Readers' Homes
With a limited budget to transform a dark cottage, Caroline and Anthony Borgman learned new skills, including carpentry, plumbing and decorative arts. Their charming home is filled with handmade touches and bargain buys from auction houses and online.
Jonathan McCree and his wife Claire Gordon used their artistic skills to renovate and decorate this individual Victorian home, creating an eclectic space decorated with bright colours, vintage furniture and handmade items.
Over four years, Virginia Dowd painstakingly transformed a ruined stone barn in County Kilkenny. It’s now a home full of character with exposed ceiling beams, an open stone fireplace and gothic style windows.
Catch of the day Sarah Locke and Stephen Bradshaw’s renovation of this shrimper’s cottage was an early favourite for our Readers’ Choice Award 2011 and in the end scooped the prize.
Sandy and Peter Borchert are experienced renovators who transformed a Georgian townhouse with a Victorian extension and Edwardian modernisations into the ideal home for their family.
Working flat out Sam White has worked hard to restore a period apartment to share with his partner Louise Eddom, and this renovation has been recognised as Best Apartment and Best Budget Project in our Readers’ Awards 2011.
Learning curve When Australian Sonja Bergin and her Irish husband Kevin decided to settle down, they chose this attractive thatched cottage in his homeland; their thorough restoration earned their home Best Period Renovation in the Readers’ Awards 2011.
Team Building Pamela and Jason Crawley and their son James have worked together to restore a Georgian farmhouse. A passion for authenticity ensured this project won Best Country House in our Readers’ Awards 2011.
Alistair and Fiona Erskine have restored and nurtured their 17th century home, which was extended in the Victorian era. With a simple decorating scheme to maximise the natural light, the furnishings do not overshadow the timber-framed house’s architectural features.
Historian and television presenter Dan Cruikshank has employed a very sensitive approach to the renovation of his Georgian townhouse that respects and preserves its heritage. Dan was passionate about preserving original features and has added further character to the property by decorating with a diverse range of furniture and accessories that he has collected over the years.
Kerry and Jason Sharpe have extended their 19th-century cottage, transforming it into the ideal place to host festive celebrations. The four bedroom cottage in North Yorkshire now includes a larger kitchen and a garden room.
Linda Cobbett transformed a derelict Grade II listed Victorian mill and stables into an individual family home. The work involved clearing and making the building safe, as well as the major restoration. Linda's sensitive approach to such a daunting project was inspirational and she allowed all of the original character to remain while bringing a new lease of life to the property.
Elizabeth Lloyd-Day and her husband Carl have transformed a 16th-century timber-framed property into an inviting and comfortable home. The house had been the town supermarket before undergoing many alterations and Elizabeth and Carl inherited a patchwork of historical styles. They did most of the renovation work themselves and made it their own with a colorful decorating scheme and beautiful furniture.
Seasoned renovator Jennifer Bristow-Smith has completely transformed a tired Victorian house into an appealing home with the air of a colonial retreat. With many projects behind her, Jennifer wasn't afraid to get involved in each stage of the work. A limited budget didn't stop her ambitious plans and the finished house is both functional and elegant with a cool, sophisticated colour scheme.
Born to Restore: Following in the footsteps of her renovating family, Maria Bradburn and her husband Wayne have restored an old house with a wealth of Victorian and Edwardian period features. The couple have managed to maintain and restore many of the period features, including original tiles and mouldings, and enhanced them with antique store finds.
A Spell-Binding Legacy: The spirit of children’s writer Lucy Boston lives on in The Manor at Hemingford Grey, home to the bewitching characters from her Green Knowe books. The house has been maintained by Lucy's daughter-in-law, and has been restored to fully capture the spirit of her stories.
Space solution: Adding a small extension to a dark kitchen has transformed the McFarlanes’ Victorian farmhouse. The family can now dine in style and enjoy the garden come rain or shine.
Over the last 24 years, Helen and Martin Ephgrave have gradually restored their Edwardian house, and now have a home they can never imagine leaving. The three bedroom house, built c.1905 has been restored in a simple Shaker-style, with many of the original features restored.
When Wendy and Geoff Arnot found an expertly restored 16th-century house, they knew they would enjoy putting their own stamp on it and that it would become their ideal family home.
Subtle and simple: When Andy and Karen Ward relocated to Berkshire they bought an Arts & Crafts home and were inspired to learn more about period style. Their home is a typical example of Arts & Crafts architecture and they have kept many of the original features, such as oak doors and floorboards and added their own touches to create a stylish but easy-to-live-in interior.
Determination, a clear vision and helpful friends ensured Andy Singleton was able to turn a waterlogged cottage into a bewitching home in the forest. The delightful timber-framed cottage sits beside a lake and includes restored features such as a thatched roof, as well as shelving made from reclaimed timber.
Lynda and Peter Thomas knocked a pair of Victorian seafront semis into one to create a spacious and individual home. The couple have used a combination of reclaimed materials, antiques and junk shop finds, along with newer items, to create charming interiors.
Nick and Jac Hayman have expertly restored their historic Grade II listed home. Having renovated mostly modern houses in the past, they have put their hearts and souls into this period property, creating a home they’d like to settle in for some time. Their sensitive renovation and had work has produced a distinctive and attractive house.
Historical calibre: Daniela Chandler and Paul Mason moved to the Suffolk countryside where they fell in love with an expertly restored 14th-century hall house. A collection of antique and new furniture, including a magnificent specially commissioned four-poster bed, completes the warm country manor feel of the house.
After spending all their savings buying this rural cottage, Phil and Philippa Heath have renovated, extended and furnished it on a shoestring. This family had the energy and enthusiasm to create a gorgeous home while spending little or no money.
Christina and Nigel Dickinson’s transformation of a mid-Victorian barn into a light and elegant French-style farmhouse has been achieved with a renovation budget of just £8,000.
The thoughtful room-by-room renovation of their Georgian family home is an absorbing project for artist Simon Casson and his wife Sheridan. The couple have managed to retain some of the property's original period features and replace those beyond repair with reclaimed pieces.
Lesley and Steve Baker have skilfully converted two former cottages into one farmhouse. To create this charming home, they've knocked down walls, ripped out 1980s features and added a sympathetic extension.
A two-year hands-on renovation of this Edwardian house has turned a dated property into an inviting home, full of authentic oriental furniture that complements the carefully restored original features.
Using plenty of imagination and creative flair, Fiona Ireland has given this farmhouse a sophisticated feel inspired by French country style. Her colour scheme is consists of soft greys, which provide a lovely backdrop for pretty fabrics and sparkling accessories.
