Victorian Terrace Home Transformed with a Colourful Redesign

Construction & Covid

When it came to the workforce, Alice knew just the man for the job. “I’d worked with Pawel Klojzy of YPP Services on numerous schemes over the years, so I wanted him to take on our house,” she says. “I trusted his workmanship and he has a great team of contractors.”

The couple were renting a house in North West London, but not long into the project, Covid hit. “We decided to take the opportunity to relocate to the Warwickshire countryside, where our friends had a two-room barn we could rent.” While being an idyllic place to see out a pandemic, the move meant the couple was far away. “We couldn’t visit and keep an eye on progress,” says Alice.

The rear of the home has been transformed thanks to a lovely extension, which is finished with a generous pitched roof, bold green  glazing and complementary brickwork

Pawel took on ownership of the work, including project management. “That was probably the hardest part, because we were forced to make decisions over the phone. All that long-distance decision-making was nerve wracking,” says Alice, but the project was in safe hands with Pawel’s highly experienced team.

“They were brilliant. They did everything they could to get us into the house as quickly as possible and didn’t charge us more than the original quotation, even though prices were rising.”

Due to the pandemic, the couple’s careers were somewhat on pause, so they were keen to save money where they could. “We were nervous about overspending, so decided to invest in the fabric of the house,” says Alice. “We knew we could replace anything inside later on.” The pair prioritised the glazing, replacing the old and draughty windows with modern, energy-efficient ones that Pawel sourced from Poland.

Vibrant French doors and a large flat roof window were chosen for the kitchen. “We struggled to get hold of materials in the UK, because there were no lorry drivers to deliver items,” says Alice. “Luckily, Pawel had fantastic connections in Poland.”

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Originally the old, damp garage, the entrance hall is now light and bright, with a sweeping staircase that takes centre stage – finished with a custom-made, continuous banister crafted by Allen’s Bespoke Handrails

They were also forced to make changes along the way. “The flooring we wanted downstairs was delayed by 12 weeks, so we decided to paint the recently poured concrete subfloor instead. It’s robust and wasn’t expensive. Plus, it freed up money for other things, like the kitchen lighting.”

Other items were retrofitted after the structural work was completed, such as the Crittall doors that separate the lounge from the hallway. “We reused and upcycled items where we could, too,” Alice says. “Essentially, the house is made up of items we could beg, borrow and steal at the time.”

Fortunately, there were very few issues with the actual build, aside from material delays and the odd workman being sent home sick, which set the schedule back by about three months. “You think you’ve been sensible with the budget and allowed for a contingency,” says Alice. “But, of course, nothing could prepare us for Covid and for the prices going up. It all had a knock-on effect.”

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Creating a Fabulous Finish

In December 2022, the family moved in. “The house wasn’t ready, but we couldn’t rent any longer,” Alice says. YPP Services finished the work around the trio and the results speak for themselves. Blending modern elements with traditional design touches and bold pops of colour, every room in the house is bursting with personality.

The newly formed front door leads into the former garage – now a light hallway complete with a new staircase. “We had a bespoke, continuous banister made by Allen’s Bespoke Handrails,” says Alice. “It’s a single piece of wood that travels from the third floor all the way down. It was a big expense, but I’m really pleased we spent money on it because it’s such a lovely feature.”

The entrance flows through to the lounge, where the original front door can still be found, then into a study-cum-dining area and, finally, to the kitchen. The first floor is home to two bedrooms, a bathroom and a flexible laundry space, while the loft conversion features a large bedroom and bathroom.

As for standout design details, there are too many to name. From the bold green frames of the kitchen glazing to the Moroccan tiles that decorate the living room chimney breast, every space features gorgeous, quirky touches that only an interior designer could have devised. Outside, the backyard has been given a makeover, too.

“We sorted the landscaping later, working with a friend who owns a nursery,” Alice says. “The garden gets the sun all afternoon and is incredibly hot, so we filled it with hardy, Mediterranean plants.”

Bright and original, the living room boasts vivid green paintwork and a dramatic chimney breast, decorated with handcrafted Zellige tiles from Mosaic Factory

Looking back Alice admits that the project was a huge learning curve. “I made a few oversights,” Alice says. “Until you live somewhere, it’s hard to know how you’re going to use it. All the glass pulls lots of light in, but it also makes you feel a bit exposed. It’s things like this that I didn’t consider, so next time I’ll be more mindful.”

Overall, the couple are thrilled with their new home. “Our favourite space is the kitchen,” says Alice. “We spend all our time in there.” As for the best part of the process, she has a clear answer. “Giving an old building a new lease of life, a new chapter to its story, is very rewarding,” she says. “We talk about doing another project all the time and I learnt so much doing this one, so I would love a second chance.”

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