Revitalising a Classic Victorian Terrace House
Aspley Guise, Milton Keynes
Introduction
Our clients bought this Victorian home, with a view to refurbishing it completely to include adding a 2-storey extension which would give them a decent-sized kitchen/dining area, utility room and toilet on the ground floor; plus a larger second bedroom and remodel of the main bedroom and the bathroom upstairs.
The main challenge was that this Victorian cottage had been neglected for 40 years. The outbuildings had been poorly converted and smelt of damp, and the garden was overgrown. The kitchen and bathroom were severely damaged, virtually unusable – plus it had a leaky roof and rising damp.
Our client’s house purchase was completed in June 2018, and they instructed KTA almost immediately. Planning Permission took a while to be approved but once that arrived in March 2019, construction work commenced. All was completed including all the interior and exterior build, garden design, internal furnishings (kitchen, bathroom, cloakroom) and decoration by April 2020.
- Complete home refurbishment
- Added a 2-storey extension
- Planning Office negotiations
Before KTA
The Brief
Kevin Todd had previously worked with the client’s parents on a project, and we were extremely pleased to have been subsequently recommended to take on this new renovation project.
The layout of the cottage was quite haphazard when our clients first moved in and Kevin helped our clients visualise how the kitchen, utility room, cloakroom, bedrooms, and main bathroom could work with the new 2-storey extension, to create a beautiful living space which would give plenty of natural light and warmth.
Kevin collaborated carefully with our clients to achieve every one of their visions for their new home. All the required planning permissions were obtained, as well as the necessary building regulations approvals for all the expansions and changes they wanted.
Kevin suggested adding more natural light into the kitchen/diner area by adding extra skylights; the addition of a side window also helped bring natural lighting inside which brings even more additional natural light in. Meanwhile, the extension enabled us to add a larger second bedroom upstairs as well as an outdoor terrace. With their garden facing the south east and beautiful views across the countryside, this extra outside living space proved invaluable for the warmer summer months.
The original lounge and dining area are on two different levels and at first, our client wanted it all to be level. However, the ceiling was too Iow in the dining area; Kevin advised against levelling it off as it would have made that area of the house tricky to walk through and stand in.
The Result
The house was purchased for £217,000 back in 2018 and our clients have recently had a valuation now that the house renovations are completed. They have more than doubled the value of the property which is now being valued at £525,000!
Our client told us that everyone who steps inside their home always comments on how beautiful and inviting it feels. From its haphazard beginnings, all the rooms now feel connected to one another, giving each space an individualistic touch while still retaining cohesion throughout.
After KTA
Our client’s advice if embarking on renovating a home
Really think about what you’re going to do with your property before rushing into it. Unless you’re very experienced in DIY, don’t try and do it all yourself – get advice from professionals like KTA and our builders.
Make sure you get quotes from several builders and go with your gut instinct. Don’t go for the cheapest – you’ll get what you pay for. It’s worth it, in the long run, to go for the mid to more expensive option if budgets allow.
Always ensure you go with professionals who are recommended to you personally as online reviews for tradesmen can sometimes be fake. Be prepared to wait until a good builder becomes available. If someone is available right away, be wary and do more research on them!