Creating a home from two Victorian semis

(Click on any of the gallery images to view the full picture)

When Lynda and Peter Thomas bought a Victorian semi-detached house overlooking the sea in Essex in 2004, they had intended it to be an investment for the future. Lynda explains: ‘We were living in the family home nearby and bought the semi to rent out until the last of our four children left home, when we thought Peter might retire. We talked about moving to Devon or Cornwall, and keeping a bolt-hole in Essex to be near the children, friends and other family.’

But when the house next door to theirs came up for sale they decided to buy it so that they could knock the two into one detached house and move much earlier than they originally imagined. ‘It wasn’t what we’d planned,’ admits Lynda, ‘and we still had our youngest, Joe, living at home, but it meant we’d be able to enjoy being by the sea sooner and we wouldn’t need an extra property in the south west.’

After planning consent was granted, local architect Roger Coombs and builder Graham Newton started work on the project. The job entailed a full-scale reconfiguration, and as Lynda and Peter wanted some large open spaces, not just a warren of rooms, the main spine wall dividing the semis had to be completely removed, and the floor above reinforced. Lynda explains: ‘Apart from the four exterior walls, nearly everything had to be replaced: along with updated plumbing and electrics, we had to put in new wooden and tiled flooring, cornicing, coving and picture rails.’

The design was to make the most of the houses’ symmetrical layouts and create a large porch where the two front doors once were; this would lead into a hallway, with one elegant central staircase sweeping up to the first floor. Upstairs, a gallery was planned to give access to each of the five bedrooms. One family bathroom would be retained for guests; while the other bathroom and a spare room would be merged with one of the front bedrooms to create a master suite.

Finally, downstairs, a new door opening was added between the back rooms of each house allowing all the rooms to flow into one another. However, each half of the ground floor does have its own personality. On one side Lynda has chosen a period feel: with a smart sitting room at the front and formal dining room and traditional-style office at the rear. ‘When we decided to live in this house full time we knew it would be quite cold in winter,’ explains Lynda, ‘so we wanted to have some rooms that feel warm and cosy.’

On the other side, she has created a relaxed and more summery seaside look, with an open-plan sitting room, kitchen and dining area. There is painted cladding on the walls and ceilings; and additions such as the slim shelving for an ever-rotating display of photographs, and the trio of different antique chandeliers, make this space individual yet still elegant.

The mismatched style continues around the breakfast table where Lynda has gathered, among others, a bench covered in fabric bought in Majorca, a pew chair painted white, and a 1930s leather chair. ‘I love the thrill of finding one-off pieces in antiques or junk shops; I think it’s these details that make your home unique.’

Tying the whole space together is light, bright paintwork and beautifully worn flooring. ‘We wanted the house to feel really lived in and reclaimed timber has exactly the right character,’ says Lynda.

Just as each sitting room is different, all of the bedrooms have their own individual personality too. Lynda chose a traditional feel for the master bedroom, with a Victorian style chaise and a huge sleigh bed that is raised high enough to take advantage of the sea views. Like the formal sitting room, the colours are rich and warm: dark wood furniture dressed with deep reds and comforting creams. The new master suite also benefits from a dressing area and en-suite bathroom, both of which have an Art Deco feel thanks to Lynda’s choice of furniture, chequerboard tiles and sanitaryware; a red-painted roll-top provides a welcome accent colour.

In the large guest room, meanwhile, she decided to combine her favourite seaside colours – blues, gold and cream – but by choosing a French-style bed and curtains in a sumptuous Designers Guild fabric that drape on to the wooden floor, the room is more elegant boudoir than sandy beach hut.

With the interiors exquisitely finished, Lynda and Peter turned their attention to the outdoor spaces that were the reason for the move. Here, they had enough room to establish a manageable vegetable garden as well as to build a greenhouse, a deck and a small pool.

The most important external area, however, was created at the front of the house: a smart terrace with views out to sea. ‘Along this south-facing stretch, most of us use the front more than the back,’ says Lynda. ‘We all enjoy watching the boats heading up and down the Thames and out to the North Sea; it’s surprising just how busy it still gets, and the view is always changing, even when the tide’s out.’

With all the hard work finally complete, the house is now beautiful both inside and out: the exterior may look grand and imposing but the interior is warm and welcoming, thanks to Lynda’s discerning style. So with the renovations well behind them, and no need to relocate in the future, they can sit back and enjoy their home – and that mesmerising view.

Lynda shares her renovating advice
‘With a project this large it’s vital that you work closely with your architect and builder. I was on site every day so that I could make quick decisions; it also avoided any possible misunderstandings.

‘It was critical that the finished house didn’t look like two semis. The large canopy porch and central staircase both work to that end.

‘I sourced ideas from magazines like Period Living and bought numerous books on Victorian, coastal and seaside houses as well as beach huts.

‘Good quality materials can make a big difference; for instance, Locker & Riley produced all the covings and cornicing needed to replace the originals that had to be removed, and Drummonds supplied the reclaimed wooden flooring throughout the house.’

FEATURE NAOMI JONES PHOTOGRAPHS BRENT DARBY
Featured in the April 2010 issue of Period Living

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