Overlooking Clapham Common, this substantial mid-nineteenth-century townhouse has been carefully reimagined as both a family home and a gallery for contemporary and historic Asian art. The four-year project was led by GL Studio, working in close collaboration with Studio S-B, whose interior design approach balances architectural clarity with a deep sensitivity to material, proportion and craft. From the outset, both studios understood that the flooring would play a pivotal role in unifying the house—visually, materially and atmospherically.
The Role of Flooring in a Unified Interior
Rather than acting as a backdrop, the floor was conceived as a foundational design element—one that would quietly hold the space while allowing architecture, art and light to take precedence. The choice fell on Oak Landmark Dyrham, specified in wide boards and Versailles panels, selected for its expressive grain, softly aged character and timeless quality. Used throughout the house, the oak establishes continuity while subtly responding to the varying moods of each floor.
Reworking the Ground Floor: A New Family Heart
The ground floor, now home to a reimagined kitchen and family room, features wide-board Landmark Dyrham. The boards stretch generously across the space, grounding the new open-plan layout that was formed by combining three former rooms—sitting room, kitchen, and stair hall. In keeping with the home’s detailed restoration, original elements like a Nero Portoro marble fireplace were delicately removed, restored and reinstated. At the same time, mouldings were recast from originals to retain their integrity. The flooring’s planed oak and subtly aged appearance offer the kind of texture that invites light to move softly across its surface—contributing to a sense of both ease and permanence.
The Formal Drawing Room and Versailles Parquet
The first-floor drawing room—overlooking sweeping views of the Common—called for a more formal architectural response. Although the finished space appears effortless, it was in fact stripped back entirely to brick before being meticulously rebuilt. Original cornices were re-cast from moulds, windows replaced, shutters restored and reinstated, and the fireplace sent away for specialist restoration. Into this carefully reconstructed room, Versailles panel parquet in Oak Landmark Dyrham was laid over underfloor heating. The bold geometry of the pattern introduces rhythm and gravitas, while the aged finish gives the impression that the floor has always belonged to the house.
A Staircase that Seamlessly Connects
The upper staircase became a deliberate moment of material unity, linking the formal drawing room with the family bedrooms above. Each tread and riser was custom-made from thick, solid Landmark Dyrham oak, introducing warmth and tactility to the upper levels. When exiting the drawing room, the oak pauses briefly at the natural stone of the hallway—a continuation of the newly installed grand stone staircase at the side of the house, which connects the lower ground, ground, and first floors. Together, the wood and stone, neutral in tone, complement each other perfectly. The result is a seamless and elegant transition between spaces: visually cohesive, functionally robust, and subtly layered. Meanwhile, the smaller, more intimate oak staircase carries a richness and presence that elevates it from a mere connector to a feature in its own right.
Art, Craft and Contemporary Living
Throughout the house, contemporary furnishings sit alongside Chinese antiques and modern art supplied by Schoeni Projects, whose expertise brings depth and narrative to the interiors. This interplay of old and new mirrors the architectural approach: original shutters, fireplaces and ironmongery were carefully removed and restored, while modern amenities—air conditioning, underfloor heating, audio-visual systems and smart controls—were discreetly integrated. A new side extension provides additional gallery space, reinforcing the home’s dual identity.
This Clapham Common townhouse is the result of long-term commitment, collaboration and a shared respect for craft. The flooring does more than unify the interiors—it anchors the project emotionally and visually, setting the tone before anything else is experienced. Quietly expressive, robust yet refined, Oak Landmark Dyrham provides a timeless foundation for a home where architecture, art and daily life coexist with ease.
