Founded in 2017 by Nathaniel Mosley and Henry Thorold, Mosley Thorold is a London-based architecture practice rooted in a deep understanding of materials and making. Mildmay, a Victorian semi-detached maisonette in North London, has been transformed into a warm, intelligently refurbished home for co-founder Nathaniel and his family.
Purchased in early 2019, the maisonette was defined by an awkward internal layout and a convoluted stair arrangement that split the home inefficiently. With three young children and a desire to create an adaptable family environment, Nathaniel led the project as a main contractor: coordinating trades, materials and design decisions hands-on from start to finish. For Mosley Thorold, this project was a chance to test ideas at a very close scale; designing and building iteratively, room by room, detail by detail.
The priority was to transform the zoning and spatial distribution in Mildmay with a few surgical alterations. A significant intervention was relocating the staircase to the side of the outrigger. Moving it outside the core footprint unlocked a new flow across three levels and reorganised its vertical circulation, creating better-connected rooms. A pair of rooflights introduce natural daylight to the stairwell, creating a spatially significant shift.
The upper floors were reworked to introduce breathing spaces into the family life. Originally a single room, the loft space was extended to accommodate an additional bedroom, the children’s den, a bathroom and a roof terrace; providing respite to disconnect away from the larger communal living areas.
In line with Mosley Thorold’s material philosophy, Mildmay’s palette focuses on expressive, hard-wearing surfaces that evolve timelessly. Ash timber was used on the floors, stair treads and joinery for its strength and warmth. Kitchen fronts were CNC-cut from cocoa husk linoleum. Elsewhere, exposed fireplaces, bespoke aluminium shelving, tapestry-clad soft furnishing and curtains as dividers contribute to a cosy, textural atmosphere.
The kitchen and dining area serve as the nucleus of the home. Here, the family gathers daily to cook, play music and unwind. Music is also central to their lives; Nathaniel’s wife is a cellist, while the children are learning to play.
The dining table at Mildmay is an unexpected focal point and an important device communicating Mosley Thorold’s care for bespoke delivery within their work. Initially developed as a prototype, designed and CNC-cut from plywood, it embodies an intuitive approach to craftsmanship. It has now evolved into a refined furniture piece comprising solid oak and sleek curved detailing which lives at the heart of another client’s new home.
Careful detailing throughout the home reflects a sense of cohesion and craftsmanship. The staircase draws on Victorian detailing, while embracing contemporary materiality with sharp, confident lines. Similarly, small design touches like the use of salvaged and reclaimed materials speak to an ethos of sustainability, resourcefulness and material upcycling, which is prominent in Mosley Thorold projects.
Much of the finishing work in Mildmay, including joinery, doors and detailing, was completely done by Nathaniel over a two-year period after the family moved in just before the first COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. This phased approach contributed to the home’s character: layered, lived-in and imbued with a sense of evolving ownership.
Joinery and storage elements were designed to age gracefully, combining practical needs with precise detailing. Built-in ash cupboards and shelves complement the more elemental palette, while deep kitchen surfaces of maple butcher’s block set into stone offer a more grounding contrast. Lighting is subtle; mostly functional, natural and kept minimal to let the materials speak.
Mosley Thorold’s expertly choreographed spatial strategy has moments of surprise and intimacy tucked within the simple form. At their heart is a belief that homes are not static showcases but places for curating moments of life. Open shelves in the entrance hallway display rocks collected from family travels. Views across levels, daylight filtering through the stairs, and framed pockets of activity offer a rich domestic atmosphere.
Mildmay embodies a personal, rigorous and joyful approach to residential architecture. It is shaped by Mosley Thorold’s clear-eyed understanding of how design can support everyday family living by reshaping an unbalanced layout into a generous, characterful home.
Team:
Architect: Mosley Thorold
Form of contract/ procurement route: Construction Management
Client: Nathaniel Mosley
Structural engineer: Phi Engineering
Photographer: Ollie Tomlinson
Materials Used:
Ash Flooring: Dinesen
Windows & doors: Curve Joiners
Aluminium shelving: Chris Willis
Bathroom wash basin: Alice Ceramica
Kitchen Tap: MGS
Curtain: House of Mulholland
Paint: Earthborn
Living Room lamp: Akari
Dining table: Mosley Thorold Prototype
Dining Chairs: Vintage Ercol
Living Room chair and stool: Kai Kristiansen chair and bespoke stool
Bedspread and Fabrics: Larusi
