REVEALING HISTORY
How a former sail loft has been stripped back, extended and enhanced to become the perfect waterside home. By Kate Thompson
B
y stripping their home back to the bare bones, Amber and Thomas Du Plessis were able to unlock the true beauty of the former boathouse tucked away in Bathing Lane in Old Portsmouth.
space for a bathroom with the bath and sink opening onto the bedroom.” Dating back to 1810, the former sail loft was built on the site of one of the first free schools in Portsmouth and the couple wanted to reveal more of that history.
“We could see the quirkiness and the opportunity for us to knock it into a good shape,” explained Amber. “Our priority was the layout. The master bedroom was downstairs with a courtyard and outside loo.
On the first floor they created a light and bright living room rejoicing in the exposed joists and beams. A raised area leads onto the kitchen and dining area, with french doors opening onto the raised courtyard.
“We covered over and raised up the courtyard to the first floor and decided to keep the master bedroom downstairs, reclaiming the courtyard
“We stripped it back to the bare bones and realised the inner beauty that had been covered up over the decades,” said Amber.
