VICTORIAN VILLA

Not wanting to pass up the opportunity to create the home they had always longed for, the owners of this handsome Scottish property used their initiative when it came to honouring its 19th-century design

The integrity of an elegant period property has been expertly revived.

While there are always exceptions, as a rule houses do not remain exactly as they were originally built or decorated. Trends and tastes change and owners come and go, each bringing with them their design ideas and expectations. The determination to make one’s mark, however, can lead to beautiful original features being permanently lost, and “improvements” often turn out to be anything but.

IN SAFE HANDS

It is a story that chimes with Gillian and Mike Stewart, owners of this Victorian home set in the Fife countryside. By the time they found the property, the original staircase and cornicing had long been ripped out and the hall floor replaced with cork tiles. With their hearts set on creating their dream home, the couple decided to buy the house and to turn their hands to renovation and redecoration. Fortunately, to them that meant restoring the building’s integrity and honouring its heritage.

TAKING THE FIRST STEP

The project was a large one, involving not only renovation but also the design and building of a new extension, and the Stewarts soon realised they would need expert help to complete it. Consultations with a number of architects, and prolonged discussions about how to add an extension without losing sight of the building’s original design, finally brought them to Helen Lucas’s door.

“From the outset, I had a strong feeling that the hall let the entire house down. I needed to get the bones of the building right before I could start decorating,” says Gillian. Helen confirmed that the existing staircase in the hall, which was steep, poorly designed and badly positioned, was not

the original. It was the breakthrough that Gillian and Mike had been seeking, and gave them reason to remove the stairs and replace them with something much more in keeping with the building’s age. This alteration would also allow for the installation of a large window at the top of the first flight, to flood the hall and the landing with natural light.

Although the work was arduous and costly, the end result o≠ers a far more fitting first impression and is now as elegant as the rest of the house. “When renovating, I think you have to do your best to stay true to the time and style of the house,” says Gillian.

PERFECT MATCH

Next, the Stewarts turned their attention to designing and building a new extension at the side of the house. The couple had a very clear vision of what they wanted: “A lot of natural light and proper views of the countryside,” says Gillian. “But most importantly, it really had to look as if it was part of the original house, which meant no modern glass walls.” Instead, large, double-hung windows and cleverly placed skylights bring in the requisite levels of light without sitting unharmoniously with the rest of the property.

DECORATIVE MATTERS

Gillian has approached the interior decoration with the same concern for the age of the property, opting for a traditional look for less easily changed elements and taking a more playful approach with accessories and fabrics. “I’ve invested in antique furniture and quality flooring, whereas curtains and fabrics can be easily swapped, so that’s where I have fun with bolder colours and patterns,” says Gillian.

Rooms are now sympathetic to the period of the house yet also true to their owners’ character. The Stewarts can rest assured that integrity has been restored to this home.