Sobremesa House: Innovative Victorian House Renovation in London

Sobremesa House, located in South West London, is a striking example of a Victorian house renovation that combines heritage character with contemporary design. Completed by Studio McW for Charlie and Joshua Karlsen, founders of luxury catering business Opus 11, this 196 m² terraced home has been transformed into a spacious, elegant, and highly functional residence, perfect for family life and entertaining.

Preserving Heritage While Expanding Spaces

The original Victorian property had previously been divided into three bedsit flats. Studio McW stripped it back to its shell, carefully preserving the street-facing Victorian detailing while reconstructing the brick outrigger and enhancing thermal performance with new insulation and sash windows. The renovation honors the home’s historic proportions, allowing modern interventions to coexist harmoniously with heritage elements.

Open-Plan Living for Effortless Hospitality

The ground floor now features an open-plan layout that seamlessly integrates kitchen, dining, and reception areas. Designed to accommodate the clients’ love for hosting, the side extension allows for a twelve-seater dining table and banquette seating. Natural light floods the interiors through 2.4-meter glazed doors and a curved skylight, connecting the inside to the newly hardscaped rear garden. Soft curves and elegant arches throughout the interiors add visual intrigue and subtle moments of surprise.

Thoughtful Architectural Interventions

A central courtyard garden and large picture windows maximize daylight and cross-ventilation while maintaining privacy. A sweeping curved brick wall connects the side and rear extensions, minimizing visual impact on neighboring properties. The extensions are built from pale buff-toned Weinberger bricks, arranged in vertical and horizontal coursing patterns to complement the existing Victorian facade.

Materiality and Interior Design

The interior material palette balances warmth, texture, and sophistication. Smoked oak joinery, handmade arched details, and a bespoke Violetta marble kitchen island create a refined and inviting environment. Lime-washed walls, timber flooring, and polished concrete floors add softness and tactile interest, while integrated appliances and subtle lighting ensure practicality for daily living and entertaining.

Upper Levels: Private Retreats

The upper floors retain more of the original layout, with bedrooms, bathrooms, and a primary suite that occupies an entire level. The loft has been converted into a guest bedroom with an ensuite, while the main bedroom features a 12-square-meter walk-in wardrobe, textured lime-wash walls, and a turret bay window with increased ceiling height. Curved niches and archways provide continuity and harmony with the open-plan ground floor design.

A Home for Hosting and Family Life

Sobremesa House celebrates both function and form. Every design decision enhances comfort, hospitality, and family living. Carefully integrated technology, including a whole-house audio system, ensures the home is as practical as it is beautiful. The house embodies a playful yet restrained approach to architectural interventions, blending heritage and contemporary design seamlessly.

Studio McW’s renovation of Sobremesa House is a leading example of Victorian house renovation in London, demonstrating how thoughtful design can preserve heritage while accommodating modern living and entertaining. The project combines spatial flexibility, natural materials, and a careful attention to detail, resulting in a home that is both inviting and architecturally inspiring.

All Photographs are works of  Lorenzo Zandri