House Renovation

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Posted by Jo Sheldrake on Jan 25, 2021 in Homepage | 0 comments

As featured in 25 Beautiful Homes magazine.

Introduction

Emma and Andrew’s house renovation’s aim was to sympathetically restore a Georgian townhouse in Somerset. The couples design and decorating ideas would enhance its natural beauty by injecting a touch of style and elegance to their new home. Emma’s love of interior design interesting artwork, furniture and beautiful fabrics has made the best out of the generous proportions of this historic house to create the perfect family home.

House Renovation of a Terraced 19 Century Grade 2 Listed property in Somerset

Drawing Room

Bespoke mirrors , £395 each , Atlas Interiors. Curtains and Cushions made to order by Julie Ireland Interiors, Regents Marble Top side tables £199 each, Atkins & Time. Walls painted in Slake Lime mid 149, Absolute Matt Emulsion, £42 for 2.5 litres, Little Greene

Emma Osborne and new partner Andrew have a large family and therefore need a large family home. When the couple started looking for their first home together, they discovered a spacious 19^th century five- story terraced property in the middle of the city. The house, a former Merchants house seemed like the perfect solution. This Georgian property, situated in the center of the city and boasts majestic charm and character ticked all the boxes of location, space and potential. The property needed to be restored because it was in a poor state of disrepair. Therefore give the couple a chance to create a home that worked for them and fulfill their family needs.

Kitchen/Diner

The couple had to redesign the house to maximize the space and suit their lifestyle. Emma knew this was the property for them. ‘I made an offer in the sitting room during our first viewing’, says Emma, ‘although it was tired and the décor not to our taste, structurally the property was sound. All of the original period features were still in perfect condition which gave us ‘free reign’ to modernize the interior.’

Stairway

The hallway and landings have a two tone theme. The were stairs stripped in preparation for a simple carpet runner.

The wall below the handrail of the stairway is painted in French Gray Dark 163 from Little Green and Clunch from Farrow & Ball above.

‘We both project managed the works with the help of a great team of locally sourced tradesman and artisans.’ says Emma, ‘We had 4 floors of original spindle staircase stripped and French polished by Alan Hosegood, a specialist in Bristol.’

Being Grade 2 Listed, Planning Consent had to be applied for and as soon as it was approved in June 2016, works commenced. “Anything that touches the entirety of a listed building is subject to planning approval’, says Emma, ‘so choosing colours and materials in keeping with the age of the property are encouraged.’ For example, the front door was painted in ‘Brassica’ by Farrow & Ball and fitted with a traditional Lions head knocker.

Dining Room

**‘I wanted to create a striking table centre piece using artificial flowers and a large ceramic urn’, says Emm**a

Faux Flower stems from £6 per stem, Neptune. Table £1800 Chairs £250 each, SJP interior Design. Lantern £149, India Jane. Doreen Pewter Double Wall Light with String Shades , £133 , David Hunt Lighting.

The couple’s first aim was to create a logical plan of works, with minimal disruption, as they were living in the property with two of the youngest children and two dogs, – sometimes a hectic and stressful time! The smooth running and successful completion of the refurbishment depended on timely forward planning. For instance, they ordered the vast stair runner straight away, given the 5 month lead time up to delivery! ‘Bespoke items needed to be planned ahead to make allowances for availability, supply leads and fitting considerations,’ says Andrew, ‘every day was like a school day, lessons learnt along the way.’

Kitchen

Andrew Martin Fabric “Aldridge Charcoal’, £79 per metre, Andrew Martin Fabrics. Cabinets painted in Cornforth White, Exterior EggShell, £60 for 2.5 litres, Farrow-Ball.

Recreating light and airy bedroom space for the children on the fifth floor was a good starting point. The rooms were redecorated, carpeted and fitted with made to measure wardrobes to maximize space and help overcome access restrictions to the top floor, due to the narrow stairway. ‘We then had to juggle refurbishing 5 bathrooms in order of priority,’ says Emma, ‘ to ensure we had one functioning shower.’

The couple have successfully enhanced the existing period architecture and features, aswell as maximized the available space. On the first floor in the utility room, the boilers couldn’t be moved, so ventilated louvered wooden doors were made to disguise the white goods and boilers.

Bathroom

A bespoke sink unit with Belfast sink and modern hose tap for practicality with an updated feel.

Paint colours in Light Blue by Farrow & Ball. Designers Guild Masson – the Roman blind

Undaunted by the task of redecorating the spacious drawing room ,the couple painted over the wallpaper. ‘As an alternative to unnecessarily stripping well preserved, embossed and patterned wall paper,’ says Emma, ‘ we applied a base coat of a specialist primer, Zinser, before painting the walls in a pure and natural white to give a warm soft appearance.’ The soft, neutral colour scheme creates a clean, welcoming and calm interior allowing the rooms designs to come alive. The perfect canvas and backdrop for their eclectic, colourful artwork and vibrant, stylish furniture and furnishings.

Drawing Room

**Emma’s attention to detail and simply elegant interior design is a mix of classic, modern and eclectic**.

The large nude painting creates a focal point in the bathroom. The soft layers of blue hues are restful and calming.

The bathroom walls are painted in Bone China Blue Mid 183, intelligent Eggshell, £59 per 2.5 litres, Little Greene. Freestanding Bath Ball & Claw feet roll top, £300 approx, Core & Ore.

Master Bedroom

‘ **My favourite fabrics are from Designer Guild, says Emma; ‘ Combining these beautiful textured fabrics in floral designs and ombre shades add a pop of colour and a fresh feel**.’

The master bedroom walls are painted in Slaked Lime Mid, £42 per 2.5 litres, Little Greene. Handmade curtain and blind by Julie Ireland, Capisoli-Peony, £93 per metre, Designer Guild. Roman Blind , Caprifoglio £79 per metre, Clark and Clark.

Guest Bedroom

**The feature wall adds a dramatic focal point and a blast of colour to the room**

Rose Mist Rattan Bed, £1250 John Lewis. All matching bedroom furniture, 3 Drawer Chest, £499, Dressing Table, £599, Mirror £225 and Chair £250, Anna French. Feature Wall Panel, Wild Flora Bouquet, £33 per roll, Anna French.

In conclusion, Emma was continually forward planning, sourcing fabrics , artwork and soft furnishings, such as the handmade curtain pelmets by Julie Ireland. ‘ I spent a lot of time looking for the braiding for the pelmets’, says Emma,’ which came from Houles in Paris and similarly I love reupholstering old stools and ottomans, such as the ones in the kitchen to give them a fresher new look using interesting and textured fabrics’

‘We have successfully transformed this beautiful house into our home! achieved a huge amount of work in one year and thrilled with the results,’ says Emma,’ all we have left to do is enjoy it’