7 minute read
ON THE COVER RESTORATION MASTERCLASS
from Xxfx
HALLWAY
Opposite Greg Penn stands in the entrance hall, halfway through the three-year renovation process of his Georgian house
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RESTORATION MASTERCLASS
For one savvy renovator, the chance to restore a faded Georgian house to its former glory was too good to turn down…
WORDS NICKY RAMPLEY-CLARKE | PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT DARBY | PRODUCTION CAROLYN BAILEY
HOME PROFILE
WHO LIVES HERE
Greg Penn, a food marketeer-turned-social
THE PROPERTY
old Royal Naval Hospital in
efore buying my first house, I had absolutely no interest inDIY, ’ admitsGregPenn,thebrains–andbrawn–behind Admiral’ s House in Devon, his second labour of love after a Victorian terrace in Darlington, County Durham. He adds:
Looking at Greg ’ s handiwork, it’ s hard to believe. The charismatic Yorkshireman has spent the past three years bringing the Georgian house back to its former grandeur and documenting it on Instagram. As a real passion project, it’ s still a work-in-progress, with different rooms in various stages of renovation. His account – @manwithahammer – is a hub of inspiration for anyone considering a house refurb. His feed is full of beautifully styled pictures featuring period detailing, intricate patterns and eclectic finds. What’ s more, his detailing of his DIY is always honest. ‘I’ m broadly self-taught, ’ he says, ‘though my folks have renovated previously, so were an excellent resource. Plus, I’ m convincedthere ’ snothingyoucan ’tlearnfromYouTube. ’
With classic good looks, five rambling floors and a pretty walled garden, the house has plenty of historical interest. It was divided up at some point in the past and Greg has one half. ‘It’ s a bit of a lump, ’ he laughs. It was built in 1804 by Daniel Asher Alexander – the architect notable for Dartmoor and Maidstone prisons – and is on the site of the old Royal Naval Hospital in Stonehouse, Plymouth. Back then, it was used as accommodation for theseniorofficerlookingafterthehospital,henceitsname: Admiral’ s House. ‘There is enormous satisfaction to be taken from actually creating something with your own hands, ’ says Greg, ‘ and knowing that what you ’ re doing is protecting and saving a beautiful heritage building. It sounds daft, but the old girl really has a personality and everything I’ m doing is breathing life back into her. ’
Purchased just before the pandemic, the house had languished for some time on Rightmove. ‘I’d been lusting after it based on the online listing for about six months, despite not being able to afford it, ’ he says. ‘I fell in love once I saw it and made a very low offer that was still, in theory, more than I could afford. I panicked a bit when it was accepted. While it’ s heartbreaking to see our heritage so neglected, there ’ s no way Admiral’ s House could have been my home if it hadn ’t been in such disrepair, as it would have been far more expensive. ’
Greg ’ s plan to tackle the work himself, however, would end up saving him thousands, as a property of this size and age could easily swallow endless sums of money – and then some. And it’ s not just his handiness that has proved invaluable – a particularly savvy way of sourcing by scouring the internet for secondhand finds has also helped to keep the budget in check.
He immediately set to work creating a bedroom and a bathroom on the lower ground floor. ‘The house didn ’t really have a functioning loo at first, ’ he recalls, ‘ and there was about six months of flushing it with a bucket!’ Since then, he has completed three more bathrooms, four bedrooms and a ‘ party room ’ , working mainly across the first and second floors. ‘I would like to have started at the very top, ’ he admits, ‘but the roof needed
This page and opposite
cushions are all by Anna together this cocktail bar look. They also created the naming it Drunken Sailor, a spectacular shade that matches the bespoke Axminster rug for vibrancy. A pair of sofas from Farmhouse Table Co sit mirrors from Dominic
BATHROOM
Left Greg bought the bath from eBay and painted it, while the basin was a splurge from London Basin Company. Zoffany’s pretty Cochin wallpaper has been used above the panelling
BEDROOM
Impressively, Greg made the bed and headboard (upholstered in fabric from Warner House). The pom pom-edged throw from Maud Interiors adds a fun element
BATHROOM
Left wallpaper and panelling (in Greylag Goose from Fenwick & Tilbrook) all combine to create a traditional feel. The bright coral rolltop bath adds a modern twist
BEDROOM
Below left Greg has used vintage and new pieces to create a cosy feel. He loves to mix and match styles to stop everything feeling too formal
replacing and that wasn ’t something I could do myself. Nor could I afford it straightaway, so I’ ve worked for a couple of years to save up and it’ s finally about to happen. The scaffolding is going up right now. ’
What about that party room? A vision in green, with a high ceiling, original fireplace and classic archway, it simply begs for raucous soirées to be thrown by its host. ‘This room actually came about thanks to social media, ’ explains Greg, ‘ when interior designer Anna Hayman got in touch after seeing its bare bones in a picture I posted and really wanted to do something with it. I was planning on this being one of the last rooms I tackled, to be honest, but I couldn ’t resist the chance to work with her. Anna ’ s style is quite different to my own, so it really does feel as though you ’ re entering a separate place, almost like visiting your favourite cocktail bar. It’ s a room for parties and entertaining. ’
And after one too many martinis in the party room? To bed… And what bedrooms they are – more akin to those in a boutique hotel than a private home, furnished with chic but comfortable pieces. ‘I really wanted them to be full of character and in keeping with the rest of the house without feeling like a museum, ’ says Greg. ‘Due to the scale of the building and the light that floods in, I can really embrace pattern and colour and make them feel inviting. I’ m lucky to have plenty of space for people to stay, hopefully making them feel comfortable enough to use it as a base for exploring Devon and Cornwall. ’
Greg reveals that he shops online as he ’ s flat out with the renovation, so searching in the evening suits him better than trawling stores at the weekend. ‘I love old pieces and the character they bring to a room. But adding new elements and not being afraid of mixing and matching periods and styles helps to stop things from feeling too formal, ’ he says. Indeed, there ’ s something incredibly relaxing about the way Greg has styled each of the bedrooms, creating cosy and inviting spaces for himself and his guests.
So what’ s next? There ’ s still plenty to keep Greg busy. The beautiful oval entrance hall needed more work. ‘After that, I’ll turn my attention to the room I’ m most excited about: the kitchen, ’ he says. ‘It’ll have a big Aga, a whopping island for people to gather around and doors leading out to the roof terrace overlooking the gardens. ’ Clearly, Greg isn ’t one for sitting back and taking it easy.
With such infectious energy and passion, this happy homeowner has really rolled up his sleeves and got stuck into the grand dame with all the aplomb of a professional. It’ s a masterclass in doing it yourself. HB
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Take inspiration from Greg’s opulent, eclectic scheme packed with pattern
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1 Modern Minerals Agate cushion, from £42, The Lounge Co 2 Bordado Dusk wallpaper, £65/roll, Graham & Brown 3 Totem lidded jar, £245, Nara Cambridge 4 Piccadilly Blue wallpaper, £95/roll, Charlotte Gaisford 5 Aisling chandelier, £210, Laura Ashley at Next 6 Cube tiles in Denim, £35/sq m, House Beautiful Collection at Homebase 7 Geminus bath in Farrow & Ball Charlotte’s Locks, from £1,647, Albion Bath Co 8 Rose king-size bed in Atlantic, £1,375, Button & Sprung 9 Flamingo framed print, £132, John Lewis & Partners 10 Ellie table lamp, £80; Marbled paper shade, £51; both Pooky
