Period HOME
By respecting the heritage and reconfiguring the layout of their Victorian rectory, Jacqui and Peter Kirk have created a magnificent family home
A neglected Victorian property in Northern Ireland has been transformed into the epitome of elegance.
From the moment she spotted a lofty Victorian rectory on the side of a hill, with spectacular, panoramic views over Belfast Lough, Jacqui Kirk’s interest in it was piqued.
The damp, neglected coastal property had been languishing on the market for eight years, but Jacqui, who was looking to relocate from London to her native Northern Ireland with her husband, Peter, and their sons, Charlie and Ben, succumbed to its period charms. A seasoned renovator, she decided that this dilapidated house would make the perfect transformation project for her and she simply had to restore it to its former glory.
Ironically, even when a surveyor friend revealed that the derelict rectory exemplified all the structural problems he had ever encountered, it only made Jacqui and Peter even more determined to take on such a monumental challenge.
Mindful of preserving and enhancing the property’s plethora of period features, Jacqui had a vision for the crumbling rectory which centred on rearranging the whole layout to create a relaxed, fit-for-purpose home suitable for family life.
One of Jacqui’s main objectives was to use every room regularly, so she was keen to replace a quirky lean-to structure at the rear of the house with a lightfilled family space, and reconfigure the rest of the downstairs layout to create a larger kitchen, plus a study for working from home.
‘One of my aims was to maximise the breathtaking sea views by ensuring that the sitting room, dining room and main suite were all positioned at the front of the house,’ says Jacqui. ‘We didn’t need eight
bedrooms so, by employing some lateral thinking, we reorganised the first and second storeys to create six bedrooms, a dressing room and three bathrooms.’
Peter took on the mantle of project manager and, once planning permission was obtained and a team of expert builders and craftsmen were on board, the year-long project swiftly took shape.
Jacqui and Peter worked on the theory that by stripping the house back to its bare bricks, there would be no surprises, so the rectory virtually became a shell. With its roof and more than 50 rotten windows removed, only the central staircase and landings remained intact.
The couple were conscious of honouring the rectory’s rich heritage, so they painstakingly sourced authentic building materials, such as Bangor blue slates, and fixtures and fittings from reclamation yards and specialist suppliers. They restored period features where possible and had a bespoke stainedglass window made to replace a damaged original.
Jacqui has skilfully curated the interior, selecting antique fireplaces to set the tone in the living areas, as well as an eclectic mix of elegant furnishings. Schemes have been inspired by the colourful hues in the couple’s cherished artworks. Soft furnishings in sumptuous, tactile fabrics and bold designs add texture and depth to each space, and a muted palette on the walls allows beautifully restored features, such as the cornicing, ceiling centre pieces and architraves, to be celebrated.
‘The chance to breathe new life into the rectory was undeniably a huge leap of faith,’ says Jacqui. ‘However, it’s been such an incredible journey and one we have relished every step of the way.’