Past Masters

Frances and Spencer Maynard sought inspiration from the pages of history when renovating a former sea captain’s house

- Emma J Page

After discovering a handsome stucco-fronted house that was long past its glory days, Frances and Spencer Maynard prepared to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Located in south London, the Grade II-listed home had suffered a chequered history since it was home to a sea captain in the 1840s.

The couple longed to return a sense of prestige to the building. ‘What attracted us were the generous proportions and the period features, such as marble fireplaces and elegant cornicing,’ says Frances. ‘But the property had been converted into flats – at one time it contained four separate dwellings. We were keen to turn it back into one whole elegant home.’