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Houzz Tour: A Derelict House in Teddington is Reborn as a Family Home
The shocking ‘before’ photos of this Victorian house reveal its dilapidated state, before a total renovation restored it to its former glory
Untouched since the 1940s, this house in Teddington, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, was terribly neglected by the time interior designer Dee Gibson worked with builders to rescue it. “It was sad to see it gone to seed,” says Gibson. “It had been damaged by bombs during the war and squatters had lived in it for about 10 years. The house was becoming more and more dilapidated. We wanted to breathe life back into it, and turn it into a lovely family home.”
Eighteen months of work later, the house is completely transformed. It’s gone from wreck to open, light and welcoming home, with many of its original features preserved and its elegant proportions celebrated once more.
Eighteen months of work later, the house is completely transformed. It’s gone from wreck to open, light and welcoming home, with many of its original features preserved and its elegant proportions celebrated once more.
The lower-ground floor was opened up to create one large living area. It’s a huge space that now includes a large kitchen, a generous dining table that can seat 10, and a sitting area.
This is how the lower-ground floor looked when Gibson first saw the house. “It was scary!” she laughs. This level had previously contained a kitchen, but the entire floor had been divided into a series of small rooms and was dilapidated and dark.
“When it came to designing the new kitchen, I wanted to use a blend of materials without making it feel uber-modern, to respect the history of the house,” says Gibson.
The space also had to contain certain key ingredients, so it would suit family life. “We knew we wanted a large island, a very generous fridge and a wine cooler,” says Gibson. “We managed to fit it all in!”
Hammered copper pendant lights, Richard Hathaway Lighting.
The space also had to contain certain key ingredients, so it would suit family life. “We knew we wanted a large island, a very generous fridge and a wine cooler,” says Gibson. “We managed to fit it all in!”
Hammered copper pendant lights, Richard Hathaway Lighting.
This chimney breast on the lower-ground floor is now a handsome exposed brick fireplace (seen in the next image).
Many of the original fireplaces were too badly damaged to be saved. To get around this, the brickwork of the fireplace on the lower-ground floor has been exposed, creating a pleasing focal point.
The kitchen cabinetry has a beautiful grey-toned finish. “Rather than just oak or walnut, this is almost like a waxed finish, which matches the rest of the house’s scheme,” says Gibson. The island provides additional seating for informal meals. The worktop is a composite stone.
Two-tone kitchen cabinetry and appliances, Beeck Kuchen from CPL Kitchens. Warehouse-style bar stools, Fusion Living.
Two-tone kitchen cabinetry and appliances, Beeck Kuchen from CPL Kitchens. Warehouse-style bar stools, Fusion Living.
Gibson chose a handleless cabinet and drawer design. “It looks uncluttered, but is easy to use,” she says.
The flooring throughout the lower-ground floor, except in the small office at the rear, is porcelain tiles. “We wondered about having floor tiles in the kitchen and wood elsewhere,” says Gibson, “but it was becoming too complicated. Instead, large 900mm x 900mm tiles run throughout, with underfloor heating fitted beneath.”
Floor tiles, Reed Harris.
The flooring throughout the lower-ground floor, except in the small office at the rear, is porcelain tiles. “We wondered about having floor tiles in the kitchen and wood elsewhere,” says Gibson, “but it was becoming too complicated. Instead, large 900mm x 900mm tiles run throughout, with underfloor heating fitted beneath.”
Floor tiles, Reed Harris.
This is the rear of the lower-ground floor, where new doors onto the garden are now fitted.
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The rear of the house follows its original configuration, with a dog-legging wall of glazing that creates space for a light-flooded office. The floor tiles are reclaimed from an old French farmhouse. “They’re a nice rustic element, which ties in with the exposed brick fireplace in the dining area,” says Gibson.
The rooms on the ground floor were used a great deal during World War II, when the property was acquisitioned by the War Office. The dumb waiter, seen to the right of the window, was too dilapidated to save.
The house originally had numerous small rooms, but now features generous, open-plan layouts, including this formal reception space on the ground floor. “The way we live now is so different, so much more open,” says Gibson.
To boost this airy feel, a range of pale, warm tones runs throughout the house, with accents of mustard and copper. “It’s a simple palette. I wanted to show off the house and the space,” says the designer. “It’s so beautiful.”
Walls and ceiling painted in Pointing, Farrow & Ball. Radiator, The Radiator & Bathroom Gallery. Crystal Ball pendant light, Holloways Of Ludlow.
To boost this airy feel, a range of pale, warm tones runs throughout the house, with accents of mustard and copper. “It’s a simple palette. I wanted to show off the house and the space,” says the designer. “It’s so beautiful.”
Walls and ceiling painted in Pointing, Farrow & Ball. Radiator, The Radiator & Bathroom Gallery. Crystal Ball pendant light, Holloways Of Ludlow.
The generous proportions of the house gave Gibson the opportunity to create smaller spaces within the largely open-plan design. “People like to have somewhere to escape to – somewhere more cosy,” she says.
This room sits behind the formal reception room on the ground floor and is used as a cosy living space, but could also work as an office or games room. A Juliet balcony means French windows can be opened above the garden.
Walls and ceiling painted in Clunch, Farrow & Ball. Fireplace, Westcombes.
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This room sits behind the formal reception room on the ground floor and is used as a cosy living space, but could also work as an office or games room. A Juliet balcony means French windows can be opened above the garden.
Walls and ceiling painted in Clunch, Farrow & Ball. Fireplace, Westcombes.
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Although neglected, the house still had many original features, such as cornicing, when Gibson first saw it. “Trying to recycle what was already in the house was a challenge,” she says. “I don’t believe in throwing everything out for the sake of it and we wanted to blend the building’s history into the renovation.”
This proved tricky, though, due to the dilapidated state of the property. “You go in with the best intention to preserve things, but it wasn’t always possible. I wanted to keep all the beautiful marble fireplaces, so it was depressing when they just crumbled, but some things you can’t repair.”
This proved tricky, though, due to the dilapidated state of the property. “You go in with the best intention to preserve things, but it wasn’t always possible. I wanted to keep all the beautiful marble fireplaces, so it was depressing when they just crumbled, but some things you can’t repair.”
The landing on the first floor originally featured lino and green gloss. The floors were slanted and uneven, too. “You could feel yourself going downhill as you walked from one bedroom to another!” says Gibson.
On the first floor, Gibson created a generous master suite, with walk-in wardrobe and luxury bathroom. “With a wreck, you know you can create a lot with it, as there isn’t a great deal of space that can be reused,” she says.
There had been three bedrooms on this floor. “We thought, let’s just open it up and create something really beautiful. We had the scope to do things like that. There weren’t too many restrictions, apart from budget!”
Radiator, The Radiator & Bathroom Gallery.
There had been three bedrooms on this floor. “We thought, let’s just open it up and create something really beautiful. We had the scope to do things like that. There weren’t too many restrictions, apart from budget!”
Radiator, The Radiator & Bathroom Gallery.
To access the master suite, a single door leads into the bedroom from the landing, and you then glimpse the bathroom through the walk-in wardrobe. “The bathroom is very private,” says Gibson. “The ‘Bath’ sign above is just a little jokey nod to modernism.”
Polished boat bath, MP Moran.
Polished boat bath, MP Moran.
This room is now the master bedroom on the first floor of the house.
A palette of soft stone colours keeps the house feeling light. “I haven’t gone too much with greys,” says Gibson. “I’m slightly ‘been there, done that’, and they can look a little cold.”
Walls painted in Strong White; ceiling painted in Cornforth White, both Farrow & Ball. Fireplace, Westcombes.
Walls painted in Strong White; ceiling painted in Cornforth White, both Farrow & Ball. Fireplace, Westcombes.
This bedroom on the first floor was converted to become the luxury master bathroom.
In addition to a freestanding tub, the huge bathroom features a generous shower. It has a low-profile tray and sleek enclosure.
Walls painted in Kent Grey, Sanderson. Ceiling painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball. Shower enclosure, Matki. Carrara marble rectangular tiles (in shower), Topps Tiles.
Walls painted in Kent Grey, Sanderson. Ceiling painted in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball. Shower enclosure, Matki. Carrara marble rectangular tiles (in shower), Topps Tiles.
“I wanted a freestanding bath and as soon as I saw this shiny one, I knew it was perfect for this room,” says Gibson. “The downstairs space speaks for itself, but I didn’t want the upstairs rooms to be a disappointment. I wanted people to have that sense of ‘wow, it still keeps going!’ as they climb up through the house.”
The vanity unit was made from a sideboard with a bespoke Carrara marble top fitted to it.
Sideboard, Living It Up. Basin, Villeroy & Boch. All taps and chromeware, Burlington.
The vanity unit was made from a sideboard with a bespoke Carrara marble top fitted to it.
Sideboard, Living It Up. Basin, Villeroy & Boch. All taps and chromeware, Burlington.
The renovation of this property was hugely involved and complex. “The house turned into a money pit,” says Gibson. “All the budget went into fixing walls that were crumbling, so there was less to spend on fun stuff at the end, such as cushions and paint.”
So Gibson used a mix of luxe pieces, such as this bath, with affordable finds, including the hexagonal floor tiles. “It shows what can be done when you mix materials, suppliers and sources,” she says.
Hexagonal floor tiles, Topps Tiles.
What do you like about this striking transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
So Gibson used a mix of luxe pieces, such as this bath, with affordable finds, including the hexagonal floor tiles. “It shows what can be done when you mix materials, suppliers and sources,” she says.
Hexagonal floor tiles, Topps Tiles.
What do you like about this striking transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A family of five
Location Teddington, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Property A mid-terrace, five-storey house built in the late 1800s
Size 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Interior designer Dee Gibson of Velvetorange
Photos by Janie Airey
The total renovation of this property was always going to be a huge project. “You take on a house like this because you love it and want to restore it,” says Gibson. “You know there’s a lot of work to do, but what you don’t know is how bad it can be, even behind the terrible appearance. This place had suffered bomb damage, subsidence and neglect. We had to rebuild it, pretty much.”