12 minute read
Period Apartment Renovation
LIVING ROOM The fireplace was here before and a slimline woodburner was installed which needed a 16m chimney liner to reach through the tall building
Julie and John Rignell made their home work hard with an energy efficient design and a change of layout
HOME TRUTHS
LOCATION:
Hove, West Sussex
THE OWNER:
Julie and John Rignell, both retired psychotherapists.
THE PROPERTY:
A three-bedroom apartment in a converted Victorian house built in 1875 with a side extension to the end-of-terrace was added in 1898
Julie and John Rignell were relieved and delighted to find this period apartment just ten days after the property they were expecting to buy fell through between exchange and completion. It was a hidden gem among the twelve other disappointing viewings – and rather unexpected.
“We were going to buy an eco house but when we had to start our search again, most of the properties available in our chosen location of central Hove were flats,” said Julie. “We quickly realised how much we loved the character of the older buildings, like our previous Edwardian home, and that we definitely wanted a garden.”
The Rignells were classic downsizers but haven’t moved far. The ground floor apartment is in a converted Victorian house near to Hove’s beach and local shops, and benefits from a rear extension opening onto the garden. Situated at the end-of-terrace, the apartment has the added appeal
of a Victorian side extension – a wing for the bedrooms – making the ground floor living space twice as wide as the apartments above and below. The property seemed to tick most of their boxes, but not all.
“The configuration didn’t suit us though,” Julie explained. “We had a lovely open plan dining-living room but the kitchen was in the back extension and the third bedroom only had a rooflight.” The couple hadn’t intended taking on a renovation project but had experience because they’d tackled a major conversion of their holiday home in France a few years before. After consulting a surveyor about the changes they hoped to make, they put in an offer and had it accepted.
“We knew we wanted to put the kitchen into the dining area because we’ve always had a big family kitchen,” said Julie. “We also decided to split the third bedroom into a bathroom on one side and our en suite on the other.”
Julie and John have a knack for space
KITCHEN Carpenter, Robert Hill, came up with a bespoke kitchen design that slots discreetly into the large open-plan room. The natural finish of the birch ply is like furniture, surprising guests who don’t immediately notice the room is a kitchen
The original sash windows were reconditioned and the whole room has been brightened and lightened in pale shades of greens and greys with punches of turquoise and yellow
We’re completely thrilled with our apartment. It’s such a warm, comfortable place to live and the insulation has hugely helped our energy bills
MOSS REMOVAL WE DO NOT USE PRESSURE WASHERS FROM £325 FIND AND REPAIR A LEAK FROM £380 Hard wire brush only for tough areas YOUR HOME BECOMES OUR IMPORTANCE Anti-Moss and Algae treatment Gutters cleaned outlets unblocked Clean and effective moss removal
MOSS REMOVAL Give your roof a new look Safe ladder access installed All moss cleaned by hand WE DO NOT USE PRESSURE WASHERS FROM £325 Hard wire brush only for tough areas New Roofs and Roof Repairs - Assured Roofing has it covered! Whatever roofing work you require, our team of qualified, FIND AND REPAIR A LEAK YOUR HOME BECOMES OUR IMPORTANCE FROM £380 Soft hand brushes used Anti-Moss and Algae treatment experienced roofers work to the highest standards every time. • New Roofs • Roof Repairs • Flat Roofs • Gutters & Facias • Chimneys Gutters cleaned outlets unblocked Clean and effective moss removal EMERGENCY CALL OUTS 24/7 Office - 01903 910135 • Mobile - 07961609811 www.assuredroofingltd.co.uk FREE QUOTATIONS • FREE INSPECTIONS • NO CALL OUT CHARGE We are proud members of Approved Roofers which is the premier roofing trades association in the UK. All new works carry our fully insured 10-20 year back up guarantee
MOSS REMOVAL WE DO NOT USE PRESSURE WASHERS FROM £325 FIND AND REPAIR A LEAK FROM £380 Hard wire brush only for tough areas YOUR HOME BECOMES OUR IMPORTANCE Give your roof a new look Anti-Moss and Algae treatment Safe ladder access installed Gutters cleaned outlets unblocked New Roofs and Roof Repairs - Assured Roofing has it covered! All moss cleaned by hand Clean and effective moss removal Whatever roofing work you require, our team of qualified, Soft hand brushes used experienced roofers work to the highest standards every time. • New Roofs • Roof Repairs • Flat Roofs EMERGENCY CALL OUTS 24/7 • Gutters & Facias • Chimneys Office - 01903 910135 • Mobile - 07961609811 www.assuredroofingltd.co.uk FREE QUOTATIONS • FREE INSPECTIONS • NO CALL OUT CHARGE We are proud members of Approved Roofers which is the premier roofing trades association in the UK. All new works carry our fully insured 10-20 year back up guarantee
MOSS REMOVAL
WE DO NOT USE PRESSURE WASHERS FROM £325 FIND AND REPAIR A LEAK FROM £380 Hard wire brush only for tough areas YOUR HOME BECOMES OUR IMPORTANCE Give your roof a new look Anti-Moss and Algae treatment Safe ladder access installed New Roofs and Roof Repairs - Assured Roofing has it covered! Gutters cleaned outlets unblocked All moss cleaned by hand Whatever roofing work you require, our team of qualified, Clean and effective moss removal Soft hand brushes used experienced roofers work to the highest standards every time. • New Roofs • Roof Repairs • Flat Roofs EMERGENCY CALL OUTS 24/7 • Gutters & Facias • Chimneys Office - 01903 910135 • Mobile - 07961609811 www.assuredroofingltd.co.uk FREE QUOTATIONS • FREE INSPECTIONS • NO CALL OUT CHARGE We are proud members of Approved Roofers which is the premier roofing trades association in the UK. All new works carry our fully insured 10-20 year back up guarantee
FROM £285 FROM £250 Give your roof a new look Safe ladder access installed New Roofs and Roof Repairs - Assured Roofing has it covered! All moss cleaned by hand Whatever roofing work you require, our team of qualified, Soft hand brushes used experienced roofers work to the highest standards every time. • New Roofs • Roof Repairs • Flat Roofs EMERGENCY CALL OUTS 24/7 • Gutters & Facias • Chimneys Office - 01903 910135 • Mobile - 07961609811Horsham: 01403 458170 Haywards Heath: 01444 682996 www.assuredroofingltd.co.uk FREE QUOTATIONS • FREE INSPECTIONS • NO CALL OUT CHARGE We are proud members of Approved Roofers which is the premier roofing trades association in the UK. All new works carry our fully insured 10-20 year back up guarantee Worthing: 01903 372987 Crawley: 01293 92299 East Grinstead: 01342 612013
planning and could see the old bathroom would be best split into a utility room with a coat cupboard next to the front door. The loo would be turned into the pantry so fewer cupboards would be needed in the kitchen.
The Rignells played around with their ideas but didn’t move forward until later in the year. By then it was winter and they realised how cold the apartment was and how much they were spending on heating.
“We didn’t realise that over half the apartment is under a flat roof, and the
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The art deco 1930s cocktail cabinet is a treasured piece
rear extension is sat on a platform with cold air flowing underneath,” Julie explained. “We decided to make some significant energy efficient changes and this was where we spent most of our money.”
The couple had no experience in energy efficient design so they sought out a designer with expertise in this area. He suggested replacing both flat roofs with a warm roof construction; and remodelling the rear extension with internal and external wall insulation, new windows and insulation under the floors.
Since the Victorian building is in a Conservation Area, planning had to approve all the external changes. Their application was submitted in March and a few months later they had consent. During this time, the designer put a project specification together for building contractors to quote on and the couple accepted a contract with Minton Young.
Work began almost straightaway with their designer taking on the role as project manager. The couple moved into a rented flat close-by and put their belongings into storage. The builders advised an end date of August but almost straightaway they ran into problems as is often the case in older buildings where there are unknowns.
“When the building contractors took off the side extension roof they discovered one of the main structural beams under the flat above was rusted,” Julie explained. “That’s when we discovered the downside of owning a leasehold property.”
The couple had to negotiate with the freehold management team to get the beam replaced but
• Resin Bound & Bonded • Hot Bitumen & Gravel • Dropped kerbs and crossovers • Block paving • Groundworks • Tarmacadam
OFFICE The rear extension had been the kitchen before and was remodelled into a warmer space with external insulation and internal wood fibre insulation
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because it was going to cost £14,000, the process needed a two-month consultation period. They didn’t want to lose their building contractor to another project so they decided to pay for the beam themselves on the assurance the other leaseholders would pay them back.
“All the risk was ours,” Julie said. “But we got our money back and it’s good that it came to light as otherwise the room above might have collapsed onto our flat.”
Work continued: the leaking master bedroom bay window was replaced and all the original sash windows were reconditioned. The rear extension was made more structurally sound, stuffed with insulation and fitted with new double-glazed windows and a new door to the garden. The Rignells couldn’t fault the energy efficient changes and the quality of the designer and builders’ work.
The couple pressed on and didn’t hesitate to ask back carpenter, Robert Hill, to make their kitchen having been delighted with projects he’d done for them before. They wanted a pared back finish to look more like furniture in the elegant space and he suggested birch ply cupboards. The separate work stations provide clear food preparation areas and allow plenty of circulation around the table.
Pale greens and greys meld into the aqua blues in the living area echoing the colours of the seaside location and pulling the open plan space together.
MASTER SUITE The master bedroom is situated alongside the en suite which has a sliding wall opens to the dressing room They discovered one of the main structural beams under the flat above was rusted
FAMILY BATHROOM The family bathroom is a cosy size so Julie chose the same tiles to run across the floor and up the walls to pull the room together and emulate the look of a sauna Green appears again in the en suite, this time in a darker Art Deco shade to match the 1930s lighting and mirror sourced from local antique shops.
The project was completed by midNovember, tying-in with the end of the couple’s six-month rental and ready for a family Christmas. Julie said that although the renovation was arduous at times, they have learnt a lot from the experience and would happily recommend their building contractor.
“We’re completely thrilled with our apartment. It’s such a warm, comfortable place to live and the insulation has hugely helped our energy bills. We wanted somewhere we could live forever and we have exactly that.” l Photography: Bruce Hemming Writer: Jane Crittenden
SECOND BEDROOM The second bedroom is in the Victorian side extension but doesn’t have original sash windows
GARDEN The rear extension has been remodelled sympathetically in line with the Victorian building
