Studio Hagen Hall, an architecture and design firm in London founded by Louis Hagen-Hall, has a talent for creating spaces that are striking yet serene — making them look effortless while also paying meticulous attention to detail. For Pine Heath, a townhome that’s part of a series originally designed by South African architect Ted Levy, Benjamin & Partners in the late 1960s, Hagen Hall brings California mid-century modern to North London’s Hampstead Conservation Area. To a certain extent, it was there already; while many of the modernist interiors of this group of homes were lost to renovations over the years, Pine Heath retained much of its character. (You can see the before photos of this particular home here!) But the plan was to preserve what worked while almost imperceptibly bringing it up to date (and even beyond) in terms of energy efficiency and functionality, and to maximize space, storage, and sightlines while also connecting areas of the home in a more intuitive, flowing way. The client, a young family, “wanted the look of a case-study house, with the performance of a passive one.“

The studio let the original central stairwell, clad in (now-endangered) Paraná pine, and the pine strip ceiling, guide the design direction. A wood fascia curves around and frames the kitchen (Tim Gaudin is responsible for the impeccable joinery in this project), where custom cabinetry of cherry and sapele extends the enveloping vibe, along with panes of textured Stippolyte glass, brushed stainless steel counters, and louvered shutters above the sink. Floor to ceiling pocket doors throughout now add a sleek airiness, and horizontal lines and gridding — square tile by Winkelmans on the kitchen floor and backsplashes, as well as in the bathrooms — imbue a sense of definition and continuity without any rigidity or stuffy formality. There’s a real warmth here, created in part by the earthy tones throughout: the browns of the wood paneling and deep blues and greens, like the upholstery from Tibor for the custom sofa in the raised living area that plays off a gorgeous, angular tinted glass coffee table designed by the studio. Vintage pieces were also sourced from Sight Unseen favorites Spazio Leone and Monument. It’s mid-century, modernized.