7 London Home Renovation Companies I Think Are Worth Considering
If I was planning a serious home renovation in London, I wouldn't choose a company based on who has the slickest website or who happens to give me the cheapest quote.
I'd want to know what they're actually good at.
Some renovation companies are brilliant at extensions but probably overkill for a bathroom. Others are much stronger on interiors, kitchens or managing an entire property renovation.
After looking through the London market, these are seven companies I'd personally put on a shortlist. They aren't interchangeable, so I've also included where I think each one makes the most sense.
My Shortlist
| Company | I'd choose them for |
|---|---|
| houseUP | Full house renovations |
| Beams Renovation | Kitchens and bathrooms |
| Plus Rooms | Extensions and side returns |
| NU Projects | High-end design and build |
| NOVA Design & Build | Large premium renovations |
| Proficiency Design & Build | Construction-heavy projects |
| Home Republic | Luxury homes |
1. houseUP – Best for Full House Renovations
If I had bought a London house that needed pretty much everything doing, houseUP would be one of the companies I'd speak to.
Full-home renovation is different from getting a new bathroom or redecorating a couple of rooms. Once you're changing layouts, flooring, electrics, plumbing, kitchens and bathrooms at the same time, the project needs to be treated as one job.
That's where houseUP looks strongest to me. It is particularly focused on substantial property renovations and reconfigurations rather than small building jobs.
I'd have them high on the list for an older London house that needed stripping back and properly modernising.
2. Beams Renovation – Best for Kitchens and Bathrooms
Beams would be my pick for kitchens and bathrooms, particularly when you're doing more than swapping old units for new ones.
What I like about Beams is the amount of work that happens before the builders actually start.
You can work through the design, layout and materials and see the proposed space before committing to the build. Beams can then connect the project with vetted builders rather than leaving you to take the design away and find someone yourself.
That makes a lot of sense for bathrooms. A bathroom might be small, but you've got plumbing, electrics, waterproofing, tiling, ventilation, lighting and fittings all squeezed into one room.
The same applies to kitchens. Once you're moving plumbing, changing the layout or knocking through walls, you've moved well beyond simply buying some kitchen cabinets.
Beams also has its own kitchen offering alongside the wider renovation service, which is another reason I'd put it ahead of a general builder for this type of project.
Why I'd consider Beams
- Kitchen design and renovation
- Complete bathroom renovation
- 3D design and visualisation
- Help choosing materials and finishes
- Vetted builders
- Useful if several trades are needed
I probably wouldn't use Beams if I had already bought a kitchen and just needed someone to fit it. Likewise, if I wanted the cheapest possible bathroom refresh, I'd probably find a local bathroom fitter.
For a proper £15,000, £25,000 or £40,000+ kitchen or bathroom renovation, though, I'd rather have the extra planning around the project.
3. Plus Rooms – Best for Extensions and Side Returns
Plus Rooms is the company I'd look at if the renovation was really about making the house bigger.
Think Victorian terrace with a narrow kitchen and unused side return. That's exactly the type of London property where an extension can completely change how the ground floor works.
Plus Rooms has been doing this type of work for years.
If my plan was to build a rear or side-return extension and create a large kitchen and living space, I'd want them quoting.
For a straightforward internal renovation, I'd probably choose a company with more emphasis on interiors.
4. NU Projects – Best for High-End Design and Build
NU Projects would come onto my shortlist if the budget started getting serious.
It combines architecture, interior design and construction and is particularly established around West and South West London.
I see this as more of a premium design-and-build proposition. If I'd bought an expensive London property and wanted significant architectural changes rather than a straightforward refurbishment, NU would make sense.
5. NOVA Design & Build – Best for Large Premium Renovations
NOVA is another company I'd consider once a project moves towards the higher end of the market.
It covers design and construction and works on substantial refurbishments and extensions.
For me, the attraction would be a project where the building itself is changing significantly and the quality of the final interior is equally important.
It wouldn't necessarily be my first call for a relatively modest renovation, but for a major transformation it belongs on the shortlist.
6. Proficiency Design & Build – Best for Construction-Heavy Projects
Proficiency would interest me if there was a lot of actual building involved.
It works across renovations, extensions, loft conversions and basements, so it is capable of dealing with projects that go well beyond decorating and interior finishes.
If I was extending, restructuring and renovating a property simultaneously, I'd be interested in seeing how its proposal compared with some of the more design-led businesses above.
7. Home Republic – Best for Luxury Homes
Home Republic is probably the most obvious fit here for a genuinely high-end property.
It works on substantial residential construction and renovation projects and has experience with older properties as well as contemporary homes.
I wouldn't approach them looking for a budget refurbishment. That's not really the point.
If I owned a high-value London property and wanted the renovation finished to a premium standard, however, Home Republic would be worth speaking to.
Which Ones Would I Actually Call?
It would depend entirely on what I was renovating.
- Whole house: houseUP
- Kitchen: Beams Renovation
- Bathroom: Beams Renovation
- Victorian side-return extension: Plus Rooms
- High-end design and build: NU Projects
- Large premium renovation: NOVA Design & Build
- Major structural work: Proficiency Design & Build
- Luxury property: Home Republic
If it was my money, I'd get two or three genuinely comparable proposals rather than ten vague quotes.
For a complete house I'd start with houseUP. For a kitchen or bathroom, Beams would be one of my first calls. For an extension, I'd speak to Plus Rooms. And if I was spending serious money on a high-end property, I'd bring NU Projects, NOVA or Home Republic into the conversation.
That's a much better way of choosing a renovation company than trying to decide who is universally “best”. The right company is the one whose strongest type of project looks most like yours.