White House

At the top of Highgate Hill an old white house faces the entrance to Waterlow Park and overlooks the distant city of London beyond. Its unassuming frontage could be easy to miss, nestled between two much larger more recent buildings on either side and some of the illustrious properties found in the neighbourhood. But behind this little white facade lies a fascinating piece of London history, which MW Architects have gently uncovered and bought back to life.

When MW Architects were approached, the property was in need of some tender love and care. The old bones of the early 18th Century building were weary and many of the floors and walls were bulging alarmingly. The last set of renovations, undertaken some time in the 1970s, had only made the situation worse by opening up some walls at first floor putting extra stress on the old timber frames. Yet hiding under the 70s decoration and behind the modern furniture and joinery the original timber panelling and floorboards were found. Following some urgent structural acupuncture the historic features were able to be revealed giving a sense of what the interiors would have been like in the early 18th Century when the property was, for a while, the Nags Head pub, the sort of place that may have been frequented by Dick Turpin or patrons who had sworn on the horns to dedicate themselves to merriment and debauchery. 

The primary spaces within the main body of the house at ground floor are dark and moody, whilst at first floor a series of calm green rooms flow from living room into master bedroom and dressing room. The main rooms are connected to each other through small vestibules and hallways, created by opening the plan back up around the central chimney and stair core, a typical feature of late 17th and early 18th century houses in the area. The rooms arranged around magnificent barley-twist stairs are packed with historical character and whilst the structure has been reinforced where required, this has carefully been inserted where it is hidden from view and the warped panelling and bowed floor show the legacy of years of gentle movement.

The cosy, dark blue ‘club room’ acts as an informal family room with a wood stove and comfy chairs and none of the distractions of the 21st Century. This room is the most introverted in the house and envelopes the occupant in its historic interior. The club room connects to the dining room through a bright yellow vestibule. The timber panelling in the dining room shifts from dark unpainted timber to an almost black colour around the chimney breast. The ceiling is low in this space and painted in a scuffled fools gold, dark on first glance but the odd glint of light is caught every now and again, a perfect space for eating dinners long into the winter night, by the light of candles.

The grand Living Room at first floor stretches across the entire width of the frontage with three fine sash windows overlooking the high street. Like a Georgian Parlour it features the clients finest art works and a grand piano for entertaining guests.

The Living Room is connected to the Master Bedroom via a small vestibule containing a cocktail bar. The Bedroom and adjacent Dressing Room overlook the back garden and connect through to the outrigger where a decadent ensuite has been provided. 

The ensuite references the first floor theme of calm greens for principal spaces through the use of colour, but is markedly different in character, with its sharp clean lines and contemporary material palette of concrete and reeded glass, in contrast to the warped timber panels and bowed floors of the master bedroom and living room.

Throughout the property MW Architects have sought to incorporate the clients antiques within the design, with bespoke items creating a highly personal feel to the interiors. In the master ensuite a vintage mid-century sideboard, found by the clients, was adapted to make a statement piece in the ensuite as a vanity unit and sink stand. The circular motifs on the sideboard doors inspired two bespoke pink concrete sinks of the same circumference, which sit on top of the unit, providing a real wow factor to the bathroom and incorporating the clients antique into a contemporary piece of design.

The careful structural interventions, restoration of original features and the highly crafted bespoke items designed for the property have required huge amounts of time, care and attention by everyone involved in the project including the clients, contractor, structural engineers, joiners etc. as well as MW Architects. The result is a vibrant, richly atmospheric series of rooms with incredible variation in character, combing the historical features with contemporary design. The modern glazed extension to the outrigger is fairly modest but allows the necessary fixtures and fittings of a contemporary kitchen, utility room and ensuite to be accommodated, whilst letting the principal historic rooms to remain relaxed and decluttered.