Pencil and Brick

So far in the early stages of our project but the team at Pencil and Brick have been very professional and approachable throughout. Clear design stages and fee structures so nothing hidden, and the communication and updates have been detailed without overwhelming. Looking forward to continuing on with the build.

We recently purchased a terraced house in North London and are working with Pencil & Brick on a renovation of the 4-bedroom house (built in the early 1900s, last owner has lived here since the 80s). Neither myself or my husband have done a renovation before (this is also our first home purchase) - after talking to a few different architects, Pencil & Brick were the obvious choice. Sean and Jana have listened to our vision and worked to accommodate, while also offering a ton of advice from the practical (moving into the house before we start work in order to save money and experience living in the house) to design/layout suggestions (adding entryway storage for post-walks with the dog, considering different kitchen layouts to balance storage and comfort). I've also been impressed by their focus on sticking to our budget - every stage involves a review of tentative budget and suggestions around potential 'watch outs'. And last-but-not-least - the whole team are good people that you'l enjoy getting on a call with, which makes whole process much more fun & enjoyable.

Pencil and Brick successfully helped me gain planning permission for a garage loft conversion to a two bed flat. We've completed the technical design and now we're building it, with Pencil and Brick's assistance. Happy to use them again on the next project.

It's been excellent working with Seán and Matt on the rennovation of our house. They listened closely to what we needed and developed thoughtful and exciting designs that responded to our brief and budget. They also made some great suggestions for things we hadn't even thought of, which has strengthened the design further. We've just submitted our planning application, and we can't wait to see their designs turn into reality.

I worked with Pencil and Brick to get an ambitious planning application for permitted development at my new house to extension, and loft. They where thoughtful and successful in doing that. Then I wanted an outbuilding and engaged Matt and Jana in the team again and they did a great job at that permitted development application. I would quickly recommend Pencil and Brick to anyone. Full disclosure : I build with Pencil and Brick, though this project was a personal project.

Fantastic service. Well thought out drawings delivered swiftly and they were always there to answer follow up questions. The project was a tricky one which required an innovative use of the relevant space to ensure a comfortable living area fit for purpose. I am over the moon with my new layout.

I commissioned Pencil & Brick's construction arm to carry out a two-storey rear extension on my property in East London between September and December 2022, for which I had already completed architectural and structural designs. Being my first construction project, I was hugely grateful for the insight and guidance that Pencil & Brick's highly experienced and dedicated team provided throughout the project. The project was well planned and executed, and I received regular updates and feedback from developments on site. I always found Pencil & Brick to be totally honest and transparent, and this is something that the company clearly prides itself on. Pricing estimates were accurate and realistic, and costs at all stages of the project were clearly broken down and explained. On site, the construction team were reliable, considerate and incredibly hard-working - so much so that the project completion date was brought in twice from the original estimate. The on-site team also brought creative and practical solutions to problems stemming from architectural oversights and unforeseeable obstacles. I would have no hesitation in choosing Pencil & Brick again if I were to carry out another project in the future.

A year ago I found myself in quite a tricky situation with the local authority during a project I had started that was threatening to unravel in an expensive fashion. Sean (and Matt) took over the project, somehow managed to bring calm to a difficult situation and I can now see light at the end of a long tunnel. His architectural work is first rate but of equal importance is his ability to deal with people in contentious professional situations, which having learnt the hard way, is one of the most important things in this business. Thanks. Nick

We had a full house renovation, kitchen extension and loft conversion done by Sean and the team at pencil and brick. Thoroughly pleased with both the output and the process of the construction. The builders took great care and attention and where always really friendly when we came to see how the house was progressing. The team were great at helping us to navigate decisions regarding both interior design as well as what was and wasn’t necessary. Couldn’t be more pleased with the end result especially as it was completed ahead of the arrival of our second child, would highly recommend. Full disclosure is that Sean (business owner) is my husband, however, these thoughts and recommendations are entirely my own.

Sean and his team at Pencil and Brick have done some very thorough, creative and skilled work for us. They are easy to work with, and are conscious of our needs and preferences.

I have worked with Pencil And Brick on a few projects. One was a particularly tricky one where planning permission was proving difficult. They were with me every step of the way and saw the application through til the successful end! We are now working on another project which I am looking forward to fulfilling. They have a wealth of professional connections that make life so much easier. I have used other 'planners' and have been very nervous and the process has not been smooth but with Seán I feel I am in safe hands. Trusting your professionals is a very large part of your build journey and I can say I trust Seán and the team.

Sean and Stephen are absolutely lovely, very helpful and thorough in their work. They guided us on completing a total renovation of our victorian house, incl a basement dig out, and we felt supported and in good hands throughout. Working mainly with Stephen, he was always conscientious and forthcoming, helping us feel confident in our choices when difficult decisions were necessary, and always presented a good range of creative options for us to choose between. I would recommend Sean and Stephen and their team to anyone looking for architects on residential projects such as our own.

We instructed Sean & Stephen to help us transform our Victorian terrace. Their iterative design process is really rich and especially useful if you are new to working with an architect or undertaking a large scale project. Stephen and the team solved many problems for us in the design process and also offered solutions that fitted so beautifully with our lifestyle. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them and were really impressed with the their diligence and also timelines which were very accurate. The planning process was easy. Their costing exercises were also helpful and allowed us to budget along the way and they are able to add in a team of experts to the process including structural engineers to validate their designs. We are really happy with our finished design and can’t wait for it to be built.

I approached Sean to explore the feasibility of a loft conversion in our very tall converted townhouse, and we are now expecting planning approval in the next few days. Throughout the project, Sean has been interested and engaged - eager, in fact! He (and Matt, the architect doing most of the hard work) have been brimming with ideas and positive suggestions, while also keeping it realistic and recognising the constraints we are operating within. Sean recommended that we take the proposal through the council's pre-planning process, which was a worthwhile investment of time as it identified what we could and could not include in the final application. The quality of drawings and other materials is top-notch (at least to my novice eyes), and the communications have been prompt and informative.

Initially I met Sean as a prospective parent of our nursery and happened to mention our intentions to expand. He instantly gave us some great suggestions and by coincidence was already working on a major project at the Blackhorse Mills with who we were in negotiations with. In his own time he kindly arranged for us to meet with the other tenants and introduced us to an amazing designer to help us prepare a presentation to the owners. Sean is highly professional but has a friendly and very likeable charm so you feel reassured that he'll explain anything that may seem too technical. He has a vast experience of projects both large and small that he can refer back to to give us ideas and examples. He asked lots of questions that really made us sit back and rethink the importance of what we wanted to achieve; and on reflection he didn't need to put as much care, attention and patience to this as it meant more time spent running through the various pros and cons with us! Sean's team have been very efficient and you can see the rapport between them that clearly makes for good morale and ultimately that deadlines are always adhered to. Their fee proposals are always detailed and concise so you know exactly what is included as well as the other expected costs of other services that come at each stage; and these recommendations for other professionals have all been pleasant and highly competent too. Overall if you're looking for trustworthy, caring but funky and enthusiastic architects, then Sean and Stephen are the team to choose!

Thank you Stephen and Matt for your unwavering support over a number of years to help us bring our dilapidated Victorian terrace into the modern era, through thick and thin! We are very happy to recommend their services in this area. Some points of particular note: 1. The initial meeting with Stephen where he took the time to understand our challenges and explore some initial creative routes 2. The early designs which brought to life the potential for the property 3. A calm, patient and supportive approach while we explored a number of different options and changed direction a couple of times trying to find the best outcome for our budget 4. Quick, easy and painless planning process 5. Support with the contractor briefing, quoting and contracting process 6. Really focussed and supportive project management of the build, bringing close attention to detail and budget without losing sight of the creative objective And finally, the feeling that the team have had our backs, and been open, honest and transparent about everything throughout the process.

We enlisted Sean & Stephen on our top-to-bottom home renovation in East London. Of the architects we spoke to they were the most engaged in our project and gave the most detailed quote. So far they have been a real pleasure to work with, providing great communication and insightful advice as we progress through the various stages of planning. We look forward to seeing the project through to completion with them in the next year.

Sean & Stephen have guided our project , through the RIBA process from concept to a successful planning permission. We have enjoyed the interaction with the team who have given us thought provoking designs and great technical input on what was possible/feasible. We look forward to now moving forward with our build stage, which will also involve Sean & Stephen’s guidance. Mr & Mrs Davenport

We have been working with Stephen and Emilia on the renovation and extension of our Victorian house in East London for about 18 months now and can highly recommend them to anyone looking for full architectural services. From the outset we chose Sean & Stephen as our architects because we felt Stephen really understood what we wanted to achieve and showed attention to detail while also making sure to manage our expectations from an early stage. He instantly made us feel like we were in safe hands, making selecting them as our architects a straightforward decision. Much of the early design was carried out before we'd even completed the purchase of the house and so quite a lot of patience was required all round but regular communication meant the project kept moving along and designs evolved with our feedback always taken into account, and Stephen was careful to make sure we knew what we were committing to with the risk that the purchase could fall through! This year we have gone from the conclusion of the design stage to planning, tender and now construction and Stephen and Emilia have been there throughout to guide us through many unknowns, always making sure we've considered every angle and anticipated potential hurdles before they arise. - I'm sure without them we'd have had a far more stressful experience than we have had. We're delighted that having worked with Stephen and Emilia, what we will end up with is a home that is designed around our lives rather than a house with an "off-the-shelf" extension and loft conversion, and can't wait to see the drawings and ideas that we've been looking at endlessly for over 12 months finally turn into something real.

Sean and Stephen Ltd have been a respite in the storm of complexity that is project design and build. We have worked with Sean and team to break our project down into logical stages which has meant we have both understood and had our feedback meaningfully taken into account every step along the way. The professionalism and attention to detail has kept us inspired and meant that we constantly have a feeling that our project is as meaningful to this brilliant team as it obviously is to us. We would wholeheartedly recommend this excellent practice and both it’s brilliant principals and whole team.

We knew after the first call with Seán that we were in good hands and he was the right architect for us. We had contacted 4 others prior to speaking to Seán and the difference in initial engagement was noticeable to say the least. He stood out through his enthusiasm, and his non-judgemental and professional approach. Seán clearly spends the time to prepare before every meeting, bringing case studies and examples relevant to our project and he provides clear and upfront costs. Seán’s meticulous approach of truly getting to the heart of what mattered to us has been invaluable as we had little clarity on what we wanted when we began. Ideas and possibilities are what we were after and they provided this to us together with an abundance of patience. We are only halfway thorough “forever home” project which includes a first story extension, roof conversion and basement room, currently waiting for planning permission. Upon its completion, we are sure will be providing further positive feedback.

We approached Sean and Stephen in 2019 to take on our 2 story rear extension to our terraced house. from the start they were thoughtful and clever about understanding our lives, how we wanted to live in our house and what was currently stopping us from doing that with the building as it was. They took that and turned it into many great concepts that showed us what was possible (we even had some great scale models that we could rearrange and play around with to see what we liked best). Through out each phase of the project they took the time to explain everything clearly which made the decision making process easy and straight forward. The whole project finished on time and exactly as the costing we had agreed upon, so there were no nasty surprises along they way due to the great planning in advance (especially amazing it went so well when you throw a global pandemic into the mix) What we ended up with is a house that is beyond what we went into this hoping for, and we cant thank the whole team enough. Great people to work with who are also great at what they do! Thanks again to everyone involved! (and Amber)

In 2020 I decided to look for a design and build team that, initially, could help me to get planning permission to use my flat roof as a zoned outdoor space with some structural shading etc. I used Houzz to find firms to discuss the requirements with, and after being contacted by Sean it was immediately obvious that they were going to be the right partners in the project. Through all the initial and then planning discussions I was guided through what the planners would and wouldn't allow, and how we could design something that would give additional rooms, increase the value and give me the outdoor space I was after. The end result is much more ambitious than my initial vision, and will be so much more usable once complete than a plain roof terrace. The biggest surprise has been that we sailed through the planning, building regulation and construction process with minimal concessions being required. The construction team, everyone in Pencil and Brick, made the inherently difficult process of complex inner-city construction as enjoyable and as simple as could be hoped. Photo's of the project can be found on a submission by Pencil and Brick. It's nice to find a firm that want to show of their work. https://www.houzz.co.uk/hznb/projects/roof-top-extension-and-roof-terrace-pj-vj~6797396

I enlisted the help of Sean & Stephen to renovate my split level flat, including extending the property into the garden and reconfiguring the kitchen and lounge areas. From the moment I met with Stephen, he took the time to really get under the skin of what I was looking to achieve and became a great source of inspiration and advice throughout the project. As well as designing the renovation, he also acted as project manager and did a great job, dealing with some major challenges created by our builders and ensuring all rules and regs were adhered to. The results have transformed the living space and the suggestions made by Stephen to improve my original plans have made a huge difference, bringing more light into the lower ground floor and resulting in a smarter use of space. The project exceeded the original budget but mainly owing to some joint decisions to change finishes and improving on quality of materials. I'd wholeheartedly recommend them and would love to work with them again.

We love our house, thank you for that mammoth effort you put in Seán and Stephen (and Toby)! We recommend you to all our friends looking for an architect because you took care of our project from start to finish. Can't wait to have you over for dinner and a glass of something, so you can see how our kitchen and dining space works in action, with our new furniture too.

We have worked with Sean & Stephen Ltd on two projects now - one for London Design Festival and more recently on our Workshop Container project. They are a joy to work with and have fantastic client communication. Meticulous attention to detail, and you can fully trust they have everything in hand. For us we are always working to very tight budgets, and they are very good at looking for cost effective solutions. I would thoroughly recommend their services.

Excellent and flexible assistance through the early stages of an exciting but administratively difficult project. Nice design ideas and thoughtful interaction. Recommended. Project ongoing.

Sean and Stephen (and Toby) are excellent architects. They have been very patient, breaking down all aspects of the works involved and ensuring that at every key milestone they have listened to the brief and delivered. Not only from a design point view but given us options that can increase the value of our property. Our project is still in the design phase but given our experience so far I am happy to recommend Sean and Stephen for any project. They clearly know there stuff, very professional and supportive.

We worked together with Sean on a lovely Hackney home renovation/extension project. It was a clear smooth process throughout and a pleasure to deal with! Very professional!

True Craft appointed Sean & Stephen Ltd. to design our craft beer and pizza pub in South Tottenham, London. As this was our first venture we appreciated the time and attention they gave to the project, guiding us every step of the way. It was important that the solutions Sean & Stephen developed for the kitchen and bar area worked from a functional perspective to allow for a smooth operation, as well as aesthetically from our customers perspective - they delivered on both. Their biggest challenge was fitting 3 toilets, a cellar and a storage area into a tight space at the back of the property which they also exceeded our expectations on. We would highly recommend working with them if you're looking for inspiring design solutions, attention to detail and highly personalised service.

I was hired by Sean and Stephen to photograph one of their latest projects in North London. Which I throughly enjoyed working on. They successfully created brand new loft conversion of a period property which was different to the usual conversions I photograph. Project was carried out with impeccable attention to detail, great use of natural light, making the most of the property leafy setting. I hope new photos help to grow this exciting London architectural practise.

We, STS Structural Engineering ltd, have been working as structural engineers with Sean and Stephen since 2013. Over the years we have done some exciting and challenging projects – both small and larger ones. They also like to take part in community and charity projects and we are always happy to help them where structural input is required. We have seen their practice expand from a part-time occupation to a fully established design office. In that time, Sean and Stephen have worked hard and learned a lot to become proper architects and chartered members of the RIBA. They are forward thinking individuals always looking to take advantage of new technologies and building techniques. They are also meticulous and their attention to detail is immediately apparent when inspecting their finished projects. They seem to communicate well with their clients and to have a genuine care for them and their developments. We are glad to recommend their services and have done so in the past. We are looking forward to working with Sean and Stephen in the future.

Stephen and Sean designed our kitchen extension. This is our first house and we had bought a ‘project’ that we were keen to do up. While we are keen DIYers we had no experience when it came to building works and design. Stephen and Sean were very knowledgeable about what we were allowed to do and explained the planning/permitted development process to us. Our budget wasn’t large so using an architect was a big decision but we reasoned that if we were going to spend a large amount of money we wanted to ensure we got something good and hiring Stephen and Sean ensured we got something special. Their technical expertise was fantastic and they spent the time going through what we wanted and also how the light worked in our house. The design that they came up with was different from anything we had considered but it works fantastically well and I’m so pleased we haven’t got a boring, bog standard extension. They came up with lots of extra design features but were sympathetic to our budget. While we didn’t go with all of their suggestions it really pushed us to be a bit braver and gave us the confidence to make some bold decisions in the rest of the house. They really helped us visualise what was possible by bringing images of other projects and buildings so we were able to understand where their ideas came from. They were open and approachable and it felt like they really wanted us to get something special.

We thoroughly enjoy working with Sean and Stephen. Their designs are always interesting with little twists and details that make them stand out visually and fun to work on technically. They are receptive to suggestions and alternative solutions from the whole team in order to get the best job done. On top of that, they're just really nice people to work with and we'd recommend them to anybody looking for an architect.

We hired Seán & Stephen to design an extension ('An extension with two stairs' on this site) which we wanted to be the full six metres now allowed under permitted development rules. They gave us good advice on the height of our extension and helped us through the planning process. As a result we had no objections from the planning department for our project. Seán & Stephen designed a couple of height change options as we had to bring the level down from that at the front of the house to the garden at the back. We also had some great ideas from them for the flow-through from upper to lower level and various configurations for the kitchen space. Although we did not engage them at the project management level, they remained interested and engaged with our build and offered suggestions on a number of building control items. They were always ready to listen to our views and discuss our concerns and I always felt that we were able to talk through any issues and come to a satisfactory conclusion. I'd recommend Seán & Stephen unreservedly.

I wanted a summerhouse for a forgotten space at the end of my garden. I knew I didn't just want a standard one that I could have bought off the shelf at a DIY store. I wanted something different which also offered the practicality of the regular summerhouses on sale. I had some vague ideas but mostly just feelings about what I wanted. After a short discussion, Stephen succeeded in skilfully translating all this into a strong brief that delivered just what I wanted. The end result was a summerhouse that was both sculptural and practical. The design featured the curved lines that matched the layout of my garden and was attractive and innovative, creating a talking point with friends and neighbours. It was also practical as it included the storage space that I required and had specified. But most of all it has created a beautiful, tranquil space where I can sit and enjoy another bit of my garden. If you want something that is tailored to your personality and your practical needs I would not hesitate in recommending that you talk to Sean and Stephen.

The project for which we hired them was the complete remodeling of a neglected two bedroom flat into a luxury loft-style one bedroom rental flat. Sean and Stephen are not only very creative, innovative and knowledgeable, they are also adaptable, solution oriented and meticulous. This means they understood our requests, preferences and needs and were able to interpret these and translate them into definite design ideas, making the creative process very enjoyable. But it also means that they managed to bring the project back on track when we discovered unexpected asbestos and a rotten beam. They made the building process pain free and kept the schedule and budget tight. They have a great eye for detail and take great pride in their work and try to achieve the highest possible standard. My husband and I are very happy to recommend them and would employ them again ourselves without hesitation.

We have worked collaboratively with Sean & Stephen on a number of projects. They are creative, diligent and personable. Their ideas and work are both brilliant and wonderful and come from somewhere special. Importantly they are also very frank when discussing the budget with a client and what is achievable. Something always is. A refreshing and honest approach.

I would highly recommend Sean and Stephen Ltd for a residential project. Having never undertaken a renovation project before, we felt as though we were in very safe hands and completely trusted them to lead us through the whole lifecycle of the project. We worked most closely with Stephen, but also with a number of other members of the team and were impressed by each and every one. Stephen and his team listened carefully to our opening brief and aims for the project. At every stage we were presented with many options and ideas, all of which were in line with these overall aims. Their vision and attention to detail was amazing, and has resulted in a beautiful, original and interesting design that really works for our home and family. Stephen and his team were always very responsive and available whenever we needed them. We had regular meetings to review progress, and they kept the project on track. Importantly for us, they were also always very upfront in relation to overall project costs, and very helpful in suggesting alternatives where necessary to keep our project on budget and to time. We couldn't be happier with the end result, and have no doubt that without the input of Stephen and Sean Ltd we would not have such a beautiful side return kitchen extension that works so well for our family. We wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future, or recommend them to others.

We would recommend Seán and Stephen to prospective clients of ours, particularly projects where residential clients who are looking to create something a little extra special and therefore need good architectural input and leadership. They are a young practice but seem to be knowledgeable. Always willing to listen and learn from other professionals. Seán and Stephen have good ideas, patience and a good understanding of your client’s requirements. They care for their projects, are very organised and ensuring that all the design team are aware of what is happening at all stages, both pre-site work and during construction. They challenged us constructively, always asking pertinent questions but always ready to understand the issues surrounding the construction process.

The highest testimony I can give is having worked with Sean and Stephen in a professional capacity through my role at the London Borough of Waltham Forest I then chose them to be the architects for my own home extension. I trusted them to improve my home, meet my children, husband (and my cats) and to shape how I will live in my house for many years to come. Sean and Stephen are trustworthy, conscientious and sticklers for detail. I felt comfortable leaving them a key to my home when they needed to take measurements and felt able to ring them once the design was completed for advice on anything from the contract, to design challenges, changes and how to approach issues with the contractor. I chose Sean and Stephen as they challenge and empower me to be creative in my decisions. The loft extension they have designed for me is unique to our house and reflects my aspirations while also taking the design to another level which I would not have been able to conceive myself. We had a challenge with Building Control regarding our stairs. Sean and Stephen worked with me and didn’t give up when the initial answer was no. Through dogged determination, reasoned argument and flexibility in their design I have ended up with stairs which fit into the wider context of the house, are nice and wide which I will be grateful for every day but also have been signed off by Building Control thereby ensuring we have a compliant scheme. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sean and Stephen for either a domestic or a commercial project. They are creative, personable, accessible, flexible, knowledgeable and hard-working. They have pride in what they design and want to ensure the client is happy with the outcome but that it is also delivered to the highest quality which reflects the high quality of their design.

To set the scene : we are mid-way through construction, to renovate & extend of our Victorian terrace in East London. We've had Seán and Stephen Ltd as our architects for 18 months so far. My wife and I are complete novices to design & construction, and Seán and Stephen have expertly and supportively guided us through each stage, enabling us to really enjoy every part of creating our new home. I would happily recommend this professional practice to family and friends. They were great at helping to bring some of our own design preferences to life using plans, 3D models, and interactive virtual room design tools. But they also have challenged our thinking too, leading us to add in a number of amazing and creative features that we would never otherwise have considered. Seán and Stephen created an extremely thorough and professional Design & Access Statement to help explain our project to the local planners. As a direct result of the quality of S&S’s planning pack our application (which proposed various potentially contentious items such as a basement, lightwell, and dormer) was approved without a single significant amendment. Since the contractor began the works Seán and Stephen have project managed every aspect of the construction programme, providing us with detailed weekly updates and explaining everything to us in layman’s terms. They consistently fight our corner with the contractor on a number of technical and cost-related issues which gives us real confidence that the project is in safe hands. So far we have enjoyed a stress-free project thanks to their project management skills