Restoring character in an over-renovated house

[Rhubarbgarden]

We are interested in this house. I like the exterior, but to my mind, the interior has been over-renovated and is rather lacking in charm and character. I am trying to think of things that could be done to give it more appeal - put in reclaimed fireplaces, replace plastic windows with wood, replace laminate floors and downstairs carpet with reclaimed floorboards/parquet etc.

Any other imaginative ideas? Ignore the cost for now - I'm looking for blue sky thinking from all you creative types!

this house almost certainly would not have had cornicing as ceilings not high enough nor ornate ceiling roses, it would however have had panelled door 6 if georgian 4 if victorian, it would also have had deep skirting boards, the windows are wrong wrong worng and have de valued property use that to get price down,get rid of laminate, most houses would have had good narrow (4")floor boards round edge of room all mitred and cheaper (6")ones in the middle which would have been covered by large rug

the main thing is get rid of spot lights, laminate floors and wall to wall cream carpet, flagstones maybe in Kitchen there would have been roller blinds in all but the major reception rooms in something called holland ( stiff beige cotton) stair would have had a runner and the banisters are wrong even for cottage

I suspect flint wall in room with piano is original but it would never have been exposed it would have been lime platered or strapped and plastered,

have asked DH who is a carpenter specialisng in period property, he says if period features ripped out diffcult to get right again as the right materials are scarce and people who can do it right even rarer, good restorations cost good money

I would change colour schemes get simpler brown furniture from your local auction house victorian mahogany furniture has never been cheaper, will give some period feel but forget about cornices etc

if serious

1. get rid of exposed flint wall but make sure it is breathable plaster
2. get rid of stupid lighting and laminate floors
3. replace internal doors with panelled door..... do not strip any woodwork all woodwork was painted off white, unless of highest quality pitch pine then usually darkened with stain
4. if you replace windows they would be wooden sash and cash 4 over 4 or possibly 6 over 6 as a cottage more panes as larger panes cost too much money then, they would never ever be white but a deep cream
5. no white walls anywhere

hope that helps

Totally agree with SarahTight on everything except the lights. Speaking as one with low ceilings, I suspect they've gone with those lights for a reason...

However, what's the betting that Rhubarb's DH doesn't like it when he sees it? I think he's after something a bit more impressive, and vernacular farmhouse / cottage isn't going to cut it...

How well do you know the village? I have recently moved here and absolutely love it. It is extremely friendly, lots going on, stunning location, and convenient for Brighton, Gatwick the train etc. Before you view it have a quick look at Marchants Close on streetview so you are prepared for its location. The house is down a private driveway that comes off a development of 1960s houses that, from your post, might not be quite what you and your DH are dreaming of. If you don't mind this, then the house is in a fantastic location within the village 5 mins walk to the excellent primary, pre school, high street etc.

I think the house is expensive though even for the village.

Haven't read all the posts yet, but love it! Beautiful old structure from the outside. And while I would have expected something dark and uncomfortable inside, instead it is bright and clean. Best of both worlds!

Agree about the floor though, reclaimed wood would give it more depth. Other than that, very nice!

throughout the house, the lighting, especially the wall lights, all add to the 1990's feel of the place.
IMO subtle details mean a lot.
Agree about the flooring and the furniture, the doors are also "of a style"
What is the age and history of the house?

Oh go on then, Nigel . I certainly agree about the garden - I'm a professional gardener (when I'm not 8 months pg!) so should be able to sort that out. I was thinking white wisteria along the back wall to tie the rear elevation together a bit...

Sarahtigh wow, thank you for all that! That is immensely useful and has helped me imagine how we could do it.

Grendel sigh, you know what I'm up against, but he is surprisingly enthusiastic about this house. It must be the symmetry he's a nerd. Plus I think he's realising that we simply can't afford the sort of Georgian places he likes in the locations we want to be in, so something has to give.

LaGuerta I know Hurst reasonably well, and it is probably my number one location of choice. Glad to hear you recommend it. We have looked on Streetview so I know the approach road isn't great, but views across fields whilst also being 5 mins from the high street is a rare thing. I agree it's expensive, but I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of period properties of the right size that have come on the market there over the last two years, so I can see why they are trying their luck. It's only just gone up for sale anyway, so the price may drop if we bide our time (which we may well be forced to do by dc2's arrival anyway).

7to25 I don't know the age and history yet, we should find out tomorrow.

Glad you've checked out the road. It would be gutting if you turned up and rejected it on sight because of the approach. It's a perfectly respectable road just a bit underwhelming and not "rural splendour".

The floors windows doors and lighting are over done more suited to a bungalow than what is quite a grand and lovely house.I think once you are in it with those things gone you can then get a real feel for it.

I take the point about not putting things back, but I actually think in this case you do need to put in some decent cornices and ceiling roses, and a bit of dado rail here and there. Not like a wedding cake, but carefully, and the best quality you can lay your hands on. Subtle and beautifully made.

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Also you need to start acquiring some antiques. Walnut always looks classy. Mix and match things you love from different periods, not all the same period as the house.

Reclaimed fireplaces and overmantel mirrors help a lot too, I think, despite what other posters have said. You can perhaps even commission tiles to go with it, again mixing and matching.

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Working your way through Farrow and Ball colour card instead of greige will make a big difference. As will collecting textile you love, that have a classic feel.

Thanks for all the observations and ideas. We viewed it this afternoon and, predictably, I really liked it while DH remained unconvinced [groundhog day]. We both loved the location/setting; it's the best we've looked at. It's a pretty house externally and the garden and views are great. But inside is at best meh. The house was derelict apparently and rebuilt/extended 15 years ago, hence the lack of original features - although the fireplace in the dining room is original. It's been bodged in places and does lack imagination. The plastic windows and laminate floor are as awful as suspected.

I think it could be made nice with the right furniture and decor - your suggestions have been really helpful there, thank you. And I think it would be worth it for the location. But I don't think DH can bring himself to compromise on ceiling height, even though he's trying, and they're not that low, just not very lofty.

So, the jury's still out, but I think it'll be a no. DH is comparing it to the house that got away and that is a bad sign. Sigh.

how ever tall is your DH ? :)

don't you think you'd enjoy finding the right stuff to put it back together again? that's years of shopping and choosing textiles/paints/carpets/rugs!

location is the one thing that can't be changed.

I know, Edless, I know. That's my take on it. We could get in some really skilled craftsmen to do great things with wood and stone, and we already have lots of antiques and quirky bits of furniture that would turn things around. I know I could make it nice. And I can see us sitting on that terrace on a summer evening, glass of rose in hand, while the kids poke around at the edge of the lake. It even has a newly planted white wisteria already at the back!

I can't raise the ceilings though... He's six foot four...

Well, you know what, I think thats all good.

You say 'We both loved the location/setting; it's the best we've looked at. It's a pretty house externally and the garden and views are great. But inside is at best meh'

You know what, its the inside and with some care and effort you can make it exactly as you want it to be. Its all 'cosmetic' as I said to DH when we bought our latest house.

You have got the vision of it being a family home already, and in my mind its the location that is always the deciding factor...

Indeed. It should come down to location. And we are supposed to have had the conversation that reached that conclusion, as we have cocked up on this front before.

Last night I was philosophical about it, but today I'm a bit . I've told DH I'm not looking at any more houses, either viewings or just on Rightmove, until he's decided he wants to move, because the nub of it all is that he's in love with this house here and until he accepts that we can't pick it up and move it it's pointless me getting my hopes up.

[stomps off moodily to go and buy a shedload of pineapples]

I've just had another look at it. The exterior is so stunningly byootiful! Can't you get a shorter husband or something?

bibs :) easier than upping ceilings isn't it!

i thought the low ceilings were an excuse for just not being wowed by the interior, but probably at 6'4 he might genuinely find those upstairs rooms wanting for head height...

i would think to make it worth moving there, you'd be looking at living there a long time, and therefore you both need to love it. Man in fear of denting head is not going to love house.

if you are secretly going to harbour lust for an Arts & Crafts / Victorian / Georgian house with a lot of potential for decoration also, this is probably not the right house. the temptation to just buy the most pretty details anyway would be hard...

Very tempting, Bibbity. Or I may just chop his feet off.

So it wasn't a resounding success then? Any sign of a baby yet?

Is the height an issue for head height, or does it just feel too claustrophobic for your DH?

I have to say you must have the patience of a saint, thankfully my DP has been very compliant in the past and duly followed me around from whichever house I wanted to whatever my latest whim was. Untill this house which he fell in love with, so I thought well it will be a nice stop gap, and then we have lost a bloody fortune on it and can't get out . Boys!

Coving coving coving!

The annoying thing is, the ceilings aren't all that low. No head bumping, no claustrophobia. I have been completely understanding when we've looked at places where he's had to stoop under beams etc - no-one wants to have to do that. These ceilings are fine. They just aren't high in that Victorian/Georgian townhouse sense; if you know what I mean.

I give up. [big sigh].

No baby yet. I could do with the distraction now. I think it's time for a vindaloo.

Well, it's like you've said. He loves living in your current house, and why on earth would he want to hand over £55,000 in stamp duty to the Treasury for the pleasure of moving to a house he likes less? The pressure to move is all from your side, isn't it? He's just going to keep finding flaws with things - either consciously or unconsciously - because they aren't the house that he loves.

I think that either you have to accept as a couple that you've made a compromise for X years to live in your current house, and now you need him to make a compromise for a certain number of years, or you have to decide to hang on in your current house until he's the one that wants to move.

out of interest

what objections to ones like this? area?

also burgess hill
my gran lived near there and it was a lovely area- i spent many an hour playing the park ...

I was born in Burgess Hill. There is a blue plaque there somewhere . My mum was probably friends with your gran Eggy!

Computer wot does passports doesn't recognise Burgess Hill as a place where you could be born in, so my passport says I was born "Nr Uckfield".

this one has a lot of charm.. on the outside at least...

i agree about not walking if you are more than a certain distance - i find i don't walk into town anymore because it is 30 mins one way...and not that nice a walk anyway.