Dezeen Magazine

Trove by Flawk and Nikjoo

Nikjoo and Flawk bring "intrigue and delight" to derelict house in London

Architecture studio Nikjoo has renovated a post-war home called Trove in east London, opening up its interior and adding a pair of extensions with fittings by emerging designers.

Nikjoo collaborated with creative developer Flawk to carry out the project, after its founder Ashley Law purchased the derelict house in 2022.

Exterior view of rear home extension by Flawk and Nikjoo
Nikjoo has renovated and extended a house in east London

The London studio was responsible for transforming Trove's dark and compartmentalised interior and expanding it with rear and attic extensions, while Flawk led the interior design.

Flawk's focus for the interior was on commissioning work by a range of emerging designers for the home's fixtures and fittings.

Living space interior at Trove home extension
Its interior design was led by developer Flawk

"The brief was to maximise space and light to create a calm, serene environment that would not only support flexible, modern living but also form a backdrop to playful design interventions," Nikjoo told Dezeen.

"Through the curation of pieces by young, independent designers, Flawk set out to create intrigue and delight through often overlooked elements such as door handles, lights and loo roll holders."

Timber staircase within residential renovation by Flawk and Nikjoo
Walls were stripped back to reveal existing brickwork

On the ground floor, the internal walls were removed to create an open space. A kitchen and dining area now occupies the home's original footprint, while the rear extension contains a living space that overlooks a courtyard garden through a large folding window.

A timber staircase leads to two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor, and the dormer loft extension provides an additional ensuite bedroom.

Nikjoo selected exterior finishes that aim to lend a "sense of character" to the home, with the rear extension covered in roughcast render created with reclaimed aggregate and the dormer clad in dark tiles.

"Materials were carefully selected to not only celebrate the building's history but also introduce a heightened sense of character and intrigue," explained the studio.

Bedroom interior at Trove in London
A bedroom is held in the loft extension

Throughout, Flawk and Nikjoo worked to introduce a series of "unexpected" details to the interiors of Trove.

This includes door handles and lights by designers James Shaw and Lewis Kemmenoe respectively, as well as aluminium window handles, a steel balustrade and air conditioning vents created by Flawk's founder Law.

Bathroom interior at home renovation by Flawk and Nikjoo
Fittings by emerging designers feature throughout the home

A simple backdrop to these fittings was created by stripping back the interior to reveal original brickwork and ceiling timbers, and by using reclaimed materials such as marble offcuts in the top floor bathroom.

Other home renovations recently featured in London include the reworking of a terraced house with Mediterranean and Scandinavian influences by Collective works and a "monolithic and sculptural" extension in Hackney by Sonn.

The photography is by Lorenzo Zandri.

More images and plans

Ground floor plan of Trove by Flawk and Nikjoo
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First floor plan of Trove by Flawk and Nikjoo
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Second floor plan of Trove by Flawk and Nikjoo
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Trove by Flawk and Nikjoo
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Trove by Flawk and Nikjoo
Trove by Flawk and Nikjoo