Starting Again From Scratch

The Bennetts bought an Edwardian house that hadn’t been updated since the 1980s and gave it a new lease of life

Kitchen-diner

‘Although we have a modern glass extension, we went for a traditional, Shaker-style kitchen, which we felt was more sympathetic to our home’s Edwardian past,’ says Alice.

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Cabinetry, price on request, The Shaker Kitchen Company. Kobo dining table, £1,125; Ishinomaki benches, £514.99 each, both SCP

When Alice and James Bennett started house hunting in 2016, the Brexit referendum may have helped them secure their home. ‘We turned up to the open day expecting a long queue, but we were the only viewers,’ says Alice. ‘It had 1980s decor, but the previous owner had kept it immaculate and although each room was crammed with furniture, we could see how large the rooms were.’ Impressed by the size of the property and the original features, the couple were convinced that this could be their perfect family home.

‘We made the decision to stay where we were and renovate before we moved in. It was an expensive decision, as we were paying two mortgages and money was tight, but with a new baby we didn’t want to live in a building site,’ says Alice. ‘The house had a 1990s extension and a side return, so we were able to work within the footprint. With the help of Shacklewell Architects, we built a modern rear extension and broke through to the basement, creating a new stairway access.’

Original period features were key to the renovation, as fireplaces were revealed and cornices repaired. Redoing the layout included adding en-suites to the main and guest bedrooms. ‘The kitchen-diner now flows from the living room via a glazed side-return extension with steps leading down to the basement, which has become our cinema room and utility room.’