Restoring a Grade II listed house
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‘Our house is a Grade II listed building, thought to have been the village jail, and dates back to the 1820s,’ says Nick Hayman.
Key factsLocation: Suffolk |
‘It required a huge amount of work inside,’ explains his wife Jac. ‘We started by stripping each room back to its original state, taking out anything that wasn't in keeping with the property. At the same time, we had several floors strengthened, as some of the boards were almost rotten through. We’ve also updated the wiring and electrics, and we had to replaster the guest room as the walls were in very bad condition. But those were the only jobs we needed specialists for; Nick’s done the rest with a little help from me.’
'In the sitting room and dining room,' she continues, 'we decorated the walls in subtle tones and carpeted with sisal for a natural look; the material is quite forgiving of our slightly uneven floors, too.’
As a kitchen designer, Nick (of Hayman Design) knew exactly what the problems with the kitchen was, and how to fix it. He says: ‘We inherited quite a long, thin room that had work surfaces either side making it even more cramped. I refitted it with a run on just one side.’
‘But the room we're most pleased with is the first floor drawing room,’ says Jac. ‘It overlooks the village church and a beautiful Grade I listed building that dates back to the 12th century. We’ve decorated it with a grey-green on the walls, neutral carpet and a few interesting pieces of period furniture.’
‘We’ve really enjoyed this renovation, especially looking for bargains: sourcing pieces of furniture, lighting, and pictures from charity and antiques shops,’ she continues. ‘We’ve recycled doors, trims and handles from one part of the building to another,’ adds Nick, ‘and tried out more daring paint colours, knowing that this, at last, is a home for us to enjoy for many years.’
Budget breakdown |
|
| Rewiring | £1,600 |
| Plastering | £400 |
| Restoring floors | £810 |
| Kitchen (materials, appliances and labour) | £5,050 |
| Bathroom (materials and labour) | £2,989 |
| Cloakroom suite and fitting | £680 |
| Roof repairs and guttering | £500 |
| Carpets and vinyl (materials and labour) | £2,240 |
| Extra furniture | £2,060 |
| Mirrors, pictures and lighting | £1,100 |
| Curtains, poles and window fixings | £810 |
| Paint | £500 |
| Cellar | £60 |
| Front garden and courtyard (furniture, plants and lighting) | £430 |
| Decorating equipment and picture rails | £571 |
| Total cost of renovation | £19,800 |
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Featured in the November 2009 issue of Period Living
Comments
Gorgeous colours
The couple have used such lovely colours in their home. So nice to see something different from the whitewashed homes we often see. That green sitting room looks ver cosy. well done!
An inspiration
This couple are an absolute inspiration for all period home lovers who don't have the biggest budget. Nick and Jac have carefully restored this old house and have given it warmth and personality without ruining the innate character of the building, all within quite a tight budget. Hats off to you both!
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