Camille Brayer undertook a deep energy retrofit to transform a dark, draughty Victorian terrace house into a stylish and sust ainable s anctuary

The side return extension created space for a new dining room, simultaneously increasing the footprint of the kitchen.

The exterior was finished with lime plaster render by Mike Wye, helping to boost the home’s energy efficiency, breathability and airtightness

WORDS JENNIFER GRIMBLE PHOTOS ADELINA ILIEV

Aprofessional in the film industry, Camille Brayer had rented in London for years, but in 2021 she decided to buy her first home. After a month of searching, with the help of a friend in real estate, Camille found a run-down Victorian terrace house in Camden, London. “I wasn’t looking to renovate, but when I viewed it, I immediately saw its potential,” she says. The home hadn’t been touched for 30 years and featured a dark and compartmentalised footprint. “The kitchen and bathroom had low ceilings and took up valuable garden space,” says Camille. There was scope to extend the redundant side return and relocate the awkward staircase that sat in the middle of the house.

The design brief

As a fledgling renovator, Camille needed an architect she could trust. Her real estate contact recommended Pedder &Scampton Architects, and after meeting the company’s founder, Gill Scampton, she knew she’d found the right team. “Gill had a really good vibe and understood exactly what I was hoping to achieve,” says Camille. “I wanted a bright, cosy home that was economical to run.”

Camille also craved a better internal flow and greater connectivity to the garden. “I’d inherited a lot of furniture from my grandparents, so I wanted the house to fit those pieces, instead of the other way around,” says Camille. “I was also keen to include as many salvaged and reclaimed materials as possible.” Gill proposed a deep energy retrofit that would significantly boost the energy performance of the house, thanks to improved insulation, airtightness, a heat pump and an MVHR ventilation system. “I didn’t really know how I would go about this, so having Gill on board was brilliant.”