A textural 1970’s California-inspired home
Studio Hagen Hall has transformed a North London townhouse-turned-bedsit into a bright and textural 1970’s California-inspired home complete with a recording studio for a young musical couple. Recording artists Ben Garrett and Rae Morris fell in love with the bones, location, and well-established garden of the townhouse and immediately sought the expertise of Studio Hagen Hall after discovering their work online. Iconic architecture has played a key role in the brief. The clients drew on themes and designs from the Eames House and the work of modernist architect John Lautner. The brief envisioned Canyon House as a home with a feel-good 1970’s atmosphere and a space that would be flexible to suit both intimate and sociable occasions, with strong visual connections throughout.
Much work was needed to enliven the house. Poorly built, awkward partitioning covered two staircases that split the bedsit into three separate dwellings. Work began with stripping and gutting the interiors, which allowed the design team to flex their expertise as meticulous space planners and reimagine the physical and visual movement around the house.
One of the core design interventions was re-configuring the original stair on the ground floor by creating a level change to unlock a large section of the lounge area.
This seemingly simple design idea allowed Studio Hagen Hall to create an elevated conversation platform and snug – fitted with bespoke velvet sofa with hidden storage – that could be connected and removed from the dining space by heavy linen curtains drawn from custom elm recesses.
Studio Hagen Hall carefully selected a combination of materials and textures to create a modern yet Modernist balance. The brass unlacquered hardware will patina beautifully alongside the original vintage mid-century lighting and furniture. The richly textured and warm-toned carpet and upholstery in the lounge creates a cosy, luxurious feel while the brown smoked mirror architraves and cork bathroom flooring and bath façade all nod to the 1970’s style.
The steel and glass balustrade maintains a modern open-plan feel and seamlessly connects upstairs and downstairs. Consistency and continuity help create the sense of flow, with micro cement used for the flooring, worktops, sinks, and baths. The bespoke elm kitchen looks and feels like a room within a room. The beauty in the craftsmanship comes through in the tactility of the cabinetry, fluted glass, and brass hardware.
