A Beautifully Renovated Victorian Villa
Share
Copy Link
This week's renovation tour is two_bears_at_no.96, one of our very favourite renovation accounts on Instagram...it's so stylish and individual, yet looks like such a welcoming and relaxing home.
Much of the renovation is sympathetic to the period property - like the extension with the sky lantern which looks like it has always been there. There are beautiful freestanding bathtubs, exposed brick walls and original wood flooring. Then there are the amazing modern touches, like the pink and deep green kitchen and the bold shower decor.
Morgan and her husband carried out the bulk of the renovation whilst she was pregnant - no mean feat but totally worth it as they have created this unique and beautiful family home.
Can you tell us about your home and renovation project?
Our home is a late Victorian semi-detached villa which had been untouched for 30 years. It was a 7 bedroom house that was split into bedsits - we turned it into a 5 bedroom family home.
We literally had to do everything to the house, starting from the top and working our way down!
We started by gutting the top floor of the house, where our master bedroom was going to be. Stripping out all of the old carpets, knocking three rooms into one to create our large master suite and then re-insulating and re-plastering. We love this space now as it's big and feels separate to the rest of the house.
After the upstairs was complete, we moved onto the rest of the house which included the kitchen / diner extension. We also restored the original sash windows and double glazed them throughout the house.
The master bedroom with the most amazing copper bath
What has been the most challenging part of the renovation so far?
We moved into the property whilst carrying out all of the renovations downstairs which meant we had to live with no heating for a whole winter - we only had a heated blanket which wasn't for the faint-hearted!
We attached a hose pipe to the original cast iron bath so we could shower, which meant sitting down on the cold cast iron whilst showering. We saved the original cast iron bath and refurbished it, which is now in the family bathroom and we love it.
The beautiful traditional kitchen with a striking combination of pale pink and deep green cabinets - just beautiful
Did you have a budget and how did you stick to it?
We carried out as much of the work ourselves as we could. We designed the kitchen ourselves and used a local engineer to draw the plans. Then we used builders to complete the shell and we did the rest of the work ourselves, including the plumbing, electrics, insulation, boarding, plastering, fitting the kitchen and decorating. We also upcycled where we could, including the original cast iron bath.
The original cast iron bath that was restored
Where is your favourite place in your home now?
We love our extension as it's a big open space from the lounge into the kitchen diner. It means you never feel shut off and we can always see / hear what our 1 year old is up to! It’s such a sociable space and is perfect for entertaining - bringing a Victorian home into a modern day lifestyle.
We love the traditional extension which looks so at home in the Victorian property
What is your biggest piece of advice for somebody about to start a renovation project?
Taking your time over the renovation isn't a bad thing as your requirements will change as you live there, as will your style. A Henry hoover is also a must!
The master en-suite with exposed brickwork
What do friends and family say about your home now?
Family and friends love our house and are proud of the work that we have done.
The original kitchen was on the first floor and we turned this into a bathroom which guests use when they come to stay - they love it!
We are proud that we have restored a family home into a newly loved home that we will live in for years.
The owners have created this stunning dressing room
If you are thinking about a renovation project in the near future and need some help finding an architect or designer, we can match you with the most suitable ones for your project.
Find an architect or designer
Published: January 14, 2020
Sign up with Facebook
Sign up with Google
