Making History

Kellie and Rob Waterhouse sympathetically updated their city centre house to create a timeless family home

Living in a city centre had never been part of Kellie and Rob Waterhouse’s plan. They knew they wanted to move closer to the school to give their daughters, Hannah, now 25, and Clementine, 16, more independence, but with a long wish list, the hunt for their ‘perfect’ property was proving unsuccessful. ‘We had actually seen this striking, double fronted house on the market the year before, but we discounted it quickly because it was on a busy high street,’ recalls Kellie of the Victorian villa where the family now lives. But with time ticking, the couple knew they had to compromise, so they eventually decided to view the property.

‘The house was cluttered with floor-to-ceiling furniture and the decor hadn’t been touched for 40 years,’ says Kellie. ‘However, we were struck by its sense of space. The rooms were huge, ceilings were high, and the tall bay windows were gorgeous. It was quirky, interesting and the potential was incredible. There was a cellar, with all sorts of nooks and crannies, perfect for Rob’s ever-growing wine collection. There was also a large adjoining storeroom at the back of the house and a good-sized garden, rare for a city centre property. By the time we left the first viewing, we were smitten and had a really clear vision of what we’d do with the space.’