A HOUSE WITH HISTORY Dressed up for the festive season, this Georgian townhouse has a modern feel
Emily and Daniel Kirtley have blended the old with the new and added a dash of whimsy to create a modern family home that’s perfect for Christmas
Christmas waits for no-one, and with a festive deadline looming, Emily and Daniel Kirtley were having second thoughts about their offer to host the family that year. ‘We’d bought the house in the summer of 2013, and even though there was quite a bit of work to do, we still wanted to be able to do the “big reveal” on December 25th,’ explains Emily.
Keen sailors, the couple had decided to forsake their Victorian terrace in London for the coast. ‘It wasn’t a difficult house search, but there wasn’t much to choose from in the city centre, as period properties are snapped up quickly,’ says Emily. ‘We viewed houses at the weekends, staying at a hotel in town while we tested the commute back to London.’
The couple wanted a home with character that was also within walking distance of the train station, shops and restaurants. ‘This house ticked all the boxes – you could feel its history the moment you stepped inside,’ says Emily, who worked with the local historic buildings officer to ensure their plans for the property were sympathetic. ‘We loved its sash windows and fireplaces, and although we were initially concerned about the on-street parking, it’s never been an issue.’
The house, though mostly structurally sound, needed complete redecoration. Emily and Daniel enlisted the help of the Martin Sewell Building Company, whose craftsmen are experts in restoration, to carry out repairs. ‘The
five dormer windows needed fixing and recovering in lead, and we were also replacing the bathrooms and kitchen,’ says Emily, who worked closely with the builders to oversee the design. ‘Initially, we managed things by phone during the commute, then I left my job in a bank and launched my coaching practice, working from a corner of the living room.’
The kitchen was one of the biggest elements of the project, and Emily had very definite plans. ‘We had a strong vision of what we wanted: a space that would feel more like a dining room than a functional area. Although, of course, it still had to be highly usable,’ she recalls. ‘The existing units were from the 1950s – and not in a good way! An island unit cut the room in half in exactly the wrong place.’ Emily
had equally strong ideas for the bathroom.
‘We wanted to keep a traditional feel, but also create a luxurious vibe,’ she says. ‘We kept it classic with the hardware and chose something a little more interesting for the tiling. The carpenters built a unit behind the loo with open shelves for display, as well as a cupboard for hiding things away.’
With the builders finally finished, Emily was able to start styling her home. The first thing she’d done after moving in was rip up the old carpets and paint every room white, creating a blank canvas to work from. ‘We felt we had to stay true to the character of the house, so it’s taken on a traditional feel, but we’ve also reflected our personalities,’ she explains. ‘I love the hints of whimsy, such as the ship chandelier. It’s one of my favourite pieces
– I especially like the way it reflects in the windows at night. It makes me smile every day.’
The couple stuck to a fairly simple colour palette, which feels warm and rich. ‘I’ve loved playing with all the different shades of grey,’ enthuses Emily. ‘We’ve gone for luxurious textures – we’ve got velvet and sheepskin everywhere. I’m inspired by old, grand country homes and luxury hotels.’
Emily admits there were times when she worried that she and Daniel wouldn’t meet their Christmas deadline. ‘Having that constantly looming, and living in the house throughout the four-month project were the biggest challenges,’ she says. ‘With hindsight, it would have been easier to camp
‘We’ve gone for luxurious textures – we’ve got velvet and
sheepskin everywhere’
in the garden. The low points were showering over the bath, with the dinner plates at the other end, and surviving without a kitchen and just having a microwave!’
The couple are looking forward to another very special Christmas this year – baby Grace’s first. ‘Winters are especially cosy here – with a fire lit, you feel as though you’re transported to another time,’ says Emily. ‘We have our Christmas tree in the upstairs living room, so getting it in is a bit of a struggle, but the scent of pine throughout the house is amazing. We’ll be hosting friends and family again this year – that’s when the house really seems to come into its own. It’s a magical time anyway, but there’s just something extra special about the festive season in a home with a past.’