TOPE & LANRE’S TOP TIPS


• “Shop around! We didn’t have just a single supplier for our glaz- ing, we had maybe five Sometimes that differ- ence in price might just be down to the type of handle, the thickness of the frame. Try and really understand what those things mean to you.”


• Enjoy it. It’s a scary process. You scare yourself on a daily basis. Try and enjoy it s much as possible, because it’s a privellege.


and accessories to be cleverly hidden away. “I love the fact that we can go from ‘clearly kids live here’ to ‘do kids live here?’ very quickly because of the storage we have.”


DESIGN


Although the home has an unusual, contemporary look, clad in black brick, it sits comfortably within its surroundings. Set lower down than its neighbouring counterparts, with a 19-foot cherry tree blossoming at the front, it is tucked away and respectful of the streetscape. Its position at the edge of a row of terraces meant the exterior “didn’t need to blend in with the other houses,” says Lanre, instead working as an “an interface between the two roads.” To this end, the decision to use black brick was made early on in the design process. Due to the overlooked location the positioning of windows and lightwells have been carefully considered to maintain privacy not just for the family but also for the neighbours. “Those elements are really sensitive, and have to be addressed in a sensitive manner,” says Lanre. Upon entering through the buff-coloured perimeter brick wall via the black steel automated door, you arrive in a courtyard. While technically sitting on the road, it offers a private outdoor space which ows openly through the


32 www.sbhonline.co.uk


sliding glazed doors into the main living area. It’s the social hub of the home and “works really well,” says Tope. “Being able to step out seamlessly into the outside makes the space feel bigger.”


eaturing microcrete ooring, bespoe wooden seating/storage, and a juliet balcony, this room is filled with creative and uniue design aspects. Various openings such as the rooight above the dining area create dierent moods throughout the day. “In the afternoon the space looks golden and magical,” says Tope. Aligned beneath the rooight is a walon lightwell which allows natural light to travel down into the basement.


Continuing with the ‘black’ theme, in the


corner o this room is the blacfinished itchen Inuenced by designs in ew ealand and Australia, the couple opted for this for a “fun, monolithic” style, explains Lanre. As well as being triangular in shape to fit the sites geometry, it sits at a level below the living space. “This change in level allows its functions to coexist with each other, so we’re still connected but the spaces are separate,” explains Lanre. During the early stages of construction, Tope struggled to envisage how a kitchen was going to fit into the corner Such times are when you need to trust in your architect,” says Tope, in this


sep/oct 2022


• Pick your battles about what you want to throw you money at. Such as a handle, something you use all the time, making it an enjoyable process, versus a kitchen that is the same colour as the inserts, who cares?”


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