City Redesign - Room Outside

What was once a muddy playground for the owners’ children has now been transformed into a stylish living space, with an outdoor kitchen, an inviting terrace and a contemporary fireplace

- Stephanie Mahon

Guillaume and Sylvie Huteau lived in their Clapham home for 10 years before deciding that something had to be done about the garden. Their detached house on a terraced street has a larger and more private outdoor space than is usual in this area of London but, says Guillaume, ‘It was looking sad. The garden is one of the property’s biggest assets, so we wanted to make the most of it.’

The couple, a City finance worker and a teacher, both of whom are French, have four children. ‘When we moved into the house, they were young,’ says Sylvie, ‘and, over the years, the garden endured a lot of collateral damage. Now that they are teenagers, they want to enjoy sitting outside with their friends, not playing ball games.’