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PERIOD HOMES

Thus, it is no surprise many of us seek to buy, maintain or renovate a period home and, as with all forms of property wrangling, this can come with numerous pros and cons.

This is something the owners of Zenith, a stunning Georgian Grade II listed property in Cornwall, will attest to. Though they now are able to share their home with the public through Unique Home Stays (uniquehomestays. com), it was a long process to elevate the home to the expected modern living standards.

“The renovation involved the restoration of the Georgian window shutters and replastering of some of the architects’ arches built in to the internal walls,” explains Emma Caddis, the owner of Zenith.

Home ownership could be considered to be like a game of Monopoly the fi rst step on the ladder is a bedsit on Old Kent Road, then one might go up a rung to a Bow Street terrace. That delightful townhouse upgrade is on Regent Street; and a large period home? Well, a period home would be Mayfair, in itself a meme for the more ostentatious end of things and a place (in equivalent terms at least), that all homeowners might strive towards. And why wouldn’t you? Period homes are highly sought after and represent traditional Britishness, encompassing the development of British architecture from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times, and all the rich history associated with those periods. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 ▶

“We knew we would have to install a new bathroom and hot water system to bring the house up to date, but the low point of the renovation was discovering the house had been dangerously wired! The re-wiring meant the floorboards through the entire house had to come up, just as our electrician was about to go on holiday!”

But what was it about the house that made it all worthwhile?

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“We fell in love with it as soon as we turned into the drive! The exterior is stunning and is matched by the beautiful light and proportions inside,” explains Mrs Caddis. “We love the simplicity and elegance. The fabulous fi replaces and original shutters framing the windows are unfussy; from a design point of view the house offers a beautiful backdrop that allows you to add a modern twist that harmonises with the period details.”

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“From a design point of view the house offers a beautiful backdrop that allows you to add a modern twist that harmonises with the period details

While the renovations have been a tremendous success it is important to remember the property was built in 1818, therefore maintenance is vitally important for ensuring its longevity. “Annual spring maintenance includes painting and repairing the sash windows and repointing the slate-hung facade and replacing any slates which may have come loose in winter winds,” explains Mrs Caddis.

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One of the joys of owning or renovating period properties is selecting the furniture and furnishings. With this in mind, here are some of our favourite furnishing companies to help you splash out:

Wick Antiques wickantiques.co.uk

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The features, both inside and out, are what bestow a period home with its unique character and feel, as do the objects and furnishings one might choose to fill it with. It is therefore important to insure your property and prized possessions, especially when you consider that period properties are going to be more susceptible to the elements simply by virtue of their age.

Anthony Wakefield from Buildings2Insure (buildings2insure.com) offers insurance for listed properties and as such has a great deal of working knowledge of the insurance and tax problems a period home owner may fall foul of. “Insurance Premium Tax is yet another tax that has to be paid with little or no benefit for the people that pay it,” explains Wakefield. “Originally set at 5%, it has been increased until, as from October last year, it now stands at 10% of all general insurance premiums, including alterations and additions.

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