as they cook. But there are also spaces to retreat to (which is important when there are many people under the same roof), from the cosy living room painted in a muted grey to the pocket-sized roof terrace at the top of the house – the perfect place for five minutes’ peace.
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