Grade 1 Listed House, Regency House of Historic Interest
This beautiful and very special house was designed by CA Busby in 1825. Prince Regent built the square that it is in as part of his development of the South of England. Zoom forwards 181 years and a family with four children purchased the house in 2006.
It was in need of some love to say the least and was not practical for today's family living. The kitchen was still situated down on the lower ground floor which would've been the original place for it, there were not enough bathrooms and the staircase was falling down.
We were commissioned to project manage the renovation of this home. We undertook the interior design and the restoration and build of the property.
Working with conservation and the listed buildings department we were careful preserve all of the Grade 1 listed features whilst bringing the house up to date for the family.
We brought the kitchen up from the lower ground floor to the ground floor and replaced it with a home cinema. We added a bathroom to each bedroom making the house much better for modern day use. We underpinned and preserved the beautiful six storey staircase adding a ten meter light to the middle of the staircase. We built a wall on the top of the building to replace some ugly metal railings. An audio visual system was added and finally we decorated and furnished the rooms with beautiful wallpaper and bespoke furniture and cabinetry.
The result was a luxurious and comfortable family home with the beauty of the retained Grade 1 listed features.
Client Testimonial
“The brief was to upgrade our regency town house, close to the Hove seafront, and add a good deal of sparkle. The house was built in 1824, said to be one of the first in Brunswick Square, and also one of only three to remain as a whole house. The project was to upgrade the property from top to bottom over 450sq metres and six floors.
Emma researched the history of the house and liaised with the V & A to gain the knowledge to work on the property in a way that paid homage to the time in which it was built and its original purpose.
The other side of her work was to slot in all the latest gizmos essential to 21st Century family living. The house also needed some significant internal repairs, so Emma negotiated with structural engineers and builders before writing the tender. She deftly encouraged the planning department and heritage officers to support her design remit, as a significant challenge was the Grade 1 listing of the property.
Aside from dealing with the basic structural alternations, Emma’s remit was to dress and furnish the house. This involved bespoke design of furniture and fabrics in symbiosis unique to the history of the house and the passage of time.
The project took two years to complete. Emma designed, negotiated, and purchased everything. She encouraged good working relationships with all builders and suppliers, dealt with inevitable issues and in the end presented a wonderful family home that was a joy to experience.
Our project was no small task. It took determination to design and manage from start to finish. Emma took full responsibility from the outset and ensured the works were finished on time and in budget. Emma woke the tired old town house and gave it zing and pizzazz. Many original features were repaired and she bought things for the house, we would never have dared, and so the whole package went far beyond our expectations. The finished article is beautiful and has enhanced the house beyond its original design.
We would like recommend ESID.”
Mark & Maxine Canning