sale of the century
Having been in the same family for 99 years, this city terrace was ripe for renovation
Show homes are often regarded as a modern phenomenon, but they were popular even in Victorian times, as this terrace in southwest London proves. It was built as a model home for an estate in Richmond in the late 19th century. ‘The houses on this side of the street, which were all show homes, have lots of additional features, such as higher ceilings and greater detailing on the façades, making them look extra special,’ explains Ben Edwards, who bought the historic property with his wife Fiona in 2013.
The previous owners had inherited the property from their relatives, and lived in the house for 99 years, so the couple are only the second family to inhabit the house. They were not put off by the fact that it hadn’t been modernised since the Sixties. ‘It was draughty and damp,’ says Fiona, ‘It had a tiny galley kitchen, the downstairs cloakroom was in a lean-to and the whole place had a fusty smell. Nevertheless, Ben and I loved the high ceilings and that it was full of light, and instantly saw its potential. We realised we could extend into the side return and convert the loft. It was a true diamond in the rough.’
Despite the property being in a state of disrepair, Ben and Fiona moved in with their Norfolk terrier Axel while plans were prepared for the renovation work. They did, however, make some simple changes to ensure the house was habitable. ‘ We ripped out the carpet, chiselled open the stuck windows and painted everything white, which provided us with a much-needed blank canvas,’ says Fiona.
Ben knew an architect through his rugby club, and one of his friends, who owns Master Build and Design in nearby Teddington, was brought in to help, too. ‘Mike, our builder, was great,’ says Ben. ‘He knew how to get the most out of this house because he’s worked on so many around here. For example, he encouraged us to remodel the front bedroom wall so that the light from the windows reached the hall and also accentuated the architecture of the sitting
room downstairs with its curved wall.’ Upstairs, the main bathroom was also enlarged by knocking through to the separate cloakroom, and an en-suite bedroom and dressing room was incorporated into the loft. Downstairs, Ben and Fiona went ahead with their plan to extend into the garden and the side return to create a spacious kitchen-diner.
While the restructuring was in progress, the couple moved from room to room with their mini fridge and microwave in tow, living on ready meals while the kitchen was remodelled. Despite a few setbacks, sometimes having no water, they persevered and unearthed some interesting finds along the way. ‘ We found the original gaslights and a tin bath in the loft, but a less pleasant surprise was the discovery of a cracked sewer pipe,’ says Fiona.
It was during all the repair and building work that Fiona planned the decor. ‘I used Pinterest and interiors magazines for inspiration, and I painted swatches all over the house to get a feel for which colours would work where,’ she says. Heritage hues were used throughout and while most are neutral, the study was decorated in a striking china blue.
When it came to the new kitchen, the pair chose classic cabinetry that would blend well with the property’s architecture, and based the colour scheme on a kitchen that Fiona had spotted in a magazine. The three bathrooms were left for Ben to redesign. ‘ We went into a shop on the last day of its sale with 15 minutes left before closing. I was wowed by all the things I saw, so I bought everything for our bathrooms in one fell swoop,’ he laughs.
Naturally, Fiona was concerned that her husband may have made rash decisions, but she is delighted with how the bathrooms have turned out. ‘In fact, I’m thrilled with the whole house,’ she says. ‘ We have maintained its period character while creating a modern home that feels comfortable yet luxurious.’
design tip ‘Employ a builder and architect who have a good grasp of the local housing – they will know the possibilities your home holds’