‘We house didn’t to look want too this new’
When renovating their Whitstable home, Amanda and Guy Lambert faced a dilemma: how could they modernise it without sacrificing the Victorian property’s original charm?
Amanda and Guy Lambert bought their Whitstable home when their daughter Lucy was seven. They loved the location, but as Lucy grew up, the house became less practical. ‘The way the rooms were divided downstairs worked when Lucy was little,’ says Amanda, ‘but didn’t suit the way we live now. We decided to either sell up or do something dramatic.’
They opted for the latter, and the plan involved a side-return extension and complete reconfiguration of the ground floor to create a big, open-plan space for family life. ‘We took four walls out, so a lot of steel reinforcements went in,’ says Amanda. ‘Part of what was the dining room became a hallway and a larger shower room, and we created an open-plan space comprising a kitchen, dining and seating area, which connects directly to the garden.
With such a big renovation, Amanda and Guy had to keep their eyes on the ball. ‘You really have to invest the time to stay on top of a project like this,’ says Amanda. ‘The steel joists were originally going to be boxed in, so when I realised I wanted them to be exposed, I had to jump on it straight away. I’m pleased I did, because they really add character.’ Another feature that adds personality is the antique window that separates the kitchen from the hallway. ‘The builders thought I was mad, but it works! It softens the new part of the house. I bought the window without knowing where to use it, but once that fell into place, everything else in the new layout just flowed.’
The couple are glad they chose to renovate. ‘The house needed to move on with us as we changed as a family,’ says Amanda. ‘It still has the things we’ve loved for years, but it works better now. The openness and connection with the garden has changed the way we use it.’
“We love the light, openness and connection with the garden it has now”