Collection by Alex Vuocolo

Crazy Renovation of the Day: A Victorian Church (Filled with Stained Glass!) Remade as a Tiny Apartment

A former church is converted into a minimal yet dramatic home in London.

Built into the apse of a Victorian church, this West London flat blends the old with the new. The church was first converted into apartments in the 1980s, but that renovation didn't take advantage of the original church details. For architect Sam Tisdall, the semicircular apse presented an opportunity to highlight elements of the church, such as its stain glass windows and brickwork, while also creating something wholly new. The challenge was finding a practical and aesthetic balance between the alterations and the existing building. “It’s a really small project but it’s really quite quirky and interesting,” Tisdall says.

"There are obviously no flat walls to put pictures or furniture against. There's quite a lot of useless space, in a way, under the eaves where you can’t really stand up.” Tisdall says. The dressers and balustrades approximate the flat edges of a regular room, while also taking advantage of the low space beneath the eaves.
"There are obviously no flat walls to put pictures or furniture against. There's quite a lot of useless space, in a way, under the eaves where you can’t really stand up.” Tisdall says. The dressers and balustrades approximate the flat edges of a regular room, while also taking advantage of the low space beneath the eaves.
The stairwell, like the dressers and balustrades, is made from radiata knotless pine supplied by SMI Panels and finished with a white osmo oil to prevent any yellowing as they age. The client originally wanted a darker finish to match the rustic feel of the church, but Tisdall decided on a lighter approach to serve as a counterpoint to the brick and dark woods. “I thought it was really important to bring lightness to the building,” he says.
The stairwell, like the dressers and balustrades, is made from radiata knotless pine supplied by SMI Panels and finished with a white osmo oil to prevent any yellowing as they age. The client originally wanted a darker finish to match the rustic feel of the church, but Tisdall decided on a lighter approach to serve as a counterpoint to the brick and dark woods. “I thought it was really important to bring lightness to the building,” he says.
During the original conversion of the apse, concrete blocks were set against the stain glass windows. Tisdall decided to keep them and clad them in wood. This retained the additional surface area of the blocks, while also creating a dramatic contrast between the original stain glass and the wood.
During the original conversion of the apse, concrete blocks were set against the stain glass windows. Tisdall decided to keep them and clad them in wood. This retained the additional surface area of the blocks, while also creating a dramatic contrast between the original stain glass and the wood.
The mezzanine has the most access to natural light, so Tisdall opened up the floor to draw light down to the kitchen and dining area.
The mezzanine has the most access to natural light, so Tisdall opened up the floor to draw light down to the kitchen and dining area.
The reveals of the two kitchen windows lost much of their original brick during the '80s conversion. Tisdall employed a bit of paint to make the brick look cohesive and retain the integrity of the original arches. The kitchen countertop is made of Daria stone from Silestone.
The reveals of the two kitchen windows lost much of their original brick during the '80s conversion. Tisdall employed a bit of paint to make the brick look cohesive and retain the integrity of the original arches. The kitchen countertop is made of Daria stone from Silestone.
The flat is approximately 195-square-feet, forcing a level of economy in the design. This hallway leads to the entrance, as well as provides access to a storage room and bathroom.
The flat is approximately 195-square-feet, forcing a level of economy in the design. This hallway leads to the entrance, as well as provides access to a storage room and bathroom.