Mark Rothery and Alison Carrol are both historians, but the couple were looking toward the future when they approached Mitchell + Corti Architects for help expanding their terraced Victorian home.

The duo’s two kids were growing—and so was the family’s impressive book collection. Although Mark and Alison wanted to preserve the character of their northwest London residence, they knew they’d need more space, ample storage, and a kid-friendly connection to the backyard garden to accommodate their needs in the years to come.

“We wanted something that felt like a family home, but wasn’t totally dominated by the toys,” says Alison. With this in mind, London-based architects Andrew Mitchell and Ester Corti got creative with the family’s budget and pulled together an invigorated 1,291-square-foot floor plan that includes a rear extension.

$5,000 Preliminaries & Overheads	$11,128 Demolition	$8,513 Decoration
$7,651 Kitchen & Utility Room Cabinetry	$8,346 Kitchen Worktop & Appliances	$8,902 Bathrooms
$11,129 Plumbing	$13,216 Electrical	$2,921 Cladding
$25,038 Windows & Doors	$6,258 Skylights	$3,477 Sanitary Appliances & Tiles
$9,041 Joinery & Floor Installation	$2,781 Lighting	$6,258 Radiators
$4,590 Timber Floors	$20,864 Labor	$15,300 Extension
$3,477 Miscellaneous
Grand Total: $173, 899

The Library House is replete with thoughtful details that veil the project’s financial constraints. The most luxurious moment? A circular skylight that illuminates a floor-to-ceiling bookcase in the open-plan common area.

Although it is now the centerpiece of the home, the spectacular bookshelf wasn’t even on Alison and Mark’s original wish list—it was something the architects dreamed up after learning about the homeowners’ love of literature. “We had a conversation about how much we both love books and how important they are to the life of the house, and they ran with it,” explains Alison. “We had ideas about what we wanted, but the architects saw what would suit us.”

Shop the Look

The original floor plan called for relocating the bathrooms, but the plumbing costs ended up being prohibitive for the homeowners’ budget. So, Mitchell and Corti switched gears and retrofitted each bathroom where it was instead.

The upstairs bedrooms also received smaller, more decorative updates—such as new floors and fresh paint—to save money for the major changes on the main floor, including the new kitchen.

In the interest of budget, the architects reused existing materials where they could. The front door and staircase were repainted to match the steel elements of the original structure, and similar black accents were incorporated into the living spaces throughout the home. “The house sort of taught us how to build the character,” Corti explains.

Alison and Mark are thrilled with the new space. “Sometimes I can’t believe we live here,” Alison says.

The couple’s young children seem to enjoy the renovation, too. “I think the children really benefit from being in a place that’s interesting to look at,” adds Mark. “Children like good aesthetics as well. They like interesting places to live.”

More Budget Breakdown:

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Mitchell + Corti Architects / @mitchellandcorti

Builder/General Contractor: Strongbase Construction / @strongbaseconstructionltd

Structural Engineer: Mitchinson Macken

Interior Design: Mitchell + Corti Architects / @mitchellandcorti

Cabinetry Design: Mitchell + Corti Architects / @mitchellandcorti

Cabinetry Installation: Effective London Ltd

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Budget Breakdown: A Historian Couple Revamp Their Storybook Victorian for $174K