A London townhouse nestled between Holland Park, Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove has been transformed into a serene, light-filled home that honors its historical roots while adopting contemporary design. The renovation, executed by BOMA Projects, reflects a careful balance between preserving original architectural elements and introducing modern functionality for a tech entrepreneur from Copenhagen who sought a warm, tactile living space.
Restoring Historical Grandeur
The property, largely untouched since the 1980s when it was divided into smaller flats, revealed traces of its original elegance beneath layers of modifications. Georgia Burne, co-founder and director of BOMA Projects, discovered four-meter-high ceilings and full-height French doors that had been obscured by lowered ceilings and a disjointed layout. A metal spiral staircase had also intruded into the main living area, disrupting the space’s flow. The primary goal was to reinstate the ceiling heights, restore the proportions of key rooms, and celebrate the natural light that streams through the windows.
“Our intention was to uncover what was already inherently beautiful about the property,” Burne explained. The new central staircase, designed as a sculptural element, restored a sense of permanence to the space. Structural challenges arose from the need to integrate underfloor heating and ensure timber flooring aligned seamlessly across rooms. Additional reinforcement was required to support the new staircase, demanding close collaboration between engineers and designers to balance practicality with aesthetics.
Balancing Tradition and Contemporary Elements
The design palette emphasizes texture and materiality over color, with custom Versailles flooring treated to resemble reclaimed wood and finished in dark smoked oak. Warm clay walls, ornate coving, and traditional skirting details contrast with a minimalist, contemporary material language. Burne noted that the approach avoids reproducing a traditional period interior, instead creating a calm, tactile environment that feels both timeless and modern.
Furniture, lighting, and art were selected to leave space around each piece, allowing them to stand as individual objects within the architecture. The main bathroom showcases tadelakt walls matched to the clay finish, accented by Blue Fusion marble that introduces subtle color and movement. “The backdrop is incredibly quiet and earthy, then you have these moments of much richer materiality that bring the spaces to life without overwhelming them,” Burne said.
Structural Challenges and Collaborative Solutions
The renovation required extensive structural work, including stripping back to brick and floor joists to accommodate new systems. Marcus Moore, director and co-founder of BOMA Projects, emphasized the need for precision: “We spent a great deal of time choosing the right products in advance, with millimetres to spare, to create levels that satisfied both the flow of the space and the existing parts of the property.” Modern construction techniques enabled stronger, more integrated solutions compared to those available in the 1980s.
The project’s success hinged on constant dialogue between the design team and engineers, ensuring each decision enhanced both functionality and visual harmony. The result is a home that feels grounded in its location between three distinct London neighborhoods, yet distinctly shaped by its owner’s vision for tranquility and craftsmanship.
Transition from Workspace to Living Home
Originally divided into smaller flats, the townhouse’s layout was reimagined to restore a sense of generosity to the rooms. The main bedroom was expanded to show the property’s renewed scale and elegance. Burne highlighted the “masculine quality” of the interior, softened by natural materials and abundant light, creating a space that feels both robust and inviting. “Ladbroke Grove was all about having BOMA Projects build a home that stripped away the noise,” says homeowner Victor. “But when you’re building a company at this scale, you inhabit a space for a specific chapter, and then you just move on to whatever is next.” The property is now listed for sale with Josh Ratcliffe of UK Sotheby’s International Realty.
