Old & New

Contemporary touches work alongside period features in Cara Mills’ renovated family home

- Cassie Pryce

When Cara Mills and her husband, Alex, found out they were expecting twins, the clock started ticking to find the characterful home they wanted. ‘We had our hearts set on Surbiton,’ says Cara. ‘Alex grew up here and it has a fast commuter train into London, yet plenty of green space for family living. We’d already renovated a maisonette so were keen to take on a project.’

Having not been updated in more than 18 years, a project was certainly what this house presented. Everything needed gutting and the couple had to make several structural changes. ‘We did the work in three stages over four-and-a-half years, saving up in between,’ says Cara. ‘We bought the house just two weeks before the twins were due, so we frantically called in decorators.’