If you use CURVES, it makes people feel AT EASE because it’s a much SOFTER environment

made it feel very oppressive,’ says Irene. ‘It was a leap of faith but we decided to strip it back to the bare bones and embrace a fully contemporary style with full height glazing at the back, tall bedroom windows and skylights.’

The original garage was made into a study next to the hallway. Both rooms lead through glazed arched doorways into a large open-plan living and dining room with kitchen. A new staircase leads up to the first floor, above which the second floor is accessed by another winding staircase. The arrangement allows light from a long skylight to penetrate the core of the house. ‘In a terraced house, you’re always going to struggle with bringing light into the central areas, but moving the staircase position has allowed so much more light in,’ Irene explains.

One of her favourite features is the diagonal flooring on the ground floor. It was a light bulb moment after hearing a garden designer’s