Architecture firm Studio McW has completed a comprehensive renovation and extension of a Victorian terraced house in Southwest London, creating a sophisticated home designed specifically for entertaining. The project, known as Sobremesa House, was commissioned by Charlie and Joshua Karlsen, founders of luxury catering business Opus 11, who sought to transform their property into the perfect venue for hosting gatherings.
The 196-square-meter home underwent extensive modifications in 2024, including the expansion of the ground floor to create a contemporary kitchen and dining space, plus the conversion of the loft into a guest bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. The architects stripped the split-level property, which had previously been divided into three bedsit apartments, back to its original shell to realize its full potential.
Working closely with their clients, Studio McW delivered an open-plan layout that reflects the couple's passion for entertaining. The homeowners host monthly Friday night dinners for clients, collaborators, and colleagues, providing guests with an opportunity to experience their culinary expertise. The renewed design allows for natural flow between spaces and creates the perfect ambience for social gatherings of any size.
The building's structure required significant attention, with Studio McW rebuilding the precarious brick outrigger and reusing the masonry to create more thermally efficient spaces. The renovation included new insulation, replacement sash windows, and internal insulation of the entire front exterior walls to maintain the Victorian street-facing details while improving energy performance.
Studio McW added a carefully proportioned side extension to allow occupants and guests to enjoy the full width of the property. This extension accommodates a twelve-seater dining table and banquette seating, maximizing the home's hosting potential. A modest one-meter rear extension completes the ground floor plan, introducing abundant natural light through striking 2.4-meter-tall glazed doors and a romantic curved skylight that leads to the newly landscaped rear garden.
The side extension features an internal courtyard garden at the center of the home and a large picture window overlooking new hardscaped planting to the rear. This design allows natural light to penetrate the center of the plan while providing cross-ventilation. The intimate dining area benefits from overhead glazing set with oak joists that softly diffuse light throughout the space while maintaining privacy from neighboring windows.
One of the project's most striking features is a sweeping brick curve that connects the side and rear extensions. From the garden, this element appears as if it has been gently carved away to make space for newly added planting. This technically complex detail minimizes the visual impact of the extension on neighboring homes while protecting privacy for all residents.
The extensions are constructed from pale buff-toned Weinberger bricks laid in two distinct coursing patterns, with vertical bricks breaking up the visual weight and supporting the curving architectural gesture. This material choice maintains harmony with the existing Victorian structure while clearly defining the contemporary additions.
The ground floor's centerpiece is a bespoke smoked oak and marble kitchen featuring a monolithic Violetta marble island that provides informal gathering space. The kitchen is set against cabinetry punctuated by a vast curved alcove where the marble backsplash extends to fill the entire area. Handmade arched oak joinery, designed by Studio McW and crafted by long-term collaborator Idle Furniture, softens the marble surfaces while adding warmth and balance to the space.
The open-concept ground floor includes a generously proportioned reception area perfect for welcoming guests. The architects subverted the typical use of this central space in Victorian terraces, moving the dining area to the rear extension and creating an arrival space for informal drinks. A cozy lounge area at the front of the house connects to the reception area through an enlarged opening.
Throughout the home, Studio McW incorporated thoughtful design elements that create visual and functional impact. A double-height void in the stairwell soars toward a rooflight, drawing in abundant natural light. The hallways feature soft, textural surfaces with rounded edges and natural plaster, providing the perfect backdrop for Charlie and Joshua's collection of lighting and artwork.
In contrast to the openness of the ground floor, the upper levels retain more of the property's original layout and house bedrooms, a snug area, and bathrooms. The primary suite occupies an entire level, with the bedroom accessed through an impressive 12-square-meter walk-in wardrobe clad in oak joinery that conceals access to a stepped shower room.
The main bedroom creates an airy atmosphere with textured lime wash walls, an expansive custom bouclé headboard, and floor-to-ceiling curtains that frame a turret bay window. By borrowing space from above, the turret has been opened up to create generous ceiling height and an angled focal point. This architectural intervention adds more visual value than the small amount of storage it could have offered in the loft conversion.
The top levels feature a luxurious pink guest bedroom and family bathroom, while the converted loft provides a third bedroom with an ensuite shower room. Throughout the home, the materiality represents a carefully curated balance of texture and warmth, with timber flooring grounding the interiors while striking monochromatic marble provides bold visual weight.
Studio McW integrated advanced technology throughout the home, including a whole-house audio system, ensuring the space functions as beautifully as it appears. The architects considered every detail to create an environment that is both inviting and practical for entertaining, resulting in the perfect backdrop for vibrant and memorable gatherings.
Greg Walton, Director of Studio McW, explained the project's philosophy: "Our clients wanted to extend the property while retaining the modest grandeur and character of the existing Victorian house, including its proportions and interior details, but updating it for comfortable, tailored modern living and entertaining. We designed an extension that could be simultaneously playful in form and respectful to neighbors."
Charlie and Joshua Karlsen reflected on the collaboration: "This project was a true labor of love, and Studio MCW exceeded every expectation in bringing our vision to life. We didn't want to create a typical renovation; we wanted a space that reflected our passion for design and architecture. Each element was woven into every decision, and Studio MCW helped us translate them into a space that feels deeply personal and beautifully considered."
