It might look like a time capsule, but don’t be fooled. This Georgian townhouse in London has undergone a total renovation to bring it back to life.
Historic paint expert Pedro da Costa Felgueiras of Lacquer Studios has renovated the crumbling three-bedroom Whitechapel property – on the market via Aucoot for £1.65m – while staying true to its roots.
Amenities have been modernised, such as underfloor heating and a steel Smeg cooker, while period features have been restored, including wood panelling and staircases across the house.
Walls have also been treated with hand-mixed paints made using antique pigments and linseed oil that are historically accurate. (Da Costa Felgueiras used similar techniques inside the 18th-century home of artists Gilbert and George).
‘This is true luxury, having completely unique colours,’ says the craftsman.
Da Costa Felgueiras has added a full height extension to the rear of the property to carve out extra square footage, and its layout has been rejigged for modern needs. An open-plan kitchen serves as the heart of the home and features ochre-coloured woodwork and a working fireplace, while a coal bunker has been refashioned as a utility room and wood store.
A formal double-reception room can be found on the ground floor, while two bedrooms are on the floor above. Crowning the mansard-roofed property is a large master bedroom with glass-walled ensuite bathroom.
Da Costa Felgueiras has also restored the London property’s walled garden – previously concreted over for parking – and built a brick workshop at the bottom of it. This features mezzanine storage, a separate WC, and recycled glazed tiles.
‘I just used all the leftovers, which is a very 18th-century thing to do,’ he says.
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