Extended Victorian home

Click on gallery images to view larger pictures.

Claire and Andrew Longden have transformed their period home, combining original features and modern design – with stunning results.

When Claire Longden saw the property she had always admired go up for sale, she could not resist arranging a viewing with her husband Andrew.

‘Although it was very spooky and dark inside, the views from its large windows were incredible,’ says Claire. ‘We knew it would look great if it was fully renovated, so we put in an offer, which was accepted.’

Their initial plan was to open up the ground floor by knocking through two rooms to make the most of the lovely views of the Holme Valley. They were also keen to combine the property’s charming period features with a stylish contemporary new look. Their previous home had been very traditional in style, so this time they wanted to start afresh.

Before the renovation work could begin, they had to replace the roof and make the property securely watertight. Knowing it would be a large-scale project, they bought a small cottage to live in while the major building renovations got under way.

‘In the meantime, we applied for planning permission to build a three-storey extension at the back of the house, plus a single-storey side extension,’ says Claire.

The three-storey extension would create a large kitchen and utility room on the ground floor, a family bathroom on the next floor and a bigger bedroom in the loft space for their daughter Millie. The single-storey extension would house a dining/garden room to the side of the new kitchen.

The couple planned to knock through the original kitchen and sitting room to create a large open-plan living space. They also wanted to convert the basement into a home office and wine cellar. The exterior stonework would be sandblasted and the double doors to the garage moved from the side to the front for easier access.

‘As Andrew owns his own construction company, he was able to do a lot of the building work himself,’ says Claire, ‘and I turned my hand to mixing cement, knocking through internal walls, stripping wallpaper and decorating.’

Although their hands-on approach meant that they could only work on the house at weekends and evenings while they continued with their full-time jobs, it also saved a huge amount in labour costs.

‘We wanted to do a good job and get it right, so we were determined not to rush,’ says Claire. ‘We’d also decided to keep all the original features, such as the skirting boards, sash windows, coving, tiled flooring and fireplaces as they were in very good condition. Although we’d planned a contemporary interior we knew it would work well with the period details.’

When all the major structural work was complete, the family moved to the top floor of the property while the lower part was still a building site.

‘We finished Millie’s bedroom in the loft first,’ says Claire. ‘We then worked our way methodically through the rest of the house.’

The loft area was only accessible by a ladder when the couple first bought the house, so Andrew built a staircase off the landing to Millie’s bedroom.

‘It had once been the servants’ bedroom – it’s hard to believe that they used to climb a ladder to sleep in this small room at the top of the house,’ says Claire.

There was an empty dark space adjoining Millie’s bedroom – which is now an en suite bathroom – but its low ceiling made it difficult to stand up in.

‘We wanted to make use of it, so Andrew created more headroom by lowering the ceiling of our bedroom underneath by six inches – it was such a high ceiling that we didn’t notice the difference,’ says Claire. ‘The en suite’s waste pipes were run through a purpose-built cavity behind the shelves in Millie’s bedroom, then fed outside.’

The new family bathroom in the three-storey extension also ‘borrowed’ space from the utility room below it.

‘We had the floor lowered slightly to allow for drainage for our new sunken bath,’ Claire explains.

The couple made further changes in the house by blocking up a door into a large cupboard on the landing and creating a new door off the master bedroom, so they now have a walk-in wardrobe.

They also freshened up the guest bedroom’s en suite and cloakroom below with new modern fittings.

Claire is thrilled with the new kitchen created in the three-storey extension.

‘We wanted a large central island unit with a clear view through to our new open-plan living room so we can enjoy the fabulous views beyond,’ she says. ‘With this layout, whoever’s preparing a meal can look through and still feel part of the family.’

As the renovation work created an open-plan living/dining area, they were left with a spare room, which had once been the dining room, so they turned it into a sitting room/playroom for Millie.

The house’s high ceilings make each room look particularly spacious and there are enough original features to create a good link between the old and new. Claire was able to draw on her interior design skills to maximise the light and space in these large Victorian rooms.

‘I wanted to use bright, bold colours to create wow-factor in every room,’ she says. ‘I work for an interior design shop, CR Interiors in Mirfield, so I see lots of fabulous inspirational wallpapers, some of which I’ve used in the house.’

She especially enjoys creating accent walls and picking out the main colours in the furnishings and accessories. A mix of antique and contemporary furniture, along with bargain finds which have been cleverly re-invented through painting or re-upholstering complete the look.

‘We were looking to combine a light, colourful and up-to-date space with plenty of character,’ says Claire. ‘By adding the extensions and knocking two rooms into one, we have created the perfect modern lifestyle without losing any of this house’s charm or history. It’s the ideal balance.’

WORDS HEATHER DIXON PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN POOLE STYLING SALLY HAWKESFORD
Featured in the December 2011 issue of Real Homes