Fisherman's Cottage Refurbishment
Our clients purchased this Grade II listed period property in Deal as a weekend retreat by the seaside! They fell in love with its whimsical charm and all the cottage quirks it holds, including the exposed beams and wonky walls – they just needed a little guidance in how to sympathetically refurbish the property in a luxurious and modern way.
The whole property was to undergo a meticulous refurbishment. Holly worked closely with the clients from the very beginning to create a scheme, which was not only in keeping with the period surroundings but created a beautiful new home with modern, luxurious touches and add a sense of French style which was close to the client's hearts.
There would be no major structural works undertaken, the majority of works consisted of re-plumbing, re-wiring, restoring, redecoration and bespoke furniture manufacture.
We replicated the original panelling pattern in the living room and added a panelling to the party wall – not only as a design feature, but it also offered a chance to add some more sound block insulation to the room, as those original walls are only 4 inches thick! The panelled wall between the living room and hallway got updated with some hand blown glass panels to offer more light in to the spaces. All joinery was finished in Little Greene’s oil based paint. We refurbished the inglenook fireplace and sourced an original cast iron fire basket and back plate. We manufactured and produced lockable pocket shutters for the windows in the property, which not only look good but they period correct, and they add another level of security to the property!
The floors throughout the property have been laid in smoked and oiled, hand brushed engineered oak, which adds a lovely contrast to the neutral, chalky tones of the paintwork. We adapted the staircase and manufactured deeper treads, meaning the spiral stairs were safer to navigate!
The family bathroom has been fully refurbished with a new layout introduced. The copper freestanding bath is one of the main features in this gorgeous room. Along with the book-matched marble walls in the shower cubicle! Topped off by Chatsworth sanitaryware and Lee Broom Crystal light fittings.
The study has been transformed into a smart and sophisticated spot to work! Bespoke joinery along one wall offers a good storage solution and the original exposed brick wall opposite, which had been repointed in a more period mortar, creates a nice balance of modern rustic. A bed in a box also offers another sleeping space!
The master bedroom has been turned into a serene, classic bedroom – a French cane bed and new panelled wall (like the living room) makes for a very luxurious place to sleep! Bespoke, shaker style wardrobes and cupboards give that much need storage space. The original fireplace had been repointed to match the other brickwork in the property. A mixture of brass and dark velvets finish off this room perfectly.
The guest bedroom in the attic is a fun room – the addition of a compact cast iron roll top bath in the corner of the room gives a sense of boutique hotel and the fact you can just see the sea from the tub is an added bonus!
Limestone flooring in the kitchen gives that country cottage feel and is a wonderful base for the Harvey Jones kitchen. We designed and manufactured a new oak stable door, which leads out to the courtyard garden.
The dining room in the snug is a special room! Dark walls make for a gentleman’s club style with dark floors, brass wall lights and a secret drinks cabinet! You won’t want to leave this cosy spot! We installed panelling to match the original in the hallway and created bespoke storage options under the stairs.
Finally the garden was re-laid in limestone to match the kitchen and give a sense of flow between the 2 areas. We weather-boarded one side of the garden to give that seaside feel. Vintage copper and brass ship lighting illuminates the garden at night and gives a nod to the fishermen which once resided here!
One of the most striking jobs – it is always a pleasure to work with clients who appreciate craftsmanship and design. We are very pleased with the end result, and the transformation of this property is definitely one to remember!