Do it! GET BUILDING CONSENT

To carry out renovations on a listed building that may change the building’s character, architecture or historic value, you’ll need to get written building consent from your local planning authority.

First, check with your local authority conservation officer as to what type of consent is needed for your project. This is important for buildings with a Grade I or II.

To apply, you’ll need a completed application form, site plans, and detailed drawings for specific items of work. The full list of documents can be found on your local authority’s website.

Carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building is a criminal offence and can result in heavy penalties, so it’s not worth taking the risk!

a bit of guidance. Local interior designer Danecia Scheepers of Uplift Home helped me to find my own style. I was determined not to be beige and boring, which meant that some of my initial ideas, like acres of marble in the en suite, were a bit too bold! Instead I focused on good layout and how larger items would fit within this, and I rediscovered my love for Moroccan-inspired interiors, which was key to making the scheme cohesive. When it came to accessories, I picked the theme of wild animals and it’s

‘ANIMAL ELEMENTS, FROM WILD HARES TO PARROTS,FEATURE IN EVERY ROOM AND TIE THE SCHEME TOGETHER’