A former doctor’s surgery has been reconfigured into a modern house

Katy and Sy Dodman have transformed this onceramshackle doctor’s surgery into a beautiful home

For Katy and Sy Dodman, it was only a matter of time before they moved back home to the town in Northamptonshire where they both grew up. ‘We’ve moved seven times in the last 10 years,’ says Katy. ‘It’s been quite exhausting and we were ready to settle down and spend more quality time with our families,’ says Katy.

The first house they viewed was conveniently placed on a wide and leafy road just a five-minute walk from the station, but the pair felt it wasn’t for them. ‘It was a mess and needed a lot of renovation work, and I was overwhelmed with the thought of such a massive project,’ says Katy. ‘Instead, we put an offer on a more finished property up the road, but that fell through.’

While Katy was ready to find a place to rent long term, Sy hadn’t given up on the first house, which was formerly a doctor’s surgery, and eventually convinced Katy that they could take it on. ‘He’d found a builder who was happy to work with us, so I felt confident we could manage it,’ says Katy. The couple rented a house close by for six months to oversee the work and things were going well until two weeks before they were due

DECORATING TIP ‘Be daring and introduce darker colours to a scheme – we did and we don’t regret it’

to move in. ‘The builder stopped turning up,’ says Katy. ‘It was such a shock, especially as we still needed to get the electrics and plumbing finished. Luckily Sy managed to persuade all the tradesmen back to finish the job.’

The couple reconfigured the layout to create a light-filled open-plan kitchen, and incorporated a good-sized utility and downstairs cloakroom. ‘We haven’t actually increased the square footage of the ground floor but it feels so much bigger,’ says Katy.

Although the rooms are grand, the walls and ceilings were covered in layers of woodchip wallpaper. ‘It was too chaotic to make any big decisions so initially we just painted everything white,’ adds Katy. Eventually, each room was decorated in colours that reflect the character of the house, yet with a modern twist.

‘The house has always felt special to us, that’s why I set up an Instagram account @tresco_trio at the start of the renovation,’ says Katy. ‘I kept motivated by posting pictures of our progress and it’s been fantastic to share our story. I’m so proud that we stuck with it – it’s going to be such a happy day when we can finally show everyone how much we’ve achieved.’

KITCHEN Classical kitchen units reflect the age and elegance of the property. Kitchen from Wren’s Infinity range in Pebble and Baltic finish, £22,000 incl appliances. Dar Academy five-bar ceiling pendant, £256, Lighting Direct. Anastasia bouquet, £175, 123 Flowers DINING ROOM Retaining the original fireplace adds a traditional feel to this former doctor’s waiting room. For original period fire surrounds, price on request, try Westland London. Padstow dining table, £499, Marks & Spencer

FAMILY AREA ‘Adding French doors brought this room alive,’ says Katy. Circular apartment mirror, £100, Dunelm. Padstow side table, £179, Marks & Spencer HALLWAY The bespoke white panelling contrasts beautifully with the navy walls. Engineered flooring in Golden Smoked Oak, £45sq m, Direct Wood Flooring. For a similar chair, try the Elgin, £929, Heal’s

BOOT ROOM Painted floorboards and brickwork add charm to this practical space. Try the Searchlight Voyager tapered 4-light ceiling pendant, £89.99, Lighting Direct

SITTING ROOM A dark yet vibrant wall colour makes this a cosy space. Walls in Drawing Room Blue estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Faux-fur throw, £40, H&M Home. Window shutters, £1,500, Shuttercraft

BEDROOM The pink-and-white colour combination is an elegant look. Pink tassel chandelier, £20, Matalan

BATHROOM Bevelled metro wall tiles and dark accents add an industrial feel. Metro tiles, £20sq m, Topps Tiles. Sottini enamel bath, £915; Utopia Downton freestanding vanity units, price on request, all The Bathroom Studio, Kettering

MAIN BEDROOM ‘We opted for Roman blinds instead of traditional curtains,’ says Katy. Similar Roman blinds in Willow Leaf Hedgerow fabric, from £79, Laura Ashley