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London Townhouse Feature:

Light, Space, and Family Life: Inside Hannah Hampton’s London Townhouse

Light, Space, and Family Life: Inside Hannah Hampton’s London Townhouse

Overview

In South London, designer Hannah Hampton has transformed a well-worn townhouse into a luminous family home. What began as a property in need of significant restoration has been reimagined with design ambition, from a dramatic glass-roofed kitchen extension to a vaulted top-floor suite.

Brand

Ottosam Designs

Type

Townhouse

Location

London, UK

Services

Full Feature on YouTube, IG, FB & TikTok

Presented by

Hannah Hampton

Three-story brick townhouse with white-framed windows, lush garden, and a leafless tree in the foreground, conveying a peaceful suburban setting.

When Hannah Hampton first stepped inside her south London townhouse in 2017, her youngest child was only three months old. Despite its worn condition, she instantly knew it was the one. “It was such a chunky sized house, really good in proportions,” she recalls. “It needed a lot of work, but that didn’t put us off.”

Victorian-style townhouse with white and brick exterior, large bay windows, and a small garden in front.

By 2018, the family had purchased the property, briefly living there while navigating the planning permissions, party wall agreements, and design decisions that come with a London renovation. Once approvals were in place, the Hamptons moved out and began an ambitious transformation that reimagined the house for modern family life while retaining its Edwardian character.

A Kitchen Anchored in Light

The heart of the project is the kitchen, extended three meters beyond its original footprint. Where once stood a dated lean-to, the family created an expansive, light-filled hub defined by a striking ten-meter roof light that runs the length of the room and wraps the corner of the house. “When you look up, you can see the whole height of the property behind you,” says Hampton.

Spacious modern kitchen and dining area with large windows, white marble island, black cabinets, wooden table and stools, and abundant natural light.
Stylish kitchen with black cabinets, white marble countertop, and backsplash. Plants and pottery adorn a shelf, with brass fixtures adding elegance.
Modern kitchen with a white marble island and wooden stools. Dark cabinets contrast with light walls. Cozy seating and warm pendant lights create an inviting atmosphere.

The space is designed with a soft industrial sensibility integrating exposed columns and beams with elegant finishes. Polished concrete floors, chosen for their durability, flow beneath slender framed glass doors. A marble island with waterfall ends anchors the room, its surface kept intentionally clear. “I am definitely a hob-on-the-island person,” Hampton explains. “I like the sink tucked away so you do not see dishes piling up.”

A large floating marble countertop inside the London Townhouse of Interior Designer Hannah Hampton.

A floating marble shelf brings lightness to the walls, while a seating nook with a gas burner set on a custom concrete plinth adds intimacy to the open plan. “It curves beautifully and elevates the design in that area,” she notes.

A serene garden with lush green plants surrounds a wicker patio set with white cushions. A potted plant sits on a glass-top table, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Modern kitchen with marble island, plush chairs, and large glass doors opening to a lush garden. Hannah Hampton walks outside, creating a serene atmosphere.
Contemporary interior with a polished concrete floor, pebble-bordered window.
A modern backyard with a brick wall, vertical garden, metal railings, and glass doors, conveying a serene and stylish urban outdoor space.

The family made sure to allocate budget for the garden, designed by Shelley Hugh-Jones. A blossoming Alamancha tree provides a framed focal point visible from the kitchen. Pebble detailing in the patio echoes the polished concrete inside, creating a dialogue between indoors and outdoors. Metal railings continue the rhythm of the industrial details found within. “It feels very considered,” Hampton says.

Modern, spacious kitchen with a white island, flowers, and a cozy dining area. Warm lighting and exposed brick create a welcoming atmosphere.

Rather than isolating the basement with a separate stairwell, the Hamptons integrated the staircase directly into the kitchen.

Modern interior staircase with beige steps and sleek black railing, lit by small LED lights.

Wrapped in metal railings and internal glazing, the stairwell draws natural light from the roof light above into the lower level. “We wanted it to feel quite special, not just a staircase,” Hampton explains. The steps, cast in concrete and clad in oak, conceal generous storage below.

A modern living room with a white sectional sofa, blue accent wall, and warm lighting. The space includes a cozy office with wooden furniture and large windows.
Home gym with a workout bench, exercise bike, and balance balls in front of large mirrors.

The basement level has been designed as a multifunctional retreat that serves the rhythms of family life. A media room enveloped in deep navy provides an atmospheric space for film nights and downtime, while a home office positioned against a glazed lightwell introduces natural brightness to the lower floor. During the pandemic, the family added a compact gym mid-build, a decision that has since become an indispensable part of their routine.

A laundry room with a stackable washer and dryer, a gold faucet over a white sink, and neatly arranged shelves.
A cozy, elegant bathroom with a checkerboard floor, dark walls features a wall-hung toilet, a small sink with a towel, and shelves with toiletries.

Supporting spaces complete the plan with equal attention to detail. A checkerboard marble guest bath introduces pattern and refinement, while a well-organized utility room and generous storage ensure that the practical demands of daily life are fully met. Every element on this level has been shaped with both efficiency and architectural intent, creating a foundation that is as considered as the light-filled spaces above.

Cozy living room with a dark gray sofa, patterned pillows, and a warm brick accent wall. Three framed photos above the sofa create a serene atmosphere.
Cozy living room with a beige sofa, soft cushions, and warm lighting from table lamps on a bay window. Neutral tones and a small dog add a calm atmosphere.
Elegant living room with a classic style features a Victorian marble fireplace, a large portrait above it, cozy seating, a light fixture, and soft, neutral tones.

On the ground floor, dual living spaces provide contrast. The snug, wrapped in Sanderson Indigo Blue, is a relaxed space for the children. The more formal front room, by contrast, highlights ornate cornicing, reinstated ceiling roses, and a Victorian marble fireplace. Above the mantle, a photograph by Maisie Broadhead bridges tradition and modernity with pearls cascading beyond the frame.

Cozy children's room with soft lighting features a small teepee, cream fireplace, single bed with cushions, and framed art. Neutral, calming decor.
Cozy bedroom with a white metal bed, pastel bedding, and stuffed animals. Pink and white walls have cheerful art, creating a playful, welcoming vibe.
Bright, cozy workspace with a white desk and chair, surrounded by books, art supplies, and colorful decorations. Warm, organized, and inviting atmosphere.
A cozy children's playroom with a blue cushioned bench, soft pillows, a map mural, and a colorful dollhouse. The room feels bright and inviting.

Upstairs, the first floor belongs to the three daughters, each room tailored to personality. From soft pastels and playful wallpaper to bold Stiffkey Blue paired with bright fabrics, the bedrooms balance practicality with creative expression. A shared bathroom in soft pink tiles discreetly houses a mini laundry, an addition that has made daily routines easier.

A bright, cozy bedroom with a large bed, neutral tones, soft lighting, and a window with curtains. A chair, lamp, and decor create a relaxing atmosphere.

The top floor is now a private suite. Vaulted ceilings create a sense of volume and light, while bespoke furnishings such as Chelsea Textiles bedside tables and a tinsmith’s fabric headboard establish calm elegance.

Stylish walk-in closet with neatly arranged clothes on hangers and shelves; adjoining a bedroom with soft lighting and a cozy bed visible.
A modern, elegant walk-in closet leads up three wooden steps to a luxurious bathroom with a freestanding black bathtub by a large window, creating a serene atmosphere.

A generous dressing room leads into a vaulted marble bathroom, complete with twin Drummonds showers and a freestanding bath positioned beneath soaring lines of the ceiling.

A London Life, Elevated

For Hannah, location is as integral as design. With Wandsworth Common on the doorstep and swift rail connections to Victoria, the townhouse offers both greenery and accessibility. “It is a brilliant location,” she says.

Six years on from that first viewing, the once dated property has been redefined as a layered family home combining industrial textures with sophisticated taste. Every level connects physically and emotionally to the life within, a testament to the vision of its owners and the character of the house they chose to transform.

View full YouTube video here.

Hannah Hampton at the garden of her London Townhouse.

Gallery

The Finer Details.

Elegant room with a Victorian marble fireplace, flanked by black candlesticks. Above hangs a portrait of a woman in a dark dress holding pearls.
Skylight window view showcasing a serene blue sky with scattered clouds. Sunlight casts soft shadows on the minimalist indoor architecture, creating a tranquil ambiance.
Elegant bathroom with twin sinks, marble countertops, and dual ornate mirrors. Soft lighting from wall sconces creates a serene, modern atmosphere.
Elegant room with a black fireplace, large round mirror, and wooden shelves. A brown leather armchair adds warmth, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Hannah Hampton gestures towards a large pastel-colored world map on the wall. Beneath the map is a dollhouse; on the left, there's a cushioned bench.
Hannah Hampton patterned Roman blinds in a cozy room with pink and white walls. Natural light filters through, highlighting a relaxed and tidy space.
A white, textured spherical ceiling light hangs from an ornate plaster medallion, emitting a warm glow, creating an elegant and cozy atmosphere.
A modern indoor space features a large window with black grid frames. It overlooks a brick wall and staircase, with a cozy chair and lamp in the foreground.
Outdoor patio with wooden table and chairs beside a modern grill. Surrounded by lush greenery and flowers, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Warm interior with three hanging cone-shaped pendant lights in front of a large brick-framed window, revealing a cozy, softly lit living room.

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