Make the space you have truly yours
Remove a wall in the right place, reposition a staircase, open a ceiling to natural light: Make a home feel entirely new without changing its footprint.
Why an interior refurbishment?
Done well, an interior refurbishments is transformative, both aesthetically and spatially
A home that doesn't quite work reminds you every day. The hallway with no natural light in the morning, the kitchen that faces the wrong way, the bedroom with no storage. These irritations shape your mood, your routine and the way your family moves through the day.
We approach interior projects with the same rigour as new construction. We consider how light moves through the space at different times of day, how rooms connect and flow, and how materials age and feel underfoot and to the touch. The result is a home that feels considered rather than decorated.
Before & After | See recent transformations: Kew Road, Coombe Road.
Recent projects
What we have built
How we work
From initial inquiry to finished scheme - Six clear stages
For all new business enquiries, we begin with a free one hour consultation. If possible, before you contact us please draw up a brief (a wish-list for the project). We can see your project through the whole process from planning to construction completion or limit services to the initial stages. How much or little you commission is up to you.
01
Consultation [FREE]
We visit your home or have a virtual meeting to assess feasibility, discuss your ideas and give you an honest picture of what is achievable and at what potential cost.
02
Measured Survey & Concept Feasibility
We carry out a detailed measured survey of your property. This is the foundation for all design and planning work. We produce architectural drawings, design options (based on your design ideas) and highlight problems that need solving. We can also provide an approximate project cost estimate based on previous completed projects.
03
Planning Submission
We revise the architectural drawings and if required, submit your Planning Application or Permitted Development Notification. We prepare all supporting information and advise if specialist consultant reports are required.
04
Final Design & Detailed Design
We finalise the design materials, finishes, appliances and fittings, along with electrical layouts. We help you to appoint a structural engineer, along with any other specialist consultants, such as Party Wall surveyors etc. We prepare detail design drawings and co-ordinate with the structural design and any other consultants appointed. We check the detailed design for compliance with building regulations.
05
Tender & Construction
We help you select a contractor, review quotes and set up a fair, transparent building contract. We administer the contact, inspect the works on site, and are available throughout the build. We keep a track of cost and can check payments due to the builder.
06
Handover & Close Out
We inspect and value the works to certify Practical Completion at handover. We then stay in touch through 6 month defects period and carry out a final inspection to certify the last payment, protecting your interests to the very end.
Client Testimonials
What our clients say
★★★★★
“MTA came up with a great design for our renovation. Worked well with the local planners to get the project approved. Good supervision of the builders. Costings were pretty accurate. Easy to get on with, good communicator and an efficient office. We have been delighted with the finished project. Would certainly use him again if we were to do another reno.”
Nigel Fisher
★★★★★
“Michael worked with us on a major project in 2013, on our Victorian terraced house within a conservation area. Getting approval from the council involved a very complex negotiation with the planning department which ended up taking over two years. Michael supported us through this process which was at times extremely frustrating. MTA managed the initial application, subsequent alterations, additional studies required to support the application, through to the eventual planning committee meeting. After securing planning permission MTA delivered a wonderful, detailed design for our house and then worked with us to find builders. They managed the bid/tender process, eventually producing a detailed contract, statement of works and design specification. MTA then managed the build process end-to-end, working with the builder, building control, engineers and party wall surveyor to find a consensus to all issues that arose. The build was made very difficult with an awkward neighbour. MTA managed to diffuse all issues that came up and delivered the project on time and on budget. MTA strike an amazing balance, achieving a wonderful ascetic design, but also managing to focus on the practical and budgetary constraints of such a project. Michael is passionate about design and never compromised on his vision for our house, which is now a wonderful family home. Every day we appreciate the attention to detail be brought to the project. I would not hesitate to recommend MTA - we would never have been to able to achieve our dream house, delivered within a budget we could afford, without Michael.”
Vaughan Kingston
★★★★★
“We commissioned "Michael Trentham Architects" to undertake substantial remodelling and extension works to our home at 57 Lanercost Road, London, SW2 3DR ...an existing Victorian building which was urgently in need of a major works. Working swiftly and creatively the practice forwarded a number of options which we narrowed down over the course of several meetings to achieve a design which was both ambitious,attractive and practical. Over the course of the next year the works were undertaken and Michael Trentham monitored their progress closely ensuring a beatifully crafted finished product, with great attention to detail throughout. Months later we completed a hugely successful remodeling and reconfiguration of the existing building ,also adding the ambitious kitchen dining extension area with its cantelivered engineered elements. We were extremely pleased with the results and have received numerous compliments from friends and family who have enjoyed the space as much us. We moved from the property a little while ago and both estate agents and prospective buyers were hugely impressed by the work undertaken resulting in an effortless sale within only one weekThe whole process from initial consultation to final completion was both rewarding and enjoyable and I would thoroughly and unreservedly recommend the services of this practice to anyone considering similar works. They delivered a great service ,across the board and at a very reasonable cost.”
Simon and Barbara Ann Dunning
Common questions
What people ask us most
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Not always, but the difference is visible. An architect considers the spatial and structural relationships that an interior designer may not. If walls are moving, light is being redirected, or the project involves building regulations, including structural changes, ventilation, fire safety, architectural input is not just valuable, it's required. For projects above a certain scale, it also protects your investment.
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This varies enormously by scope. A full-flat reconfiguration and refurbishment in London typically ranges from £80,000 to £250,000+. A single-room refurbishment with structural work might be £25,000–£60,000. We can give you a realistic range at stage two, based on your brief and comparable completed projects.
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In most cases, no. Internal alterations to a private dwelling do not require planning permission. However, if your property is listed, in a conservation area, or if the works affect the external appearance, listed building consent or planning permission may be required. We advise on this at the consultation.
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This depends on the scale of works. For a full reconfiguration, most clients choose to move out for 12–20 weeks. For more targeted projects, phasing the works can allow you to remain in the property. We plan the construction sequence carefully and discuss this with you before any work begins.
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Yes. This is often the ideal moment to undertake the work. We regularly work with clients who are purchasing a property and want to complete the refurbishment before moving in. We can begin the design process before exchange and have planning and building regulations in place ready for completion.
