In 2017 East Road was a beautifully featured period home from the 1900s that needed some serious modernisation for C21st living. The brief was to retain all the existing features, but completely rethink the use of the considerable internal space.

The solution delivered a huge combined open-plan kitchen diner, but with the kitchen area completely relocated to allow the new dining area direct, flat access on to a large new decking area through full-width bi-fold doors, a new upstairs WC separated from the old cramped bathroom, and finally a new en-suite in the huge master bedroom.

Wooden floors (with zoned underfloor heating) throughout the ground floor and clean lines allowed the period features (dado rails, cornices, stained glass and tiling) to remain intact, while the heating plant was relocated and the living room fireplace put back into action along with a wood-burning stove for the second reception room.

A clean modern kitchen with granite worktops and the opening up of an old fireplace for the new Rangemaster provided a fabulous entertaining space, with a small utility room opening off at the far end.