James Dale Architects were appointed to design this small side infill extension to a terraced house in east London. The client wanted to incorporate extra multi use space on the ground floor to accommodate a seating area in the dinning room, relaxation space and a jacuzzi, all on an extremely tight budget.

Located within a building constructed in 1937, this apartment retained many of the signature features of New York’s golden age of residential architecture when we first encountered it in 2012—a spacious foyer and living room, wide halls, and beautiful wood floors. Creative professionals keen to color and material, our clients took issue with the kitchen. Also emblematic of prewar apartment living, this room was tucked away in a dim, narrow space, and did not accommodate the couple’s love of entertaining. While they didn’t want to remove any walls separating the kitchen from the living room, our client desired a kitchen that would not only reflect their taste, but also feel larger and better connected to the rest of the apartment. In response, we removed a wall between the kitchen and adjoining dining area, which enhanced the space’s volume and allowed daylight to penetrate more deeply into the kitchen. New cabinetry was designed to expand storage capacity and enclose new appliances, while expressing the client’s personality. We extended cabinetry into the dining area, to provide additional storage for dinnerware. To maximize the sense of spaciousness, we removed the kitchen’s tile floor and replaced it with oak flooring similar to the original oak flooring installed throughout the apartment. All flooring was sanded, ebonized, and refinished to create a more seamless flow between spaces. The dark hue creates contrast with the white plaster walls, as well, engendering a new sense of drama and elegance in all the interiors.