In South London, an Edwardian Arts & Crafts gets a modern update

Photography: Wilfords London

A delightful surprise awaits at this South London home, which marries Arts & Crafts architecture with contemporary design – and even boasts a garden studio.

The five-bedroom London property is located on Park Hill in Clapham and dates from around 1910. It’s undergone a clever restoration by award-winning practice Proctor & Shaw, which has added a series of timber installations to extend and update the house, earning it the new moniker The Oak House.

First up is the sleek rear extension, which connects the kitchen, dining and family room to the south-facing, 50-ft-long garden. A huge oak-framed window opens the volume to the outdoors via folding panes, with a special seating nook for enjoying views of the garden and its birdlife.

Photography: Wilfords London

Meanwhile, the kitchen showcases custom joinery with a mix of natural finishes, brushed oak veneer, and white wall cabinets echoing the palette of the extension.

Across the lawn is an independent studio. A recent article on Country Life revealed that houses with detached structures, such as garden offices, are in high demand from buyers, even after the post-pandemic return-to-work mandate. This garden studio echoes the style of the house’s oak bay window, opening up to the garden while providing a quiet oasis away from the hubbub of the main residence.

The Edwardian parts of the home have also been spruced, with green used in the living room to accentuate its original proportions and a curved bay window.

Three bedrooms and a family bathroom are on the first floor. The main bedroom has a cathedral ceiling and oak-panelled walls with built-ins. (An oak battened shower is also installed on this level.) A fourth bedroom can be found on the attic level, with ample storage in the eaves and views of the garden from its windows.

Wilford’s London is listing the five-bedroom Clapham property with a guide price of £2-£2.2m.