Hertsedge is a sensitive remodelling and extension of an Arts and Crafts house set within the Totteridge Conservation Area, undertaken within a closely observed and, at times, contested planning context.

Our clients were drawn to the rural character of the setting, the inherent charm of the original house, and the long views across the landscape to the rear. They sought a home capable of supporting three generations of family life, without losing the qualities that had made the house special in the first place.

Internally, the house had been subject to years of piecemeal alterations that fragmented the plan into a series of disconnected spaces. The first task was therefore subtractive: carefully removing layers of ad-hoc extensions, faux historic detailing and applied motifs in order to rediscover the underlying clarity of the original building.

From this stripped-back starting point, the interior was reconfigured and modernised as a cohesive family home. Spaces were reconnected, circulation simplified and the plan rationalised to support shared living as well as privacy. A consistent palette of oak — used across flooring, doors, kitchen and fitted cabinetry — provides continuity throughout, grounding the new layout in warmth and material honesty.

While the internal works involved substantial reorganisation, the external approach was deliberately restrained. The outward appearance of the house returns to the simplicity and vernacular character of the original Arts and Crafts language, using terracotta brickwork, natural stucco render, solid oak doors and shutters, Crittall windows and heritage clay roof tiles.

Developed in close dialogue with planners and neighbours, the project demonstrates how careful architectural judgement, patience and clarity of intent can deliver meaningful change within a sensitive conservation setting. By working with the essential character of the house rather than against it, Hertsedge has been thoughtfully adapted and its life extended for generations to come.