The Brief
Located within the Sloane/Stanley Conservation Area in the Royal Borough of Chelsea, this lower-ground garden flat formed part of a four-storey Victorian semi-detached house. Purchased at auction, the property was in poor condition, with a fragmented layout unsuited to contemporary living. The garden level stepped sharply upward from the rear façade, creating a visual and physical barrier between the interior and the outdoor space. The flat offered two bedrooms but lacked cohesion, light, and usable social space.

The Solution
We developed a comprehensive remodelling strategy that combined structural reconfiguration, a rear extension, and full refurbishment. The extension enlarged the smaller bedroom while allowing the creation of a new central distribution space, transforming the internal organisation and improving flow.

Externally, we introduced a rear patio with a central stair that visually and physically connected the flat to the raised garden, mitigating the level change. A new terrace was also designed for the shared freeholders at first-floor level, helping secure planning support and aligning stakeholder interests.

We assisted the client throughout the Planning Application, Building Control process, and construction supervision on site, delivering a fully coordinated solution.

The Value Created
The flat was transformed from a two-bedroom property into a well-proportioned three-bedroom home finished to a high specification, including underfloor heating and complete refurbishment.

The intervention significantly increased the market value of the garden flat while also enhancing the property above through the addition of a new private terrace. The shared freeholders benefited from a redesigned, well-maintained garden — ensuring the project added value not only financially, but also to the wider building community.