AGAINST THE CLOCK
One couple work to a deadline for their basement extension, new kitchen and loft reconfiguration
Having separate rooms rather than an open-plan layout suited the family’s lifestyle
Living in a small flat in south London but looking to start a family, Caitriona and Shaun Roy set out to find a home that would suit them better. More space was obviously a key goal, but the couple were less clear on the area they should move to. ‘We searched as far afield as Hampshire and the Cotswolds,’ recalls Caitriona. But it was the family-friendly neighbourhood just a stone’s throw away from where they were living, with streets of period houses and an abundance of parks for their cockapoo Monty, that turned out to be ideal. ‘Shaun is an experienced property agent, so we felt confident in our choice,’ states Caitriona.
The house itself has excellent bones, but the interior was outdated, so Caitriona transformed the uniformly white walls with shades of muted cream, blue and green. Within a year of moving in, baby Finn arrived, so Shaun and Caitriona put their renovation dreams on hold.
Once life had settled down and after much thought, the couple decided the time was right to go ahead with the long-anticipated work on the house, including a basement extension, a new kitchen and the reconfiguration of the loft to make it a more usable space. Shortly after they had signed on the dotted line with their builder, Caitriona discovered they were expecting their second child. As the builders arrived in June, the couple implored them to try to stick to their promised six-month timescale and have the house ready for
Caitriona’s due date in mid December.
A small staircase led down to a cellar housing washing machines and lots of junk. The couple decided to dig out half the footprint of the house and installed a light well at the front, creating a utility room and a media room/playroom for the children, as well as a guest bedroom and shower room. In the loft, there was a small bedroom and ensuite. Originally, the plan was to make this floor into a space for the children, so they extended into the eaves and created a second bedroom with a bathroom. However, having noted the striking sunsets over south London, the couple decided to use it themselves as the master suite. ‘We’re using the second bedroom as a walk-in wardrobe now,’ Caitriona explains.
Owning a rental property next door meant the family were able to stay there while keeping an eye on the building work. ‘It was easy to pop back and forth with Finn,’ says Caitriona. The new perspective also gave them the idea of turning the back end of the next door garden into parking for the main house. They kept their existing garden simple, with raised planters and Astroturf – perfect for the children’s football matches.
Caitriona replaced the kitchen, as the one they’d inherited was a little dated and they wanted to make the room feel brighter. The new design incorporates an island with wraparound Carrara marble and units painted in a soft grey hue. They toyed with the idea of making the downstairs open plan, but in the end Caitriona felt the original layout worked well, and it suited their lifestyle to have the kitchen, family room and living room as three separate zones. ‘The bonus was that I was then able to have the fun of decorating three rooms, rather than just one!’ exclaims Caitriona.
Although Caitriona has now returned to her job as a food and drinks PR, at the time of the renovation she was working as an interiors PR for companies such as Salvesen Graham and Olivine Life. This
experience influenced her approach to decorating, particularly her decisions regarding colour and texture. ‘Working alongside professionals has definitely made me braver with colour; I no longer hide behind neutrals,’ she states. Caitriona has introduced layers of textures – linen, velvet and wool – to the living room with highlights of green, orange and yellow with cushions, light shades and lamp bases.
Miraculously the builders did keep their promise and the work finished on time, with baby Jonty greeting the world the following day. ‘He was just waiting to see which bedroom he’d be having, then he arrived,’ jokes Caitriona. When the family moved back in, they were able to transport everything over the fence from next door, including the sofa. But what followed was at least six months with the builders still in and out. ‘There was snagging – and things settling – that then needed fixing,’ recalls Caitriona. But the result is a spacious, bright and stylish family home. ‘We couldn’t be happier with the end result.’