Artist Studios, Chelsea

Architects Studio Mackereth were appointed to restore and extend this Grade II listed Chelsea townhouse, containing artist studios formerly occupied by renowned British painters James Whistler and John Singer Sargent.

The home’s contemporary staircase features a vertical lattice balustrade made from varying height timber batons. The handrails running the length of the staircase were clad in a tennis-wrap style, using a vegetable-tanned Tuscan shoulder, with natural shrunken grain.

Alongside the sculptural balustrade, the leatherwork was used to create a link between the floors of the building. We devised a method of wrapping the leather stair treads and risers as single, post-fitted modular units, enabling them to be protected off-site and fitted last-minute. The soffit was also clad, and ran the length of the staircase.