My Houzz: A Period Home Transformed from the Basement Up
A radical revamp turned a sad Victorian house into a sparkling contemporary home with a whole new ground-floor level
The Victorian house Andrew Taylor bought was dilapidated and had been vacant for some time. But a state that might have put some people off was a boon for this family. “We wanted a blank canvas,” he says.
The transformation was radical. “We took everything out and put on a rear mansard roof extension. We dug down to create a lower-ground floor level that exits to the garden at the back. We went up and down: replaced all the windows, repointed all the brickwork, and put everything in new and fresh. All we kept were the four external walls.”
The transformation was radical. “We took everything out and put on a rear mansard roof extension. We dug down to create a lower-ground floor level that exits to the garden at the back. We went up and down: replaced all the windows, repointed all the brickwork, and put everything in new and fresh. All we kept were the four external walls.”
Part of the house’s new floor is double-height to avoid creating a dark corner, and it’s here that the dining area was positioned. “It gives the lower-ground floor more of a sense of being joined to the house,” says Taylor. “You know what’s happening on the ground floor above. It’s also quite dramatic.”
Jeeves & Wooster pendant light, Jake Phipps.
Discover inspiring ways to make the most of a double-height room
Jeeves & Wooster pendant light, Jake Phipps.
Discover inspiring ways to make the most of a double-height room
A bespoke staircase was chosen to link the new floor of the house with the ground floor. “It’s called a dragon’s back because from the side the profile looks like one,” says Taylor. “The idea was to put something beautiful there, and make a feature of it.”
The gaps between the risers allow light through the room, while the clear glass balustrades let the staircase’s shape stand out. “It was about adding a sense of air and space, as well as theatre,” says Taylor. The staircase is oak-clad to introduce a warm, natural material into the scheme.
The gaps between the risers allow light through the room, while the clear glass balustrades let the staircase’s shape stand out. “It was about adding a sense of air and space, as well as theatre,” says Taylor. The staircase is oak-clad to introduce a warm, natural material into the scheme.
It was important to the family that the kitchen cabinetry was attractive to look at, as it’s part of an open living space. Another must-have? “We wanted an island to gather around at family events and parties,” says Taylor. Simple lines and the avoidance of any fussy detail were also essential for the scheme.
Kitchen, Smallbone of Devizes.
Kitchen, Smallbone of Devizes.
The lower-ground floor ceiling is unusually high – 2.8m – so the kitchen wall units have extra height to keep them proportional to the wall.
“The cabinet colour came from the glass of the staircase balustrade, which has a green tint,” says Taylor. “We reflected that in the colour of the kitchen.”
“The cabinet colour came from the glass of the staircase balustrade, which has a green tint,” says Taylor. “We reflected that in the colour of the kitchen.”
“There was a restricted-height lower-ground floor already. We dug down and increased the height of it,” explains Taylor.
Garden access used to be through a small back door; now bifold doors open up the whole space to the outside.
Garden access used to be through a small back door; now bifold doors open up the whole space to the outside.
The entrance to the house is on the ground floor, with a spectacular view from the hallway to the lower-ground level. Pattern and colour enliven the space. “The floor tiles aren’t original,” says Taylor, “but we wanted something with heritage because it’s a Victorian house. You enter through the large door and cross the Victorian-style tiled floor, but it’s quite crisp and modern in terms of appearance.”
Floor tiles, London Mosaic.
Floor tiles, London Mosaic.
To the right of the front door is a formal living room. It’s used for entertaining guests and by the couple themselves. “We retire up here after a hard day’s work – it’s nice to have some adult space,” says Taylor. The room is without a TV to encourage conversation and, with an outlook to front and back, it’s filled with light.
The couple opted for a neutral palette with a dash of accent colour in the soft furnishings and accessories. “If you go bold, you’re dictating how that room is going to look for quite a long time,” says Taylor. “This is a lot more flexible.”
The couple opted for a neutral palette with a dash of accent colour in the soft furnishings and accessories. “If you go bold, you’re dictating how that room is going to look for quite a long time,” says Taylor. “This is a lot more flexible.”
To the left of the front door is a smaller living space that overlooks the lower-ground floor below. “It’s somewhere to sit with the papers or a laptop, and has the feel of a drawing room,” says Taylor. Once again, the décor begins from a neutral base of greys, whites and taupes. A blue sofa adds a shot of colour.
Both this room and the formal living space feature engineered wood flooring. Underfloor heating means furniture can be positioned against the walls.
Both this room and the formal living space feature engineered wood flooring. Underfloor heating means furniture can be positioned against the walls.
On the first floor, a small study occupies a corner of the floor plan. “It’s quite a snug room that’s tucked away and it’s where you can close the door and do some work,” says Taylor.
The shelving is bespoke and finished to match the gunmetal grey of the window frame. Dark and warm colours were chosen to make the room cosy and give it a gentleman’s club feel.
Browse accessories in the Houzz Shop to help you organise your home office
The shelving is bespoke and finished to match the gunmetal grey of the window frame. Dark and warm colours were chosen to make the room cosy and give it a gentleman’s club feel.
Browse accessories in the Houzz Shop to help you organise your home office
On the second floor of the house is the master en suite. Clean lines and a lack of fussy detail were prioritised here, too, but the Calacatta marble tiles on the floor and walls add their characteristic dramatic veining.
The room is fitted with a large oval bath, wall-hung double basins that keep the floor space open, and a big walk-in shower to ensure the room feels light, fresh and airy.
The room is fitted with a large oval bath, wall-hung double basins that keep the floor space open, and a big walk-in shower to ensure the room feels light, fresh and airy.
An upholstered chair adds a punch of rich green to the otherwise neutral room. “It’s easy to use simple materials then introduce a splash of colour through a chair,” says Taylor.
Velvet tub chair, Oliver Bonas.
What do you think of the transformation of this Victorian house? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Velvet tub chair, Oliver Bonas.
What do you think of the transformation of this Victorian house? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here Andrew Taylor, his partner, and their two children
Location Southwest London
Property A Victorian end-of-terrace
Size 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
The new, lower-ground floor level of the house creates an open kitchen-dining space with a TV snug (just seen). Bifold doors were fitted to open the space to the exterior.
“We really wanted to be able to go from the kitchen directly into the garden,” says Taylor. “There’s a seating area out there, so you can sit on an outdoor sofa looking back in at the kitchen. It’s great when you’re having parties, because the outside is like another room.”