Since the 1980s it has been deeply desirable to live in a period house, with Victorian and Edwardian properties topping the bill. There are undeniable advantages to such properties but with the silver lining also comes a cloud.
The proportions of such homes are very satisfying; their high ceilings and large windows create an immediate sense of space and light. There is nothing more serene than throwing opening extensive sash windows on a summer’s day to the commodious gardens that so often accompany such properties.
Provided the house did not suffer too much in the renovation boom of the 50s, 60s and 70s, it should abound with exquisite period features. Cast iron fireplaces with marble or wooden surrounds, embellished with brightly coloured, stylish tiles. Cornices, ceiling roses, skirting boards and fitted storage. Possibly even the original electric bell pull system for summoning servants.
You may wish that your upper floors be filled with chambermaids, butlers, cooks and nannies, as your predecessors certainly would have. In a modern home these rooms are ideal as bedrooms for guests, or reclusive teenage children, not quite Downton Abbey but just as practical. Cellars are often perfect for conversions, old coal chutes make great utility rooms, old wine cellars make excellent, well, wine cellars, and relocating the kitchen downstairs can be effective.
If you do buy a period house that was mauled in the dark days of the 50s and 60s, when, unimaginable as it may be, such properties were considered old-fashioned and undesirable, it can actually often be a simple process to use architectural salvage to restore its original appearance. Removing the baffling mid-century ‘cosmetic improvements’ like the boxing in of banisters and re-installing period-corresponding bathroom suites and chimneypieces can quickly restore a house’s stylistic integrity and bring it back to life, adding immediate value. It is especially exciting to return chimneypieces to working order for cosy winter moments in front of the fire, especially lovely at Christmas.
It remains unfortunate that the Victorian concept of insulation was moving closer to the fire, and therefore such properties are often not the most energy-efficient. Single glazed windows and gaps around doors can leave you out of pocket with high energy bills. Subsidence, damp, rot and leaky roofs can affect the most solid of homes and bring with them inconvenience and mounting maintenance bills.
Luckily these problems are fixable with simple modern solutions. Loft insulation, damp treatments or simply hanging carefully chosen curtains can remedy these issues. Yes, maintenance and cleaning will be more demanding than in a newly built home.
However, view the challenges as characterful additions to a charming home and chores can become satisfying pleasures, especially when the market has shown that a well maintained period home will always be a most fruitful investment. Obtaining planning permission for some changes can be a drawn-out and complex affair, but the financial dividends of sympathetically planned extensions, additions and renovations will be considerable.
Charlie McKenzie is a designer and maker based in London working on both residential and commercial interiors. His writing has been featured by the Guardian and London’s Design Museum.
