In pictures: House of Porphyry – from party house to crafted sanctuary

This Highgate property had been the subject of a previous remodel that turned it into a flamboyant 1990s party house with several bizarre features including a mezzanine walkway that led nowhere. The fragmented plan and cluttered space left the house unsuited to family life, so Mosley Thorold’s refurbishment sought to restore flow, bring light deep into the plan and create a home that would make everyday family life easier.

The central staircase was the decisive intervention. The spiral staircase has been reoriented and rebuilt to form the architectural heart of the house. This drew more natural light into the plan and established a clear vertical connection between the three levels. From the entrance hall, the new stairs now link directly to a sequence of interconnecting spaces: an open kitchen/dining area at the core of the home, a living room that extends into the garden, and newly balanced upper floors. The master suite was reorganised to include a study, dressing room and bathroom, with the bedroom relocated to the quieter room at the rear.

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Materiality is central to the project. The name ”House of Porphyry” reflects the recurring use of porphyry stone in fireplaces and in the bathroom, where blocks of stone form a dramatic wall paired with a cast-concrete basin and bespoke brass mirrors. Porphyry is an igneous rock with a distinctive texture of large, coarse-grained crystals embedded in a finer-grained matrix. With a name originating from the Greek word for “purple,” it was historically prized as a royal stone, though it comes in a variety of colours. Due to its extreme strength and durability, it is now widely used for paving and hard landscaping. The porphyry elements anchor the interiors, bringing a sense of permanence and weight.

At the same time, dark oak boards, oak doors and bespoke joinery establish a coherent rhythm across the interiors. A curved plaster balustrade and sculptural solid timber handrail soften the stair core, while patinated bronze ironmongery is designed to age gracefully with use. Together, these elements create a palette that is robust, restrained and textural – chosen to withstand the energy of family life while rewarding close interaction.

Where the house once prioritised performative spectacle, it now offers calm, clarity, and material richness.