Mount Durand

Updating a Georgian townhouse to better reflect 21st century living. Our client purchased this property due to its proximity to central St Peter Port, expansive garden, and generous proportions. The house had fallen into severe disrepair and lacked the provision of modern service and amenity space. A small kitchen was located in an extension to the rear that blocked natural light to the main part of the building with restricted access under the staircase landing and via an inner dining room. It had no relationship with the extensive garden beyond, and detracted from the historic interest of the original elevation. DLM was briefed to create a family home that had all the convenience, accommodation and energy efficiency expected of a modern house, maximise natural light to an open-plan living space with a direct connection to the garden, and provide a contrast to the historic interest and proportions of the existing protected house. Our approach targeted the ground-floor circulation, reconfiguring a reception room to provide utility, plant, storage and a cloakroom, with a tapered hallway, fully lined in black oak, leading to the new extension. This transitional space creates a dominant visual contrast as you move between the old and the new, and also addresses the alignment of the garden to the original house. Within the existing house all the original joinery and mouldings were restored and a soft palette of textures and tones was selected to complement the materials within the new bathrooms and extension. As the house underwent full renovation, a coordinated overall theme was followed, but with contrasting styles of detailing and a mixed material specification to provide a varied user experience of each space that responds to function and intimacy, but also respects the history of the building. The family now has a generous and light-filled day-to-day space that enjoys a beautiful aspect and connection to their garden, a large entertaining terrace and an outdoor kitchen. It offers all the modern comfort and efficiency of a newer house, but without compromising the traditional proportions and features that drew them to the house originally; a stunning example of what can be achieved on a traditional canvas.