Christopher David Design was appointed to lead the full renovation of the property, extending across the entire width of the house to create a generous new ground floor environment. What was once a series of smaller, disconnected rooms has been reshaped into a calm, flowing sequence of spaces that now form the social heart of the home.
From the moment you enter the extension, the sense of openness is immediate, yet measured. Daylight moves naturally through the space, drawn in from carefully positioned rooflights above and a beautifully articulated glazed bay that opens the interior to the garden beyond. The architecture has been designed to feel generous without excess — refined, balanced, and deeply comfortable.
The open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area has been conceived as a place to be lived in throughout the day. Morning light filters gently across the coffered ceiling, giving rhythm and depth to the room, while the kitchen sits quietly at the centre of daily life — a space for gathering, cooking, and conversation. Supplied by Kitchens by Holloways, the kitchen brings craftsmanship and material quality to the foreground, grounding the architecture and reinforcing the sense of permanence and longevity.
Designing within a conservation area required a sensitive and thoughtful approach. The extension has been shaped to feel respectful and composed, enhancing the original house rather than overpowering it. The architectural language is contemporary yet restrained, allowing the craftsmanship, proportions, and quality of light to lead the experience.
Throughout the project, every decision was guided by how the house would be lived in — how it would feel early in the morning, how it would respond to gatherings of family and friends, and how it would settle into quieter moments at the end of the day. Ashtead House is not defined by individual features, but by the ease with which architecture, interior design, and daily life come together.
