In London’s super-prime residential market, the journey from signing the dotted line to truly making a house a home can be frustratingly fragmented, opaque and difficult to control.
For Project London and Cor Domi founders Jonathan Mount and Sam McArdle, who spent years navigating this disconnect as buying agents at firms like Sterling Private Office and The Buying Solution, the pattern became impossible to ignore: clients would invest millions securing the perfect property, only to hand the renovation phase to a scattered network of consultants and contractors.
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Sadly, at this crucial stage, a project could falter, as limited oversight on programme or accountability stretched timelines, drove up costs or produced incoherent results.
Mount and McArdle’s response was to build what the market was missing.
In 2017, they founded Project London, an architecture and interiors practice delivering fully bespoke, end-to-end solutions with the transparency, structure and commercial rigour they had honed in buying agencies.
Shortly after, Cor Domi followed, a standalone joinery and kitchen specialist offering the same level of craft and precision as a complementary service.
Six years on, both businesses have quietly established themselves within London’s most discerning renovation circles, working on everything from listed townhouses in St John’s Wood to wellness-focused refurbishments in Notting Hill. Their approach is client-led rather than style-led, grounded in a philosophy that the best homes feel effortless, considered and as though they have always been that way, even when extraordinary work sits discreetly behind the scenes.
In this conversation, we explore what prompted their leap from advisory to delivery, how their buying agent instincts shaped their design philosophy, and why the future of luxury renovation lies not in drama, but in brilliant execution.
What prompted you both to move from buying agency work into founding your own design and construction businesses?
We kept encountering the same issue for our buying clients. We could find them the right house, but once it came to delivering a renovation, the process was often opaque, fragmented and difficult to control. We were used to a buying agency approach that is clear, structured and commercially minded, and we couldn’t see that same standard being consistently applied to renovation. So we built it.
Why did you decide to launch two separate but complementary companies rather than one integrated business?
While closely linked, the two businesses serve different purposes. Project London delivers an end-to-end architecture and interiors service, while Cor Domi specialises in bespoke joinery and kitchens.
Through Project London, we met exceptional joinery manufacturers and quickly saw that this element could stand alone as a distinct proposition, with its own standards, team and identity.
Keeping the businesses separate also gives clients genuine choice. They can work with Project London for architecture and interiors while retaining an existing kitchen relationship, or engage Cor Domi independently for high-level bespoke joinery, whether or not Project London is delivering the wider project.
Were there any challenges in making the leap from advising clients on purchases to actually delivering the design and construction work yourselves?
Absolutely, and we have made a lot of mistakes over the past six years. I think having walked through the doors of thousands of properties has really helped us. We know what adds value to a property and why, so we can advise clients when they are over-capitalising an asset.
One of the biggest early challenges when we started was the lack of a portfolio. Today, our work speaks for itself, but in the early days clients were taking a bit of a leap of faith. It has taken years for that body of work to build and filter through.
Design philosophy shaping a commercial vision
How do you define "fully bespoke, end-to-end solutions" in practice? Walk us through what that means for a typical client.
It means one joined-up team taking responsibility from the first conversation through to final handover, with continuity and accountability throughout. A typical scope may include planning and listed building consent, licences to alter, party wall matters, architecture, interior design, technical packages, joinery design and supply, procurement, project management, and final snagging. Clients can use all or part of this, but the key is that everything works together, rather than in silos.
How do Project London and Cor Domi work together on projects? Where does one stop and the other begin?
They dovetail naturally. Typically, Project London’s interiors team introduces Cor Domi relatively early in the process so joinery is considered as part of the overall scheme. Because joinery plays such a defining role in how a home feels, it makes sense for it to be embedded in the design process rather than treated as an add-on.
What's your design philosophy when it comes to high-end residential work?
We are client-led, not style-led. Our role is to interpret how a client wants to live and translate that into a home that feels effortless, considered and timeless. We love working with period buildings and approach them with real respect, carefully preserving what should be retained while thoughtfully refining elements that benefit from evolution. The best homes feel as though they have always been that way, even when a huge amount of work sits quietly behind the scenes.
How do you balance client vision with your own creative input and expertise?
We start by listening properly: lifestyle, priorities, how the space is used, what clients love and what they dislike. From there, we bring structure and clarity through options, precedents and confident recommendations. We’re candid when something won’t work, and equally confident when a client needs a gentle push toward a decision we know will succeed. It’s a collaboration, but clients engage us for our expertise, and trusting that process leads to the best results.
Craftsmanship leading process
Can you describe your approach to materials sourcing and selection?
We prioritise quality, provenance and performance. Materials are chosen to suit the client’s lifestyle and the realities of the home, considering durability, maintenance and how finishes will age over time. Consistency matters too, so we sample properly and control colour and grain to ensure what’s installed matches what was approved.
What does "crafted around each client's lifestyle" actually mean in practice? Can you give us an example?
It means that Project London shapes the architecture and flow of a home around how a client lives, while Cor Domi designs the joinery to support that lifestyle seamlessly, both now and in the future.
A good example is Project Bellevue. The client loves entertaining and wanted impact from the moment of arrival. Through structural changes we created a direct view to the garden on entry, setting the tone immediately. The kitchen, living room, bar and dining area were designed as one generous space that works beautifully for entertaining, yet feels comfortable and understated for daily family life.
We also future-proofed the front living room, currently used as a playroom. The joinery was designed to feel playful today but can evolve easily, with hidden TV points positioned behind artwork so the room matures naturally as the children grow.
How long does a typical whole-home joinery project take from initial consultation to installation?
It varies by scale, but a useful guideline is four to eight months from initial briefing to installation completion. Once drawings are signed off, manufacturing typically takes eight to ten weeks. Installation can range from a week for smaller packages to several months for larger homes. Early decisions and timely approvals make the biggest difference to keeping programmes on track.
What's the most ambitious or unusual project you've undertaken so far?
Often, the most ambitious projects involve integrating modern living into protected, complex buildings where every millimetre matters. A recent example is a project in St John’s Wood, where we were brought in very early as part of the listed building consent application.
The joinery had to be visually stunning, but it also had a serious technical job to do, concealing air conditioning, AV equipment, risers, and other services without compromising the architectural character of the building.
We have worked on homes where the joinery package is effectively a piece of architecture in its own right, integrating hidden doors, panelling, and lighting so the house feels calm and coherent. Often the most unusual part is what you do not see, which is rather the point.
Trend setting and cultural awareness
Having worked on both sides – advising buyers and now delivering projects – how has your perspective on the luxury residential market changed?
We now see much more clearly that the true cost of a home extends well beyond the purchase price. Time, risk and decision-making all play a significant role. A well-planned house can often outperform a more expensive property burdened by constraints or unrealistic ambition. Clients also remember the experience as much as the final result, and strong, well-managed delivery is a genuine differentiator.
What trends are you seeing among high-net-worth clients in terms of what they want from their homes?
Balance is key. Clients want homes that can do both: spaces that work beautifully for entertaining, while also feeling genuinely restorative day to day. We’re seeing greater emphasis on homes that work harder overall, with improved storage, better acoustics, considered lighting and well-planned utility spaces that keep principal rooms calm and uncluttered.
Wellness remains important, but in a practical, liveable sense. Good air quality, clean water, comfortable temperature control and spaces that support daily routines are prioritised over showpiece spa facilities that rarely get used. Entertaining hasn’t gone away, it’s simply become more considered, with bespoke bars, wine displays and outdoor areas that feel integrated rather than overtly showy.
A recent Notting Hill project is a good example of this balance. Equal importance was placed on entertaining and wellness: alongside a striking bar and wine display, we extended the roof terrace for hosting, while also creating a gym, steam shower and sauna, ensuring the home supports how the clients live every week, not just when they have guests.
How have client expectations evolved since you started your businesses?
Clients are far more informed and, in many ways, more demanding, in a good way. Information is now readily accessible, particularly with the rise of AI, and many clients arrive with strong visual references and well-formed ideas. This has raised the bar at the early design stages and pushed everyone to be sharper and more considered from the outset.
At the same time, expectations have increasingly shifted towards delivery. Clients want clarity, fast and consistent communication, and genuine transparency around cost, programme and decision-making. They also expect homes to perform as well as they look, encompassing technology, comfort, energy efficiency and robust detailing, not just aesthetics.
In short, inspiration is everywhere. What clients value most is a calm, human approach that can translate ambition into a well-managed, well-coordinated build, with fewer surprises and a smoother journey from concept to completion.
The future vision
Are there particular types of projects you're hoping to take on more of?
We particularly enjoy full refurbishments where we can shape the entire home experience, especially within period properties where careful detailing and considered design make the greatest impact. Projects with a strong joinery component are also a focus, as this is where craftsmanship and precision can truly elevate a home.
Alongside residential, we have also delivered a couple of commercial projects, including a boutique estate agent shop on Westbourne Grove and a hair salon in Chelsea, and we would love to do more in this space. We’re especially keen to explore boutique hotel projects and super-prime show homes in Prime Central London, creating schemes that feel distinctive, timeless and genuinely liveable rather than overly styled.
How do you see the luxury residential design and construction sector evolving over the next few years?
Clients will continue to demand transparency and professionalism, and the market will increasingly reward teams that coordinate effectively, communicate clearly and deliver predictably. There will also be a growing focus on performance and longevity, from energy efficiency and comfort through to durability and long-term maintenance. The basics, executed brilliantly, will matter most. As ever, the glamour lies in the details, not the drama.
For more information, visit projectlondon.co.uk and cordomi.co.uk
