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A Former Auto Garage Becomes Our Family Home

  • May 7, 2025
  • 2 min read

Remodelista feature highlighting The Coach House East Dulwich renovation by Kinder Design with warm contemporary interiors, natural materials and soft minimalist detailing.

Recently, our Coach House East Dulwich project was featured in Remodelista in a piece exploring the renovation of a former coach house into a calm, contemporary family home.


The project centred around balancing the building’s original character with a softer, more modern interior approach - creating spaces that felt architectural and pared back whilst still holding warmth, texture and personality throughout.


Man and woman sit on indoor steps, chatting. Modern home with stairs, plants, and art. Bright, peaceful atmosphere.

Working With Existing Character


One of the most interesting aspects of renovating older buildings is understanding which elements should remain visible and which need refining to support modern life.


For this project, the existing architecture became an important part of the design language. Rather than overworking the interiors, the approach was intentionally restrained, allowing natural light, proportion and materiality to shape the atmosphere of the spaces.


The result was designed to feel calm and understated rather than overly polished or decorative.



Wood-paneled bathroom with rectangular mirror above beige sink. Minimalist design with silver faucet, small vase with greenery. Warm tones.

Creating Warmth Within Minimal Interiors


At Kinder Design, we’re often interested in how contemporary interiors can still feel emotionally warm and easy to live in.


Within The Coach House, natural materials, muted tones and tactile finishes helped soften the cleaner architectural detailing throughout the home. Timber, plaster, stone and layered textures were used to create depth without overwhelming the simplicity of the spaces.


Many of the design decisions were intentionally quiet - subtle shifts in tone, texture and light that reveal themselves gradually over time.


A cozy living room with a beige sofa, colorful cushions, and a wooden chair. Large windows show a lush garden. Calm and inviting atmosphere.

A Family Home Designed Around Everyday Living


Whilst the project has a strong architectural quality, practicality remained central throughout the renovation process.


The layout was carefully considered around family life, creating a stronger sense of connection between spaces whilst allowing each room to feel calm, functional and adaptable day-to-day. We’re always interested in homes that feel beautiful to live in, not simply beautiful to photograph.


Cozy bedroom with wooden walls, an open window showing greenery, a beige bed, striped pillow, and a plaid chair, creating a serene mood.

Featured In Remodelista


It was lovely to see The Coach House East Dulwich featured in Remodelista and included within their wider conversation around thoughtful contemporary renovation and understated residential interiors.


You can read the full feature here:


If you’re thinking about starting a residential renovation project or would like to understand more about how we work, you can explore our FAQs or get in touch to discuss your project with us.

 
 
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