Being bold with your home’s layout and your material choices can profoundly enhance both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your living space. At Lion House in Fulham, we embarked on a daring renovation project that reimagined the traditional design of a South-West London home to unlock its full potential. The NLS studio’s vision was to free up space and flood the house with daylight. In many Fulham homes, you find the staircase directly in front of you as you walk through the front door. With a wall often separating the hallway from the living space to the side, the result is a cramped and shadowy entrance hall. This creates an uninviting first impression and an impractical use of space. For this residential project, our clients trusted us in taking a bold approach by moving the staircase to the centre of the floor plan. Beyond simply providing an opportunity to make a unique architectural feature out of the stairs, this strategic shift offered several transformative benefits, improving spatial dynamics and creating a more inviting, light-filled environment.

Embarking on our recently completed project for The Rug Company, a new flagship showroom in Chelsea Harbour, our NLS studio team were challenged to adopt a strategic approach to bespoke interior architecture and design. Guided by a respect for the brand’s heritage alongside a vision for its future, we set out to create a space that would not only showcase the brand’s exquisite rugs but also elevate the entire retail experience. Our process was thorough and immersive, rooted in securing a comprehensive understanding of the retail landscape and The Rug Company’s unique identity.

Colour is a fundamental element in architecture and design, powerfully shaping our perception and emotional response within a space. At Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design, we are always seeking to harness the profound impact that colour has on mood, behaviour, and the overall experience of inhabiting a built environment. In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of colour psychology and examine its application in a notable office project from our portfolio.

As we look into exciting material solutions for another new retail project, we have been reflecting on our collaboration with Manolo Blahnik in Tokyo’s Omotesando district.  The simple stainless steel framed facade design of this store allows for a clear view of the similarly steely lines in the interior fittings and colourfully vibrant footwear collection.

In addition to enhancing your enjoyment of a space, extending your property stands as the most effective way to increase the value of your asset. Subject to the property and its location, extensions may include a rooftop room or terrace, side, rear or front alterations, basement dig or even a separate garden room. In London, upwards is sometimes the only way to go!