THE LAYOUT
Off the entrance hall, there is a living room and dining room, with a kitchen housed in an existing rear extension. On the first floor there are two bedrooms, a study and a main bathroom, while a loft extension on the second floor has made room for a bathroom and two conjoined rooms designed for flexible use.
As a young couple, Katie and Niall Robinson lived in London’s Hackney Downs and loved making use of the city. However, in 2016, they bought a Victorian terrace in Bristol with the idea that they would rent it out for a few years. Two years later, Katie fell pregnant and the couple were ready to make the move…
WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT THIS HOME?
This Victorian terrace ticked all our boxes – structurally it was in decent condition; the rear had already been extended and there was potential for a loft conversion. We knew that we wanted to replace the bathroom’s dingy brown décor. We also planned two further rooms and a bathroom in the loft space, a new kitchen and a revamped living and dining room. All of these elements took time as we had to remortgage for some of the works.
HOW DID YOU MAKE YOUR MARK?
For the loft conversion, instead of opting for the typical one bedroom with en-suite configuration, we chose to create two bedrooms and add an opening between one room and the other for a truly flexible space. We are fans of soothing colours, natural textures, upcycled pieces and items that we can source direct from makers, so the interiors came together in a slow, mindful way.
WHAT ECO RENOVATIONS DID YOU MAKE?
For us, it’s not just about choosing sustainable materials but only making necessary alterations. So, for example, the UPVC windows largely stayed in situ and we chose not to extend into the side return. The kitchen cabinetry was repurposed into the fabric of some allotment sheds courtesy of our builder. We used plywood in the kitchen as it’s a more sustainable material than MDF and we used Graphenstone’s eco paint in several rooms. We’re also fans of ‘social sustainability’ – supporting local makers. So we used nearby suppliers to craft our doors and bespoke storage in the kitchen and loft, incorporating Foresso samples (timber terrazzo made from waste offcuts) via the loft door handles. We buy mindfully from stores like Ikea and H&M Home, and try to choose items that can adapt with us.
HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR HOME MEANINGFUL?
The pieces in our home each evoke a memory or a positive emotion for us. Our G Plan gate-leg dining table is the same one that my family used during my own childhood, prompting treasured memories. In addition, working on the renovation prompted me to set up an interior design service, THE here | THREAD with my friend and former design publicist Lyndsay Kaldor. It combines practical design with an understanding of natural elements, resulting in soulful, intentional spaces. Our home might not be ‘perfect’ but there’s something that sparks joy in every room.