FACT FILE
WE LEARNED...
PHOTOS WILL SCOTT
NAMES Gary & Kate Westlake
A CLASSIC MISTAKE that I think a lot of people make, is that we didn’t allow enough contingency for unforeseen problems. I wish I had put more money aside to allow for any issues that inevitably arose.
Kate and Gary Westlake’s home in South East London really pushes the boundaries of what you can achieve with an urban Victorian end-of-terrace. Side and roof extensions have created bigger bedrooms upstairs, while the ground floor has been rearranged and enlarged to create more usable space and a stylish snug, complete with a sociable outdoor area and separate garden room. The cleverly-designed family home now benefits from a luxury hotel vibe.
OCCUPATIONS Creative director & personal assistant
WORK CLOSELY with the planners. Ben wasn’t initially convinced that we would gain consent for the side extension. He already had a good relationship with local planners due to other projects he had worked on in the area, so he made sure to consult with them before we put in our application. There was a clear and open dialogue with constant revision and tweaking of the designs before we put in our final application.
The couple bought the property in Blackheath in 2004, when their now eldest child Archie was only a year old – and younger daughter Bea wasn’t yet born. It was here that the seed for open-plan modern living was firmly planted in their minds. The previous owners had already extended the rear to create a galley kitchen, with a bathroom at the end. At the time, Kate and Gary worked with Kate’s brother – architect Ben Minifie – to knock down partition walls and create a glass infill side return to provide an open-plan kitchen dining area, keeping the bathroom where it was. Upstairs, they simply redecorated and freshened up the double and two single bedrooms.
LOCATION London