This British Victorian cottage has a surprisingly atypical addition that's flooded with light

When Tim Bailey discovered his brick-built house, which dates from the 1850s, he knew there was a lot of work ahead of him. But the property had great charm, and Tim could see past the potential pitfalls.

The house has three ensuite bedrooms, two living rooms, a study, two powder rooms and a spacious kitchen/living area. It also has two separate basements – one now a wine cellar, the other a laundry room. Tim completely overhauled it, giving it a new roof, windows, plumbing, electrics, insulation, bathrooms and a kitchen addition.

The house is a wonderful example of British Victorian house style. It has been beautifully decorated throughout with striking textiles to complement Tim’s existing furniture. We take the tour.

On the ground floor, the house a rear addition created a spacious new kitchen. The former timber-built garage was brought into the fold, creating a stylish adjoining living area complete with original vaulted ceiling, now with considerably better insulation. 

When it came to the décor, a lot of furniture had come with Tim from his previous home, and he worked with designer Alison Gee and her wonderful approach to pattern in textiles to create a unified approach throughout. 

‘I walked my dog past the house watching and admiring the renovations for about a year,’ says Alison. ‘I thought the property was exactly the sort that my designs would suit, so I decided to approach. I am so happy that he agreed to his beautiful home being filled with my work.’

Perhaps Tim’s favorite room is the kitchen – it’s the place he spent most of his time in his old home, and he wanted that same feeling here. A large roof lantern fills the space with light that extends to the adjoining living area, while glass doors to the rear connect to the courtyard garden. 

‘I’ve got what’s called a glass curtain,’ explains Tim. ‘It works well,’ he says.

‘I like things to look relaxed with a mix of old and new,’ says Tim. ‘Moving to a smaller home has allowed me to remodel the space and make it work for me, and I’ve enjoyed being involved in all stages.’ 

Tim worked with local carpenter to create the kitchen cabinetry, producing tall pantry units to look like French linen presses, and he designed the handles himself to be made by a local blacksmith. 

Display space is an important feature, showing collections of fine china amassed over the years by Tim and an engaging art collection that brings warmth to the space.

The house’s renovation under Tim’s keen eye has resulted in a warm and inviting home, marrying the past and present beautifully with a jolly dose of prints and patterns. 

‘I love the calm tranquillity of my house, the mix of colors, old and modern pieces.'

One area where Tim did call in the experts however is the front garden. A house with such a handsome façade calls for a garden to suit, so Tim ‘bought’ himself the gift of professional planning and planting a couple of Christmases ago. ‘It is fantastic,’ he says. ‘It has all these lovely ornamental pots and details, and it really does look good all year round.’

Feature: Sara Bird/Kasia Fiszer