My Houzz: A New England-style House in Portsmouth
A boat store is transformed into a crisp white and natural timber home filled with personality and charm
Victoria Harrison
21 February 2017
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
It was on a trip to her hometown of Portsmouth to visit her father that Amber and her husband, Thomas, found this old boat store almost by chance. “We’d sold our previous home in Henley and were looking for another project,” says Amber. “We found this place and loved the location – in the old part of Portsmouth and about 30m from the sea.”
The impulse purchase was just the beginning, though, and an extensive redesign project followed as the couple transformed the space into a bright and welcoming home.
The impulse purchase was just the beginning, though, and an extensive redesign project followed as the couple transformed the space into a bright and welcoming home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Amber and Thomas
Location Portsmouth, Hampshire
Property An 1820s boat store
Size 3 bedrooms (one of which is being used as a study), 3 bathrooms
Photos by Ian Burnett
After buying this old converted boat store, Amber and Thomas lived in it for six months before starting the renovation project. “We then set aside six months to do the work, but it actually ended up taking 18 months to complete it,” Amber says.
The first job was to reconsider the floorplan. “It had been badly converted in the 1970s and 1980s,” she recalls. The layout was muddled, with bedrooms and a study downstairs and a living area and boxed-in bedroom squeezed in upstairs.
Who lives here Amber and Thomas
Location Portsmouth, Hampshire
Property An 1820s boat store
Size 3 bedrooms (one of which is being used as a study), 3 bathrooms
Photos by Ian Burnett
After buying this old converted boat store, Amber and Thomas lived in it for six months before starting the renovation project. “We then set aside six months to do the work, but it actually ended up taking 18 months to complete it,” Amber says.
The first job was to reconsider the floorplan. “It had been badly converted in the 1970s and 1980s,” she recalls. The layout was muddled, with bedrooms and a study downstairs and a living area and boxed-in bedroom squeezed in upstairs.
“We took the upstairs bedroom out to open up the entire first floor, as it seemed strange to mix the two areas,” Amber says. “We then converted the downstairs study into a third bedroom.”
The house now has a ‘reversed living’ layout, with the bedrooms downstairs and an open-plan living room and kitchen upstairs.
The couple moved the kitchen and living areas around to enable the space to work more effectively. “The kitchen was directly opposite where it is now,” Amber explains, “but we moved it here because we wanted to have access from the kitchen to the balcony outside.”
Where do you start when renovating or redecorating a property? Read this expert advice
The house now has a ‘reversed living’ layout, with the bedrooms downstairs and an open-plan living room and kitchen upstairs.
The couple moved the kitchen and living areas around to enable the space to work more effectively. “The kitchen was directly opposite where it is now,” Amber explains, “but we moved it here because we wanted to have access from the kitchen to the balcony outside.”
Where do you start when renovating or redecorating a property? Read this expert advice
A range cooker (just glimpsed on the right) is central to the galley kitchen. The couple actually bought this first, then designed the kitchen around it. “It’s a Godin cooker and we found it second-hand for £750 on eBay,” Amber says.
A large island unit houses the fridge, freezer, dishwasher and storage space. “My husband designed it, built it and tiled it,” she says.
Thomas also designed and built the two cupboards either side of the range cooker. “We were influenced by carpenters’ tool cabinets,” says Amber of the neat design. The sides close up to hide everything away, though the couple tend to keep them open most of the time. “I’m not a naturally tidy person, so I bought matching containers for all the dry goods, to make myself work in a tidy way; it does the trick for me.”
Prism pendant light, Nathalie Dewez for Habitat (no longer available).
Check out the most common kitchen design problems – and how to tackle them
A large island unit houses the fridge, freezer, dishwasher and storage space. “My husband designed it, built it and tiled it,” she says.
Thomas also designed and built the two cupboards either side of the range cooker. “We were influenced by carpenters’ tool cabinets,” says Amber of the neat design. The sides close up to hide everything away, though the couple tend to keep them open most of the time. “I’m not a naturally tidy person, so I bought matching containers for all the dry goods, to make myself work in a tidy way; it does the trick for me.”
Prism pendant light, Nathalie Dewez for Habitat (no longer available).
Check out the most common kitchen design problems – and how to tackle them
When it came to the décor, the couple were inspired by the building itself, as well as a desire to bring a New England flavour to their home. They removed the ceiling on the first floor and opened the space right up to the rafters to emphasise the distinctive ‘boat store’ feel.
Amber then painted the interior entirely in Silver Shimmer by Valspar, which she describes as “a fresh white with a hint of silvery grey”. She was inspired to do so by a friend who painted his entire house in just one shade. “He used the same colour on the walls, ceilings, woodwork, everything and it looked great, so we decide to do that here, too, to create cohesion,” she says.
Frisbi pendant lamp, Flos. Oak dresser and captain’s sideboard, both Roberts of Southsea.
Amber then painted the interior entirely in Silver Shimmer by Valspar, which she describes as “a fresh white with a hint of silvery grey”. She was inspired to do so by a friend who painted his entire house in just one shade. “He used the same colour on the walls, ceilings, woodwork, everything and it looked great, so we decide to do that here, too, to create cohesion,” she says.
Frisbi pendant lamp, Flos. Oak dresser and captain’s sideboard, both Roberts of Southsea.
A sunny terrace leads off the first floor. It can be accessed via two sets of French windows, one in the living room and the other in the kitchen. Potted trees and a living wall bring a sense of lush calm to the small space.
Keen Houzzers, the couple gathered ideas from the site and took on much of the design work themselves, relying on a carpenter, electrician and plumber to help out with the more detailed aspects of the redesign.
In the airy, open-plan living space, a bold yellow sofa makes a strong statement in the minimal interior; the colour was an instinctive choice by Amber. “I love acid yellow,” she says, “it’s my favourite colour, and I’d love to wear it, but as I’m blonde and pale skinned, it just doesn’t suit me at all. So I thought I’d bring it into my home in the form of a sofa instead.”
Most of the monochrome art throughout the house belongs to local artist Pete Codling. Amber and Thomas display the work around their home as a ‘pop up gallery’ and the artist sometimes sends people round to view it in situ.
Haresfield midi sofa in Portland velvet in Wattle, Sofas & Stuff. Space table lamps, Oka. Lamp shades, Porta Romana. Osted rug, Ikea. Artwork, Pete Codling.
In the airy, open-plan living space, a bold yellow sofa makes a strong statement in the minimal interior; the colour was an instinctive choice by Amber. “I love acid yellow,” she says, “it’s my favourite colour, and I’d love to wear it, but as I’m blonde and pale skinned, it just doesn’t suit me at all. So I thought I’d bring it into my home in the form of a sofa instead.”
Most of the monochrome art throughout the house belongs to local artist Pete Codling. Amber and Thomas display the work around their home as a ‘pop up gallery’ and the artist sometimes sends people round to view it in situ.
Haresfield midi sofa in Portland velvet in Wattle, Sofas & Stuff. Space table lamps, Oka. Lamp shades, Porta Romana. Osted rug, Ikea. Artwork, Pete Codling.
A new, bespoke staircase leads down from the living area to the bedrooms below. The staircase was made by Terrence Wiseman, a local carpenter.
Faced with a lack of period features, Amber decided to add them back in, and asked Terrence to make new windows and add architraves to the plain, 1980s doorways.
A dark wood floor runs throughout, bringing a sense of cohesion and warmth to the whole home.
Carpentry, Terrence Wiseman.
Faced with a lack of period features, Amber decided to add them back in, and asked Terrence to make new windows and add architraves to the plain, 1980s doorways.
A dark wood floor runs throughout, bringing a sense of cohesion and warmth to the whole home.
Carpentry, Terrence Wiseman.
The master bedroom is south-facing, so the couple decided to make the most of the morning sunshine with a small table and chairs under the window as a sunny spot for breakfast or a cup of tea.
Amber made the headboard herself with help from her mother. She deliberately kept the rest of the décor minimal and clean to create a peaceful atmosphere.
Headboard made from Ariana Parini fabric F1536/01, Designers Guild. Wall lights, Jim Lawrence. Bed linen, The White Company. Bistro table and chairs, John Lewis.
Amber made the headboard herself with help from her mother. She deliberately kept the rest of the décor minimal and clean to create a peaceful atmosphere.
Headboard made from Ariana Parini fabric F1536/01, Designers Guild. Wall lights, Jim Lawrence. Bed linen, The White Company. Bistro table and chairs, John Lewis.
The master bathroom is a light and contemporary space. It was inspired by a photo Amber fell in love with on Houzz.
A large glass wall looks out onto a small area filled with plants, and a contemporary, freestanding bath sits in pride of place in front of the view. A neat shower head above the bath transforms it into a shower when required.
Bath taps, Pura at Flova. Basin; basin tap, both Sanaux.
A large glass wall looks out onto a small area filled with plants, and a contemporary, freestanding bath sits in pride of place in front of the view. A neat shower head above the bath transforms it into a shower when required.
Bath taps, Pura at Flova. Basin; basin tap, both Sanaux.
The exterior of the house is as picturesque as the interior thanks to characterful wooden shutters, dark grey painted woodwork and smart topiary along the front wall.
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Know it's a hackneyed phrase, but it's a TARDIS and a well designed home too
Love their master bathroom! Very pretty design. Staircase, entry, front façade -- all in harmony. Bravo to you two. Wish there were more photos...