Sobremesa House

English description provided by the architects.

Studio McW has completed the comprehensive renovation and extension of a terraced house in South West London, resulting in a refined home primed for hosting.

The Victorian property, owned by founders of bespoke luxury catering business Opus 11 – Charlie and Joshua Karlsen – offers a composed and serene setting for effortless hospitality.

The clients asked Studio McW to expand the ground floor to form a contemporary kitchen and dining space, and add a new level to the home by converting the loft into a guest bedroom with an ensuite.

The couple host monthly Friday night dinners for clients, collaborators and colleagues, an opportunity for their guests to 'revel in what they do'. 

The renewed layout is flexible, allowing for a natural flow between spaces and soft ambience for social gatherings, no matter the occasion.

To realise the true potential of the home Studio McW stripped the split-level property, which had previously been divided into three bedsit flats, back to its shell.

The entire front exterior walls were insulated internally, to maintain the street facing external Victorian detailing.

Trusting in the architects' design vision, Charlie and Joshua welcomed the opportunity to take an experimental and playful approach to the renovation.

Studio McW's design thoughtfully incorporates a series of deliberate thresholds, creating distinct zones within the open plan home. Soft, linear curves and elegant arches weave through the interior, adding visual interest and a moment of surprise on every floor.

A modest 1 metre rear extension completes the ground floor plan, bringing swathes of natural light into the kitchen through striking 2.4 metre tall glazed doors and a romantic curved skylight, leading on to the newly hardscaped rear garden.

The side extension is bookended by an internal courtyard garden in the centre of the home, and a vast picture window overlooking new hardscaped planting to the rear, allowing natural light into the centre of the plan and cross-ventilation.

This intimate dining area is lit by overhead glazing set with oak joists to softly diffuse light through the space and maintain privacy from neighbouring windows.

In keeping with the muted, tactile palette inside, the extensions are built from pale buff-toned Weinberger bricks laid in two coursing patterns. Vertical bricks break up the visual weight and further support the curving gesture.

The true star of the ground floor is a bespoke smoked oak and marble kitchen. A monolithic Violetta marble kitchen island offers informal gathering space, set against a backdrop of 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, adding warmth and balance.

The open-concept ground floor also consists of a generously proportioned reception area, perfect for welcoming guests. The architects subverted the typical use of this central space in the Victorian terrace, opting instead to move the dining area to the rear extension and create an arrival space for informal drinks. A cosy lounge space is located at the very front of the house, connected to the reception area by an enlarged opening.

The rest of the home makes as much of a visual and functional impact as the ground floor. A double-height void in the stairwell soars upwards towards a rooflight, drawing in plentiful natural light.

In contrast to the openness of the ground floor, the upper levels retain more of the property's original plan and are occupied by bedrooms, a snug and bathrooms.

The primary suite occupies an entire level of its own, with the bedroom accessed via an impressive 12 square metre walk-in wardrobe clad in oak joinery, which hides access to a stepped shower room.

The main bedroom is an airy space softened by textured lime wash walls, an expansive, custom bouclé headboard, and rippling floor-to-ceiling curtains that frame a turret bay window.

An arched wall niche opposite the bed adds another softness to the space, nodding to the curves incorporated throughout.

The top levels feature a sumptuous pink guest bedroom and family bathroom, and the loft has been converted into a third bedroom with an ensuite shower room.

The materiality of the home is a carefully curated balance of texture and warmth.

Studio McW has thoughtfully designed the home for both comfort and entertainment. Every detail was carefully considered to create a space that's not only inviting but also practical for entertaining.

Sobremesa House is a celebration of both function and form, a spirited yet easy-going atmosphere that invites relaxation and inspires conversation, the perfect home for Charlie and Joshua to host loved ones and grow their family.

We designed an extension that could be simultaneously playful in form and respectful to neighbours.

The curved brickwork subverts and echoes some of the curved original details in the main house. Courtyards, undulating ceilings and joinery spatially defines each of the primary spaces for cooking, entertaining and relaxing within the rear portion of the home.

Charlie and Joshua Karlsen, homeowners and Directors of Opus 11 said: 'This project was a true labour of love, and Studio MCW exceeded every expectation in bringing our vision to life. From the outset, our goal was to create something truly unique — a home that felt unexpected and inspiring from the moment you stepped inside.