Hamish Vincent Design and Architecture for London reunite for Islington House, a refurbishment and extension in London’s Canonbury Conservation Area. The project sits on the southern side of St Paul’s Road, within a terrace of nine post war rebuilt houses. The Neo Georgian property gave the client the architectural character they wanted without the limitations of a typical listed Islington townhouse.
INTERIOR DESIGN
The client first approached Hamish Vincent Design to help source a home in Islington. They admired Georgian architecture, yet a listed townhouse would have created major obstacles for the open plan layout they wanted. This non listed house offered the right solution. Its exterior carried the look of a Georgian townhouse, and its status allowed the design team to make deeper changes inside.
The brief asked for a larger living area on the ground floor, with an open plan kitchen, dining space and reception area. The client also requested a new ground floor WC and a home shaped by natural materials. Hamish Vincent Design and Architecture for London developed the project through that brief, using the original Georgian revival character as a starting point for a warmer and more open interior.
The refurbishment introduces an arched doorway and a cantilevered stair that extend the language of the existing house. The team repositioned the stair to create a generous double height entrance and a strong sense of vertical connection. A bespoke sweeping staircase now opens a three story void and gives the home its main architectural gesture. Douglas fir treads and stone detailing define the stair, bringing weight, texture and clarity to the interior.
Clayworks plaster walls carry light across organic forms and subtle arches. Solid oak, douglas fir and natural stone add warmth and durability. The continuous palette of lime plaster, marble, timber and brick links the rooms and gives the house a clear material rhythm. These finishes reflect the client’s interest in natural materials and the design team’s shared approach to sustainable choices.
The new plan improves daily life across each level. On the ground floor, the enlarged living space brings the kitchen, dining and reception areas together. The design creates openness without losing the scale and character of the original property. The arched elements and timber details soften the interior, while the stair gives the home a strong central focus.
The first floor contains the principal bedroom and ensuite. The ensuite uses the sweeping outer curve of the staircase and includes a spa shower with steam function. Opposite, the team placed a flexible second bedroom that can also serve as a study.
Architecture for London and Hamish Vincent Design also reworked the levels from the ground floor upward. This allowed them to create a third bedroom and wet room on the second floor while keeping the existing roofline. They also formed a study within the existing loft area and added new Velux windows to bring natural light into the space.
Project: Islington House
Location: Islington, N1, London
Lead designer: Hamish Vincent Design
Architects: Architecture for London
Photography: Leighton James
