Situated in the popular Bishopston area of Bristol, this terraced Victorian house was brimming with potential. When the owners bought it, they saw its tall ceilings, period features and secluded rear garden, an ideal family home a stone’s throw away from Gloucester Road and its independent shops.
A top to bottom redesign
As is often the case with Victorian properties, a full renovation was required. The owners were prepared to embark on this journey but they knew that redesigning an entire three-storey house whilst working and managing family life wouldn’t be a small job. They hired an architect to draw plans to open the ground floor, add windows and improve the layout and enlisted our help to plan the interior.
Armed with a floor plan and a fairly good idea of what they wanted to achieve, the couple’s biggest challenge was to balance the budget to cover the necessary building upgrades while creating the look and feel they desired for the interior. A big advantage in this project was that we were called in before construction started, so we were able to discuss which elements the couple would have to compromise on to keep to their renovation budget. We applied a pain versus gain approach to review the plan. We agreed that knocking the wall down between the living and dining room was an integral part of the new layout as would the removal of the dining room chimney breast but we avoided altering the staircases as they would eat a big chunk of the budget.
As the whole house was very draughty and inefficient, the owners wanted to upgrade the windows and install an air source heat pump. This is a big undertaking requiring expert advice, so they worked with a local gas and heating engineer whom we’d worked with on similar properties. Working closely with the building contractor, they planned where the system would go and the required insulation for the external walls, floors, and roof to make their home more efficient. The addition of underfloor heating on the ground floor also removed the need for wall-mounted radiators in the main living areas. With the structural elements agreed and the architectural plan amended, we could now start developing the interior scheme.
Planning the interior: where to start?
The common pitfall is to rush into furniture layout. However, understanding the spatial layout first allows for key details to be ironed out. Top of the list is the kitchen. We tend to plan this space first as it usually has the longest lead time and is a major budget item. It also requires a lot of consideration and attention to get all the space and configuration working for your needs. Our top tip is to decide early on whether your kitchen will be made bespoke to fit the space or whether you’ll have standard units that will be fitted into the usable space. Budget is a key consideration as to which route to take as well as the complexity of your space.