Stiff + Trevillion updates Bloomsbury mews house

Stiff + Trevillion updates Bloomsbury mews house with gridded glazing and double-height bookcase

Glass walls and simple furnishings are paired with pale surfaces to give this Bloomsbury renovation by London studio Stiff + Trevillion a minimal aesthetic (+ slideshow).

Stiff + Trevillion was asked to overhaul the interior of the brick mews house near Russell Square in London for a young professional.

The architects relocated the staircase of House Bloomsbury to maximise floor space and introduce daylight in the centre of the plan, while a garage was converted into a new entrance.

Books displayed on a double-storey bookcase, as well as soft furnishings and artwork, provide accents of colour to the residence's monochrome surfaces.

"Originally, the entrance to the property opened directly onto the street from the living room with a staircase at the rear of the property creating an unnecessary corridor upstairs," explained the architects. "The project sought to release floor space and allow light into main areas."

"A new staircase created the biggest change, providing an almost sculptural aesthetic."

The staircase is made from sheets of folded metal and has white oiled oak steps that match the living room floor.

A new skylight was inserted above the stairwell, which is surrounded by glass balustrades to allow light to filter down to the lower-floor living areas.

Downstairs, a glazed screen that separates the living and dining areas is covered in a grid of black frames to mimic the pattern of the window panes.

Storage is concealed behind a pale timber wall in the living room, while the kitchen features glossy white cupboards and an island made from grey-veined marble.

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The project was the winner of the interiors category of the Don't Move, Improve! awards 2014, which rates London's best home renovations and extensions.