Location: Hampstead

Interior Designer: Natascha Dartnall Studios

Construction: ND Studios

Photography: Sarah Griggs

ND Studios delivered the complete renovation of an early 2000s Hampstead property, transforming a structurally sound but characterless house into a contemporary family home rooted in cultural identity and everyday living. Created for a South African family dividing time between London and Cape Town, the project reflects their lifestyle, heritage, and emphasis on entertaining, family connection, and wellbeing.

The house was fully reconfigured internally to replace a compartmentalised layout with spatial fluidity and cohesion. ND Studios established a calm, understated aesthetic using warm timbers, refined stone, and a soft neutral palette layered with texture and craftsmanship to achieve quiet luxury. Subtle references to South African culture appear through materiality, colour accents, and curated artwork, creating a home that feels globally informed yet personal.

Entertaining shaped the core planning. Open plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces were proportioned to feel generous yet intimate, with clear sightlines, layered lighting, and bespoke joinery supporting both daily life and large gatherings. The kitchen was conceived as a social anchor, enabling cooking, conversation, and connection to happen simultaneously, with flexible layouts that adapt to changing group sizes.

A major intervention took place in the basement, where an existing pool was removed to form a dedicated wellness floor with a gym, steam and sauna facilities, and a massage area. Warm materials, controlled lighting, and acoustic consideration create a restorative environment aligned with the wider design language.

Extensive bespoke joinery, precision stonework, specialist glazing, and custom metal detailing underpin a home that balances modernity with warmth, luxury with liveability, and architecture with wellbeing.