Inside Holland Grove, the goal was to bring warmth and comfort that played against the darker, more textured exterior shell. Terrazzo floors and ceramic tiles add character, while timber cabinetry and flooring throughout the bedroom and studio deepen the sense of being held within a protective enclosure. In the retained parts of the house, original hardwood floors were sanded, patched and stained.
“There were a few details that were important to get right, even if they’re not immediately obvious,” Smith says. “The floating stairs and landing leading from the garden up to the dining area were meticulously detailed by project architect Jack Heatley. Rather than generic decking, the landing and treads are stained hardwood battens, which give the detail a crafted, solid and unexpected quality. The parapet of the new structures was another consideration. Each batten is cut at a 45-degree angle at the top, allowing water to run off while letting more sky bleed through the parapet, feathering the building gently into the sky above.”
