Our client wished to reincorporate a basement flat with their main house above, and create a new kitchen and dining space opening out into the garden. This involved the removal of all loadbearing partitions and the installation of steel box frames to provide the necessary bracing to the five storey building. In order to maximise the sense of space and light, downstands in the ceiling were avoided by installing the beams within the floor void above. The storage beneath the new stair , and the utility and washing up areas, are separated from the main space by sliding doors. The limestone floor tiles were selected to reflect the light.