Here are a couple of examples of bathrooms at this project, which have a 'traditional' aesthetic. All tiling and panelling has been very carefully set-out so as to minimise cut joints. Built-in storage and niches have been introduced, where appropriate, to provide discreet storage and additional interest. Photographer: Nick Smith

View the project case study here: https://ourhomesmatter.com/knightsbridge-makeover

Chris Snook
Photo of a small victorian wood l-shaped staircase in London with white walls, light hardwood flooring and wood risers.

Styled to show what a good space and good size rooms this property sold with ease
Small victorian galley enclosed kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, white appliances, grey floors and black worktops.

New kitchen joinery in polyurethane finished shaker style cupboards, on engineered floor POC+P architects
Small victorian u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, light hardwood flooring, a breakfast bar and brown floors.

Lightbox Architects
Design ideas for a small victorian open plan dining room in Oxfordshire with ceramic flooring, no fireplace and beige floors.

Original fire place brought to life, with some simple knick-knacks
Inspiration for a small victorian home in Sydney.

Photo of a small victorian family bathroom with white cabinets, a built-in bath, a one-piece toilet, beige tiles, beige walls, laminate floors and a shower curtain.

Significant work was involved to upgrade and modernise the house but within a reasonable budget. The garden has a small footprint both in the front and rear, and there were many practical considerations to tackle like the use of space, navigation and privacy. ⁠⁠ I especially love the new paving and stepwork for the front garden, as the stone used is one of my favourites in terms of material and colour, and the garden looks amazing at night. ⁠ ⁠ There are little nuances like a boulder placed as a seating area with an existing garden ornament that is sentimental to the clients (mummy koala holding its baby) that add an emotional element to the space. ⁠ ⁠ I love the tessellated tiles used for their front porch, replacing what was just a red painted concrete floor. It’s modern but adds that element of sophistication to the space and suits the house style and area. ⁠ ⁠ The rear garden had to have storage, and we needed to ensure that the client’s car was able to be parked but should not detract from the newly landscaped space. ⁠ ⁠ There is a granny flat in their rear garden that gets rented out, so I had to think about how to create privacy for both parties (the tenant and my clients)! ⁠ ⁠ The choice of plants was a little different as I’d mixed in succulents with exotics that give some seasonality impacts over the year. I really love the new fascia of the conservatory and the new built-in external cupboards and workbench! ⁠ ⁠

Inspiration for a small victorian bathroom in London.

Small victorian bathroom in Sydney with a built in vanity unit.

Design ideas for a small victorian single-wall separated utility room in Auckland with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, ceramic flooring, an integrated washer and dryer, multi-coloured floors, white worktops and a drop ceiling.

This beautiful timber cottage in Balmain was in need of an updated colour scheme. With lovely heritage features and the client’s collection of mid Century furniture, the colour selection for this home was about enhancing what was already there. | Photo credit Samantha Mackie

A Victorian cottage in the heart of Guildford, Surrey, where the kitchen was dark and had nowhere to gather for pancakes and coffee on a Sunday morning. The work was less about adding and more about putting the room back in conversation with the rest of the house. We moved the sink to the centre to give the space a focal point, which opened up storage where there hadn't been any — corner cupboards, double-height units, and hidden drawers under the banquette. The breakfast nook is now the family's go-to spot. With the ambient wall lights on, it doubles as a cosy dining spot in the evenings. Finalist, SBID International Design Awards 2026, Residential House Under £1M. Finalist, SBID International Design Awards 2026, Residential House Under £1M.

This is an example of a small victorian house exterior in Sydney.

Front entry of North Caulfield renovation project. All original features were retained and or restored. The front door and fanlight were original to the house, lighting was period match to provide a pleasant experience.

Douglas Frost
Photo of a small victorian home in Sydney with medium hardwood flooring, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

we wanted to keep the original features of this charming victorian home, but the hallway was very small and dark. We solved this problem by taking out part of the hallway wall, putting in support steels, and adding in crittal and glass to allow more light to pour into the hallway and make the ground floor seem larger and less restricted.

Period style renovation, Kitchen, Dining
This is an example of a small victorian home in Melbourne.