"From the somber terraced house we purchased, to the now brightened living space - it's like day and night's transformation."
Transforming a Walthamstow Property: A Successful Attic Conversion
In a bid to put their own unique stamp on a two-bedroom brick end-terrace house in Walthamstow, east London, purchased in 2021, Amy and Tom embarked on a comprehensive renovation project. With a focus on maximizing space and incorporating natural light, the couple turned to Michael Langley of MLA-Architecture, whom they discovered on Instagram.
The property, in a run-down state, featured a conservatory at the back that was freezing. The solution for the loft conversion was to design an L-shaped plan and install a large window above the stairwell to allow daylight into the area.
The attic conversion was developed to accommodate guests separately, with the guest bedroom featuring a large window to bring in more light. The guest bathroom, a highlight of the renovation, boasts skylights positioned to illuminate the entire house.
Maximizing space with minimal structural changes was a key approach in the Walthamstow renovation. The architects reimagined the existing space to create maximum impact with minimal intervention, preserving the home's integrity while expanding usable space.
Oversized windows were added to the attic to create a feeling of space and light. The original door sill was lowered to make the transition between the small, paved garden terrace and kitchen dining space inside feel seamless.
The garden paving is designed to be sympathetic to the herringbone timber floors inside, while the front and back of the house were finished in reclaimed London stock brick, with black window and door frames and gutters.
A large skylight was installed over the stairwell to allow light into the house. The main bedroom features bespoke wardrobes with a color scheme inspired by an existing artwork.
The final design of the renovation included an attic conversion, an extension opening up to the garden, and an open-plan living, kitchen, and dining area. Rectangular fibre cement tiles were chosen for the dormer extension to match the original roof finish.
Incorporating natural light and storage solutions was crucial to the attic’s usability and ambiance. Utilizing skylights, dormer windows, and built-in storage optimized the new space, making it feel larger and more practical.
The Walthamstow project highlighted the desire for pockets of calm and flexible, social spaces, enhancing the home’s function for working from home and family stays. Balancing calm and social zones was key to the project's success.
Amy, who is an interior designer, ensured that a kitchen island and a bed could fit in the loft conversion. The best ways to create more space in a home through attic conversions, as illustrated by the Walthamstow property, include these key approaches: careful re-evaluation and creative reuse of underutilized attic areas, focusing on functional flow and comfort through insulation and stairs design, and tailoring the new space to family needs while minimizing heavy structural work.
The interior design of the Walthamstow property, post-renovation, showcases the seamless fusion of attic conversion and home-and-garden lifestyle, with strategically placed skylights and dormer windows in the attic enhancing the overall natural light throughout the house. Amy, an expert in interior design, cleverly utilized the converted attic space to accommodate a bedroom and kitchen island, thereby embracing a lifestyle that caters to both work-from-home needs and comfortable family stays.
