Room of the Week: A Fresh, Bright Loft Conversion in Old Portsmouth
Transforming the loft in this 17th century house gained its owners a whole new outlook – and the chance to switch décor styles
As well as adding an extra bedroom and bathroom to their 17th century mid-terrace home in Old Portsmouth, carrying out a loft conversion meant Ruben Stephenson and Rachel Holland gained a stunning view of the sea. It also gave them the opportunity to create a clean, modern space in their period home.
Contractor Jeremy Westcott was brought in by the project’s architect to carry out the work on the house, which entailed the total removal of the existing pitched roof. ‘We built off the existing walls in timber, adding a mansard roof – where the walls extend vertically, but sloping inwards slightly,’ explains Jeremy. ‘Although we created another floor, the overall height of the property is similar, but the pitch of the roof is much steeper.’
Contractor Jeremy Westcott was brought in by the project’s architect to carry out the work on the house, which entailed the total removal of the existing pitched roof. ‘We built off the existing walls in timber, adding a mansard roof – where the walls extend vertically, but sloping inwards slightly,’ explains Jeremy. ‘Although we created another floor, the overall height of the property is similar, but the pitch of the roof is much steeper.’
Softwood tongue and groove was fitted over the top of the chipboard floor that Jeremy and his team installed while they worked on the space. The boards are painted in floor paint colour-matched to Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath.
Drawers painted in Florence, Annie Sloan. Floor paint, Bradite. Wall light, Andy’s Ex-government Surplus Supplies.
Drawers painted in Florence, Annie Sloan. Floor paint, Bradite. Wall light, Andy’s Ex-government Surplus Supplies.
Jeremy and his team created a roof terrace at the front of the loft. ‘We used Velfac composite doors, because the inside has a timber structure made from lacquered pine, but the outside has an aluminium pressing,’ explains Jeremy. This is ideal for the seafront location, where wooden window frames need frequent repainting.
No sea view? Explore ideas for urban balconies
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The oak-effect decking on the terrace is a timber and PVC composite, which is much more hard-wearing than solid timber. A satin glass balustrade was fitted on top of the parapet to satisfy building regulations (which require a 1.1m height) and to provide privacy without blocking the light.
The balcony looks out over a cobbled street and onto Gosport Marina and the Isle of Wight. ‘Gaining the sea view made a huge difference to the family,’ says Jeremy. ‘We truly love our loft room,’ adds Rachel. ‘We were so lucky with our amazing builder.’
Decking, Edenex.
The balcony looks out over a cobbled street and onto Gosport Marina and the Isle of Wight. ‘Gaining the sea view made a huge difference to the family,’ says Jeremy. ‘We truly love our loft room,’ adds Rachel. ‘We were so lucky with our amazing builder.’
Decking, Edenex.
All the doors in the original part of the house had to be replaced with fire doors. A complex fire system and sprinklers were also fitted. ‘Rachel wanted to include some of the old wooden doors in the new loft space, so we repurposed them as cupboard doors and used one on the entrance to the bathroom,’ says Jeremy.
Rachel also added vintage furniture to bring character to the evolving space. ‘I just go with what I like, mixing a bit of old with the new,’ she says.
Walls painted in Brilliant White, Dulux.
Walls painted in Brilliant White, Dulux.
The bathroom features an exposed brick wall, which was the front of an old chimney breast that went through the loft. ‘There’s exposed brick elsewhere in the house, so we continued the theme,’ says Jeremy. The bricks were treated with a water-based sealant.
The cistern of the back-to-wall toilet is hidden neatly in a boxed-in alcove created under the pitch of the roof.
Toilet, Ideal Standard.
The cistern of the back-to-wall toilet is hidden neatly in a boxed-in alcove created under the pitch of the roof.
Toilet, Ideal Standard.
The bright bathroom occupies the whole back quarter of the house and is light-filled, thanks to the inclusion of three Velux windows. ‘Rachel wanted a wet room feel with clean lines and no shower door, but without having to waterproof the whole floor,’ says Jeremy. ‘So we used a large, 1.8m shower tray and sunk in down so it was almost level with the floor.’
Alcoves were created in the stud wall before being framed out and tiled to form handy nooks for shower products. The floor is the same soft grey tongue and groove as the rest of the loft space.
Radiator, B&Q.
Get expert advice on choosing a new shower enclosure
Alcoves were created in the stud wall before being framed out and tiled to form handy nooks for shower products. The floor is the same soft grey tongue and groove as the rest of the loft space.
Radiator, B&Q.
Get expert advice on choosing a new shower enclosure
The basin was a £20 bargain in an online auction. ‘My best purchase of the build!’ says Rachel.
Tap, Bristan. Tiles, Johnson Tiles.
Tap, Bristan. Tiles, Johnson Tiles.
The initial plan was to build the mansard roof off the existing joists of the second floor ceiling, but on closer inspection, the beams were too small. ‘We put in new floor joists, but soon realised there were gaps where the walls below should have connected with the ceiling,’ says Jeremy. ‘So we had to take out the whole of the second floor as well.
The biggest challenge Jeremy and his team faced was the daunting prospect of taking the roof off the house. ‘It was no small task,’ recalls Jeremy. ‘We had a scaffold front and back, an electric hoist and a crane to bring up the patio doors. We waited for a good window of weather and then powered through in two weeks. Luckily it didn’t rain!’
TELL US…
Have you given an old building a new conversion? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
TELL US…
Have you given an old building a new conversion? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
Who lives here Ruben Stephenson, Rachel Holland and their two children
Location Old Portsmouth, a district of the city of Portsmouth
Size 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom in the new loft; part of a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house
Contractor Westcott Construction
Rachel didn’t have a set vision for the new space in her ancient home, instead allowing the style to evolve during the conversion process. ‘What I vaguely had in mind was quite a clean look. And I knew I wanted the loft room to be the opposite of the rest of our Grade II listed house,’ she explains.
‘I didn’t have an overall scheme planned to begin with, as I struggled to visualise the structure. But as the plaster went on the walls, the look developed. I felt things should be simple, but with some colourful pieces to give it extra kick.’
Ruffle bed upholstered in turmeric velvet, Loaf. Drawers painted in Graphite, Annie Sloan. Pendant light, Andy’s Ex-government Surplus Supplies.