The Riverside House
London
Set on the river at the edge of London, this house needed to hit exactly the right note between town and country. We honoured the 18th century roots of the building, but reimagined its flow to meet the needs of a young family’s weekend retreat. We created an orangery-inspired extension to become a light-filled living room overlooking the garden and river. There were two awkward spaces linking the orangery and garden room, one was transformed into the library, the other became a bar with an Art Deco drinks cabinet. A rich, varied colour palette runs throughout the house, connecting spaces, creating atmosphere and making sense of things. We designed the garden to amplify its connection to the river and countryside beyond. A terraced lawn leads gently down to the water and a jetty for mooring boats and launching canoes. To accommodate the couple’s passion for cooking and entertaining, we created a sociable outdoor kitchen. There’s a handsome pergola for easy outdoor dining with ample soft seating and generous sofas to take in the views. The boathouse was converted into a cosy den that can be used as a retreat. but also double up as the ultimate guest bedroom set away from the house.
"Nicola has created a colourful house with a relaxed atmosphere for the lucky owners. It is also a place in which carefully considered hidden storage makes it easy to be tidy. ‘You have got to cover practical needs first,’ she says. Though once that is done, she can add the soul."
- Elfreda Pownall, House & Garden
