Houzz Tour: A Victorian Flat is Given a Sympathetic Makeover
A poky period maisonette has been transformed into a bright, spacious home with its original features firmly in place
Amanda Pollard
5 August 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
How do you renovate a Victorian property without losing its character? That’s a question many homeowners ask, and something that’s very important to architect Lior Brosh of Brosh Architects. So when he was asked to restore and extend this small Victorian flat, he did his research thoroughly in order to create a modern, functional space that highlights the original features of the building.
Maisonette at a Glance
Who lives here A professional couple from California
Location A conservation area in Hampstead, north London
Property A Victorian garden maisonette with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a cloakroom (70 sq m)
Architect Lior Brosh of Brosh Architects
Photos by Rory Gardiner
“The front of the property was very 1970s, with crazy paving on the ground,” Lior says. The front door was also not an original. “We wanted to bring back the old charm, so we had a look at the neighbouring properties and tried to match the original door.”
He also replaced the uPVC windows with wooden sash ones. They have slim double glazing that looks like a single-glazed version. “A hundred years ago, the windows weren’t perfect,” Lior says, “so I took the glass to a factory that specialises in tinting it to make it look slightly imperfect.”
Who lives here A professional couple from California
Location A conservation area in Hampstead, north London
Property A Victorian garden maisonette with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a cloakroom (70 sq m)
Architect Lior Brosh of Brosh Architects
Photos by Rory Gardiner
“The front of the property was very 1970s, with crazy paving on the ground,” Lior says. The front door was also not an original. “We wanted to bring back the old charm, so we had a look at the neighbouring properties and tried to match the original door.”
He also replaced the uPVC windows with wooden sash ones. They have slim double glazing that looks like a single-glazed version. “A hundred years ago, the windows weren’t perfect,” Lior says, “so I took the glass to a factory that specialises in tinting it to make it look slightly imperfect.”
Lior also changed the door furniture and found a lamp that was very similar to the one the building would originally have had.
The crazy paving was replaced with York stone, which features in other properties along the street.
The crazy paving was replaced with York stone, which features in other properties along the street.
The house had been divided into flats, and a kitchen was located in the hallway with a spiral staircase next to it. “I wanted to bring the original staircase back and put it where it was before,” says Lior.
“When renovating a period property, I usually go along the street and politely ask neighbours if I can take a look to find original features,” he says. “I also go through council websites.”
“When renovating a period property, I usually go along the street and politely ask neighbours if I can take a look to find original features,” he says. “I also go through council websites.”
For the staircase, Lior meticulously copied an original one that was in a neighbour’s home. Even the banister is true to the period – the joins are on show, but it still feels smooth to the touch.
Lior wanted the floor throughout the property to feel like the original timber. First he removed the laminate and installed underfloor heating.
Before laying engineered oak on top, he used an ageing technique on the boards, which involved putting them in a giant machine with chains and stones for a few minutes. The machine tumbles boards so they come out looking distressed and old.
He then stained them dark with Old English oil. “The flooring on the stairs didn’t look old enough,” he says. So with his attention to detail, he went over each tread with a hammer.
Engineered oak floorboards, Natural Wood Designs. Walls beneath dado rail painted in Skimming Stone; above painted in Wimborne White, both Farrow & Ball.
Before laying engineered oak on top, he used an ageing technique on the boards, which involved putting them in a giant machine with chains and stones for a few minutes. The machine tumbles boards so they come out looking distressed and old.
He then stained them dark with Old English oil. “The flooring on the stairs didn’t look old enough,” he says. So with his attention to detail, he went over each tread with a hammer.
Engineered oak floorboards, Natural Wood Designs. Walls beneath dado rail painted in Skimming Stone; above painted in Wimborne White, both Farrow & Ball.
Under the stairs there’s a drawer for shoes, and behind that is a cupboard with a push-to-open door. This is for bulky equipment such as the vacuum cleaner.
To the right of the entrance is the living room, which the owners wanted to keep very simple. There are a couple of shelves in the alcove for books and digital equipment.
The ceiling in here is quite low, but rather than install spotlights, Lior chose a flush ceiling lamp.
There was no fireplace in here, so Lior did his research to make sure he found one to match the original version that would have been installed when the property was built. In the fireplace is an energy-efficient bioethanol fire.
Fireplace and bioethanol fire insert, Acquisitions. Sofa, Made.com. Mai ceiling light, Lucente. Coffee table designed by Brosh Architects.
The ceiling in here is quite low, but rather than install spotlights, Lior chose a flush ceiling lamp.
There was no fireplace in here, so Lior did his research to make sure he found one to match the original version that would have been installed when the property was built. In the fireplace is an energy-efficient bioethanol fire.
Fireplace and bioethanol fire insert, Acquisitions. Sofa, Made.com. Mai ceiling light, Lucente. Coffee table designed by Brosh Architects.
The previous lower-ground floor had a bedroom at the back and the kitchen opposite the entrance.
Lior turned the bedroom into a kitchen and planned for an extension at the rear. “I located the kitchen here, as it’s the first door you come to, so it’s easy to dump your bags,” he explains.
“It’s also between the dining and living rooms, so you can easily move between the two.”
“It’s also between the dining and living rooms, so you can easily move between the two.”
“I also used the kitchen as a light transfer, as the light at the front of the property was quite weak,” Lior says. The high-gloss units reflect rays from the back garden into the living room. “Light manipulation plays a big part in making a tiny home feel bigger,” he explains.
The resin worktop and splashback are very durable and have a high shine. Lior chose a marble finish to tie in with the fireplace in the living room.
Kitchen units, Such Designs. Calacatta 12mm polished worktop and splashback, Neolith. Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
The resin worktop and splashback are very durable and have a high shine. Lior chose a marble finish to tie in with the fireplace in the living room.
Kitchen units, Such Designs. Calacatta 12mm polished worktop and splashback, Neolith. Boiling-water tap, Quooker.
Spots are concealed beneath the wall units and reflect light back into the room in the evening.
The simple, functional layout consists of drawers and base cabinets with full-height wall units above. The sink has been fitted with a practical boiling-water tap, and sits next to an integrated fridge-freezer.
Need a kitchen installed? Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area
The simple, functional layout consists of drawers and base cabinets with full-height wall units above. The sink has been fitted with a practical boiling-water tap, and sits next to an integrated fridge-freezer.
Need a kitchen installed? Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area
The rear of the property has been extended to fit a dining area that looks out onto the garden.
Once again, Lior was conscious to keep as much of the original building in place as possible. At the back of the garden, for example, is a rather wonky wall. “I convinced the owners to keep it, as it’s part of the area,” he says.
However, the wall did need to be repaired, so Lior asked the contractor to ensure it was structurally sound while keeping the same imperfect look. “We positioned a couple of uplights along the wall, which make it look beautiful in the evening,” he says.
Once again, Lior was conscious to keep as much of the original building in place as possible. At the back of the garden, for example, is a rather wonky wall. “I convinced the owners to keep it, as it’s part of the area,” he says.
However, the wall did need to be repaired, so Lior asked the contractor to ensure it was structurally sound while keeping the same imperfect look. “We positioned a couple of uplights along the wall, which make it look beautiful in the evening,” he says.
There was already an extension on one side of the building, which Lior wanted to show in some way.
“I had the option to wipe out this extension completely, but I wanted to keep the story alive,” he says. The doorway, with its white walls surrounded by exposed brick, gives a nod to what was there before.
Next to this is a cabinet that hides the boiler, fuse box and other utilities, as well as an area for dining plates.
Next to this is a cabinet that hides the boiler, fuse box and other utilities, as well as an area for dining plates.
The huge patio doors contain hidden technology that allows them to be used for heating the room. Electricity passes through a transparent metal oxide coating via buzz bars at the top and bottom. With this addition and the underfloor heating, there was no need for radiators in the property.
Patio doors, IQ Glass.
Patio doors, IQ Glass.
“Although the 3m extension was new, we wanted to retell the story of 150 years,” says Lior. Around 80 percent of the new edifice is built from bricks he’d recycled from other areas in the home, such as the removal of a chimney. The remainder were reclaimed bricks from the same period.
The garden wall on the left was falling down, so the team demolished it, cleaned every brick, and put them all back again.
The internal wall was also part of this garden wall. For this section, Lior’s team built a block wall and covered it with the same bricks, but this time each brick had been cut into three parts.
The garden wall on the left was falling down, so the team demolished it, cleaned every brick, and put them all back again.
The internal wall was also part of this garden wall. For this section, Lior’s team built a block wall and covered it with the same bricks, but this time each brick had been cut into three parts.
On top of the extension, Lior planted a wildflower meadow. “It’s simple. You make the roof watertight as you would do anyway, put down soil and sow seeds,” he says. “Soil provides natural insulation, and it brings wildlife to the area.”
Read this expert guide to creating a green roof
Read this expert guide to creating a green roof
Lior says he tries to minimise spotlighting outside; the two wall lights cast a glow up and down the wall instead.
Lior has tucked in a cloakroom under the stairs. As it’s a dark space, he decided to give it a feel of old London. The wall was in bad condition, so he employed the same process he’d used in the dining room of cutting the bricks into three to lay them over the surface.
The wallpaper is a map of Victorian London from the period when the house was built. He added to the atmosphere by choosing a light fitting with a gold coating (not seen) that gives off a warm glow.
Antique City Plan of London, Wallpapered. Basin, Alape.
The wallpaper is a map of Victorian London from the period when the house was built. He added to the atmosphere by choosing a light fitting with a gold coating (not seen) that gives off a warm glow.
Antique City Plan of London, Wallpapered. Basin, Alape.
Upstairs is a bedroom, a bathroom and an office. Lior removed a sash window in the bedroom to make way for French windows, but rather than throw it away, he used it on the landing instead.
He kept the architrave that was around the window and installed double doors from the same period as the window itself. The doors lead out to a little balcony, which sits between the old building and the new extension, so it doesn’t overlook the neighbours.
Lior hunted around for a local craftsman to make the balustrade at a cost-effective price. The balcony looks onto the greenery of the wildflower roof, so he chose a tree-like pendant light to tie inside and out.
Pendant light, Moooi.
Lior hunted around for a local craftsman to make the balustrade at a cost-effective price. The balcony looks onto the greenery of the wildflower roof, so he chose a tree-like pendant light to tie inside and out.
Pendant light, Moooi.
The original sash window didn’t bring as much light into the room.
Rather than having a deep, imposing wardrobe, Lior split the wall in two with high cabinets and drawers below.
There are drawers to the side for folding clothes away, a middle top drawer for accessories, and three drawer fronts below that open together as one large space for laundry.
A hanging rail displays everyday clothes, while the cabinets above are for those items that aren’t needed as frequently.
Westminster Bridge London wall mural, Wallsauce.
There are drawers to the side for folding clothes away, a middle top drawer for accessories, and three drawer fronts below that open together as one large space for laundry.
A hanging rail displays everyday clothes, while the cabinets above are for those items that aren’t needed as frequently.
Westminster Bridge London wall mural, Wallsauce.
Lior used dark surfaces in the bathroom and enhanced the drama with lighting. As well as practical, task lights, he also created an atmospheric glow by laying strip lighting beneath an almost transparent composite worktop, which produces a gentle glow as it shines through the surface.
There’s also a concealed strip above the dropped ceiling, which washes the wall next to the bath with light.
Wall tiles, Strata Tiles. Cabinets, Brosh Architects. Basin, Alape.
There’s also a concealed strip above the dropped ceiling, which washes the wall next to the bath with light.
Wall tiles, Strata Tiles. Cabinets, Brosh Architects. Basin, Alape.
The ceiling in this room was 3m high, so Lior lowered it by around 0.5m. A hatch near the door provides access to the space above, which can be used as useful storage.
“I blocked off the parts you can’t reach, so you don’t lose anything at the back,” he says.
Tell us…
What do you think of this Victorian property that’s been restored with care? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“I blocked off the parts you can’t reach, so you don’t lose anything at the back,” he says.
Tell us…
What do you think of this Victorian property that’s been restored with care? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Related Stories
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Midcentury Home With a Strong Indoor-outdoor Link
By Becky Harris
A nature-inspired renovation has given this ranch house a relaxed mood and a connection to the outdoors from most rooms
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: Warm Tones and Luxurious Surfaces in a City Townhouse
An earthy colour palette, hidden storage and well-placed texture add character and practicality to this London home
Full Story
Room Tours
Kitchen Tour: A Gorgeous Extension With a Leafy Glasshouse Feel
By Kate Burt
When the owners of this terraced house extended, they were keen to retain its period feel and highlight the garden
Full Story
Gardens
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Smart Layout and Genius Storage in a Victorian Home
Flipping the standard layout and carving out excellent storage have turned this tired house into a brilliant family home
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Victorian House Brought Impressively Up to Date
By Jo Simmons
A cohesive layout and warm colours combined with energy-efficiency measures thoroughly modernise this terraced home
Full Story
Kitchen Tours
Kitchen Tour: An Open, Airy Space Made for Entertaining
Combining two separate rooms has improved flow and created a sociable open-plan kitchen, dining and seating space
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Family Home Inspired by its Seaside Location
Coastal colours and practical design combine to create a house that will adapt as the family grows
Full Story
Kitchens
5 Inspiring Before and After Kitchen Transformations
Whether you want to boost storage, incorporate original features or maximise your space, take ideas from these designs
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: An Airy, Scandi Finish for a Tall Victorian House
By Kate Burt
From a tricky inherited bath to a sticky-out staircase, on-site problem-solving led to a seamless update for an old home
Full Story
Aww... thank you so much for the lovely comment and kind words 🙏😊
This is lovely and a thoughtful, tasteful and lovely conversion. I love the French doors and balcony looking out on the wildflower roof. An oasis I for city living
I’d love to see later photographs of that wildflower meadow on the flat roof.
It would be interesting to see how it has evolved, and how it looks at different times of the year - and if course, please , any maintenance issues.