Millwall Place, Sandwich
Millwall Cottage is a Grade II Listed, Sixteenth Century Cottage in Sandwich, Kent. It underwent a dramatic and extensive refurbishment. Once, formally, the house of an architect, spatially it just wasn’t very practical or coherent but has a sentimental and quirky charm to it.
Our first job was to reconfigure the ground floor and first floor layout. We moved the staircase in to the centre of the property (originally the staircase was tucked beside the fireplace, and led you straight in to the master bedroom!) This meant we could then open up some of the rooms – we moved the front door to the right hand side of the cottage, and added an entrance vestibule, which meant the now ‘snug room’ was void of anyone entering from the street!
We added a glazed garden room on to the back of the cottage, which meant the living room/garden room could all be open plan, giving much more light and space, in this cosy, quaint cottage. The doors, along with all joinery, are bespoke and bi-folding, making for a fabulous socialising space.
The fireplace was refurbished, and now houses a large Inglenook fire.
We opened up the kitchen, and rebuilt, what was once a lean-to extension, in brick to add more vital space. The kitchen has a small roof light and new French doors out on to the York Stone patio.
Upstairs – the master bedroom looks out to the garden, and by removing existing staircase; we have manufactured and installed bespoke, fitted wardrobes. It now has a compact Ensuite with WC and shower.
There are two guest rooms, one double bedroom with added Ensuite – WC and shower. The other is a twin bedroom with bespoke fitted wardrobes.
The family bathroom has a luxurious cast iron roll top bath.
The cottage has been completely re-wired, re-plumbed, under-floor heating, new central heating and water system, re-glazed, re-roofed and re landscaped.
The property was recently sold. Holly Christian sourced and designed all the finishes for the property, along with the kitchen, the bathrooms and the curtains and blinds.
The new owner has listed it with a holiday rental company, as a luxury holiday cottage and they have furnished it themselves for this purpose.
Photography: Chris Kemp.
The Facade - Repointed brick work. Moved front door. Redecorated. New entrance vestibule. New timber, double glazed windows. New roof.
New bespoke, timber, double glazed windows. Manufactured in our joinery workshop.
New timber, double glazed windows - the original front door is now a dummy door (as it is a listed building we could not remove it altogether) It acts as a bookshelf inside.
Rear Facade - New garden room, timber and brick with glazed roof. Bespoke, timber bifolding doors produced in our joinery shop. York stone patio with laid lawn - walled cottage garden. Replaced brick built kitchen extension.
Rear Facade - New garden room, timber and brick with glazed roof. Bespoke, timber bifolding doors produced in our joinery shop. York stone patio with laid lawn - walled cottage garden. Replaced brick built kitchen extension.
New Garden Room - Brick and timber built with glazed roof, timber bifolding doors, double glazed timber windows. Porcelain floor and York Stone patio.
Walled cottage garden ready to be fully landscaped!
Patio & private walled garden - perfect for socialising!
Refurbished water pump.
There was a lean-to extension which we rebuilt in brick to match the rest of the cottage, this now houses the kitchen.
New entrance - Bespoke Oak door and vestibule.
New entrance - Bespoke Oak door and vestibule.
Privacy hatch in the front door!
Privacy hatch in the front door!
Entrance Hall - Aged & Smoked Oak flooring. Oak skirting.