ONE SMALL CHANGE TRANSFORMED OUR HOME A REGENCY HOME IS UPDATED WITH MODERN PATIO DOORS

KATIE AND OLLY MORGAN REVAMPED A DATED GRADE-II LISTED REGENCY TOWNHOUSE AND ADDED PATIO DOORS TO ENHANCE THE SENSE OF SPACE

“We’re thrilled with the way the new patio doors have opened up the ground floor – it feels like we’ve added a room”

FROM THE MOMENT WE STEPPED ACROSS THE THRESHOLD,” SAYS KATIE. “IT WAS THE PERFECT GRADE-II LISTED HOUSE, WITH WONDERFULLY ELEGANT PROPORTIONS,

HIGH CEILINGS AND LOTS OF PERIOD FEATURES. THEN WE RELUCTANTLY CONCEDED IT COST MORE THAN WE COULD CURRENTLY AFFORD, ESPECIALLY AS IT NEEDED RENOVATING.”

THEN FATE TOOK A HAND. “ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE ESTATE AGENT CALLED US TO SAY THE OWNERS HAD DROPPED THE PRICE, SO WE OFFERED OUR HIGHEST BID. I THINK THE FACT THAT WE WERE CASH BUYERS HELPED TO CLINCH THE DEAL AND, MUCH TO OUR DELIGHT, OUR OFFER WAS ACCEPTED.”

THE COUPLE DECIDED TO KEEP THE EXISTING LAYOUT, BUT INSTALLED NEW PATIO DOORS AT ONE END OF THE KITCHEN-DINER – AND THIS ONE SMALL CHANGE HAS MADE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO THEIR HOME. “APPLYING FOR PLANNING PERMISSION FOR LISTED PROPERTIES CAN BE A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS SO WE LEFT IT RIGHT UNTIL THE END OF THE RENOVATION,” KATIE EXPLAINS. “THE NEW PATIO DOORS HAVE OPENED UP THE DINING AREA BEAUTIFULLY, LINKING THE GARDEN WITH THE HOUSE. WITH THE DOORS WIDE OPEN IN SUMMER, IT FEELS LIKE AN EXTRA ROOM!”

THE REST OF THEIR BUILDING “TO DO”

LIST WAS FAIRLY LONG AND DAUNTING... THE HOUSE NEEDED COMPLETELY REWIRING

AND REPLUMBING, PLUS A NEW BOILER >>

“We went for a mix of shabby chic and classic furniture, which works really well with the Regency townhouse style”

AND AN EN SUITE BATHROOM NEEDED FITTING. IN ADDITION, THE DAMP COURSE IN THE KITCHEN ALSO NEEDED REPLACING.

THE COUPLE GAVE THEMSELVES A FAIRLY TIGHT BUDGET FOR THE RENOVATION WORK, SO THEY WERE THRILLED WHEN

THEIR BUILDER CAME UP WITH A GREAT MONEY-SAVING IDEA. “AS THE EXISTING KITCHEN UNITS WERE SOLID OAK, THE BUILDER SUGGESTED THAT THEY COULD EASILY BE PAINTED TO PRODUCE THE CLASSIC EFFECT WE WANTED,” SAYS KATIE. “DOING A KITCHEN MAKEOVER RATHER THAN A WHOLE NEW INSTALLATION SAVED US THOUSANDS OF POUNDS.”

ALL IN ALL, THE BUILDING WORK TOOK A YEAR, WHICH LEFT KATIE AND OLLY PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAN THE DECOR. “WE SPENT AGES FINE-TUNING OUR DESIGN IDEAS

AND DECIDED TO GO FOR A MIX OF SHABBY CHIC AND CLASSIC FURNITURE, WHICH

WORKS REALLY WELL WITH THE REGENCY TOWNHOUSE STYLE,” SAYS KATIE. “OLLY

AND I BOTH LIKE LIVING WITH CALM, NEUTRAL SHADES, SO WE CHOSE A PALETTE OF SOFT GREYS, CREAMS, TAUPE AND DUCK EGG BLUE THROUGHOUT. THIS CREATES A SENSE OF VISUAL FLOW AND CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ROOMS AND LEVELS.”

WITH ALL THE HARD WORK NOW BEHIND THEM, THE COUPLE ARE UNDERSTANDABLY THRILLED WITH THE WAY THE HOUSE HAS FINALLY TURNED OUT. “IT’S ALL THAT WE EVER HOPED IT WOULD BE, AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE LIVING HERE. IT REALLY IS THE

PERFECT HOME,” ADDS KATIE.

CLASSIC STYLE OLLY AND KATIE HAD THE KITCHEN UNITS REPAINTED INSTEAD OF REPLACING THEM TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY. THEY ARE PAINTED IN FARROW & BALL’S LAMP ROOM GRAY ESTATE EGGSHELL. THE MAGIS BOMBO BAR STOOLS ARE FROM HARROGATEINTERIORS.CO.UK FOR A...

PALE AND INTERESTING THE WALLS ARE PAINTED IN FARROW & BALL POINTING ESTATE EMULSION (FARROW-BALL.COM) TO GIVE A LIGHT AND FRESH FEEL. THE WINSLOW SOFA IS FROM CONRANSHOP.CO.UK. FOR A SIMILAR TABLE, TRY THE OLD MILL RANGE AT AUTHENTICFURNITURE. CO.UK....

KATIE AND OLLY MORGAN HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE IN A CLASSIC REGENCY TOWNHOUSE, BUT WHEN THEY BEGAN HOUSE-HUNTING IN CHELTENHAM, THEY WEREN’T SURE IF THEIR BUDGET WOULD STRETCH THAT FAR. “THIS HOUSE WAS THE LAST ONE WE LOOKED AT, AND WE FELL IN LOVE...

CALM NEUTRALS OLLY AND KATIE WANTED THEIR SITTING ROOM TO BE A CALM, RELAXING RETREAT. THE WALLS ARE PAINTED IN FARROW & BALL CLUNCH ESTATE EMULSION (FARROW-BALL.COM) AND THE LINEN-UPHOLSTERED OTTOMAN WAS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE DECOR. A SIMILAR...