When Giles Kim bought a dilapidated 17th-century cottage, he explored whether an old home could be made as comfortable as a new one.
They say hurry up and get married…slow down and repent. But when we found a suitable house in a pretty village in Hampshire, we decided to buy it before the car drove away. Repentance lasted only a few months (Arctic Circle) when deciding what to do with the tired 1630s villa, which had been badly extended in both the 1880s and 1950s.
Understanding its past was the key to planning its future. Built as an unassuming hall house, it was decorated in the 1730s and included state-of-the-art amenities, including a hearth and bread oven. In the late 19th century, a barn was converted into a joinery workshop, another into a saw shed, and then a textile workshop in the 1970s. A heritage statement written by our architect proved why nip and tuck is not an option. After some pretty shoddy interventions in the past, we wanted to not only repair it, but make sure it would stand the test of time.
Lime rendering and Benjamin Moore Aura paint bring consistency to the complex exterior. Credit: Simon Brown
Purchasing a house that needs work has created opportunities, especially bright and warm spaces that are helpful to all of us. Thermal efficiency was the key to this. By starting from scratch, we were able to incorporate many features that make our old home feel like a new home. The combination of floor, wall and ceiling insulation and underfloor heating will make freezing cold weather a distant memory. Ten solar panels on the outdoor building generate electricity, which can be bought cheaply from the grid at night thanks to batteries.
Even if the property we bought didn’t include a second one, we would have tried to add one more. Not only did our house provide us with a clean, warm place to hide when the builders were on site, but it now also took a lot of pressure off the main house and gave us a place to work and play. Or simply offer a place to get away from it all. This is also where we freed up space in the main house to build a plant room.
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Stairs with striped Roger Oates runners. The wood paneling is calc green and is also from Farrow & Ball. Credit: Simon Brown
Any project is only as good as the advice you seek (and listen to). It is not only the choice of architect that is important, but all other professions and professions, especially if you have the courage to manage the project yourself. For us, the advice of our builders, structural engineers, furniture manufacturers and lime suppliers determined all the big decisions we needed to make.
Another valuable source of wisdom was my conservation officer. His stipulations included preserving the unstable roof of the Victorian extension and using Slimlite double glazing to allow for the installation of narrow window grilles. The advice of color consultants Joa Studholme of Farrow & Ball and Sally Stephenson of Owl Lighting was crucial in blending old with new.
Renovated saw shed with Love Your Home sofa. Credit: Simon Brown
It was when devising the floor plan that we had to rely on our own intuition. This is a deeply personal journey, so it needs to be led by the people who live in the space, with a supportive architect on hand to sense checking decisions. We also find that while it’s easy to think that you need to add as much space as your planner will allow, it’s much more important to make sure you’re using up the potential of your existing space. I did.
One of the benefits of a modest addition is that it can leave room in your budget to spruce up the interior. When it comes to specifying materials, fixtures, and accessories, we’ve noticed that standards have dropped significantly since the last time we restored a home 15 years ago. It may seem obvious, but durable and comfortable materials are the key to not only the longevity of your interior, but also the joy of living in it. Lapicida limestone floors, Caesarstone London Gray worktops and Parador engineered oak floors do just that with panache.
Bathroom with a Roman shower enclosure from West One Bathrooms, Caesarstone surround, and tile by Nina Campbell from Fired Earth. Credit: Simon Brown
At the beginning of the two-year project, we already knew the cost of failure. The finish on the door handles peeled off after a few months, and the exterior paint started peeling within a year. For phase two, I was thrilled to discover Benjamin Moore’s Aura series of exterior paints. Inside, the depth and breadth of Farrow & Ball’s product range allowed them to use lime wash, emulsion and eggshell in the same shade. We’ve also found that while you’ll save a lot, it’s worth investing in proper plumbing from established brands like CP Hart, Waterworks, and West One Bathrooms. The Corston handles, switches and plug sockets were a worthwhile investment.
We have overcome many hardships to get here, and it is unlikely that we will do it again. But hopefully you never do.
Giles Kime is Country Life’s interiors editor.
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