Here, the traditional Victorian period character seamlessly shines alongside thoughtful modern interventions. The house has been extended in the back, creating a spacious kitchen and living area featuring a beautiful herringbone floor, creating a sense of timeless elegance.

In the Victorian part of the house, a double reception room features calm gray walls, painted wooden floorboards, beautiful stucco, and a large bay window.

The front and the back room feature beautiful tiled fireplaces, salvaged from Retrouvius.

A timber screen between the hall and the second sitting room connects the traditional Victorian architecture with the contemporary additions, while also letting light flow through the ground-floor spaces.

The open-plan kitchen and living room in the extension are the heart of the home.

The kitchen cabinets are painted in a sage green hue from Little Greene, paired with Calacatta marble countertops, brass fittings, and Beata Heuman handles.

A rustic wooden dining table with a mixture of chairs sits in the center of the space, creating the perfect social spot for long dinner parties and time with friends and family.

The extension also features a charming oriel window at the back, creating a charming reading spot with views of the garden.

Upstairs, the main bedroom feels calm and airy, with soft blush tones, wooden floors, and custom storage. The en-suite bathroom (not pictured) is designed in white and navy.

One of the smaller bedrooms on the first floor is decorated with the pale pink “Herbarium Wildflower” wallpaper by Tess Newall.

The family bathroom pairs butter yellow alls and paneling with cheerful light blue and white checkerboard floor tiles.

The garden features a large garden studio for working and relaxing.

A wildflower garden softens the front of the house, and a green-roofed bike store adds a touch of eco-friendly style. The pale blue front door has stained-glass panels that let in soft, colorful light.

The house is listed for £3,000,000 at Domus Nova.

As you step inside, the home feels elegant yet comfortable, with all the features you’d expect for modern living. Original brickwork and exposed steel sit alongside large glass windows, natural timber, and polished concrete, creating a perfect mix of old and new.

After entering the house, you walk into a double reception room where light streams in through traditional sash windows.

Thanks to the large windows, including a bay with wooden shutters, there is plenty of natural light flowing in. The dark gray walls are a nice contrast to this brightness.

The house is decorated in a wonderful blend of styles. In the sitting room, a traditional Victorian fireplace sits side by side with midcentury-style furniture.

The heart of the home is the open-plan kitchen and dining area, ideal for both family time and entertaining guests. It connects effortlessly to the garden, with a built-in seating nook placed under a large picture window.

Modern white cabinets are paired with a concrete countertop and white backsplash tiles.

This cozy spot is perfect for reading, dining, or simply enjoying the view of the garden as daylight changes throughout the day.

The exposed wooden ceiling beams and exposed brick wall add texture and warmth, softening the clean lines of the space.

The garden is thoughtfully landscaped with carefully selected plantings and areas for outdoor living. At the back of the garden is a separate brick-built workshop.

Upstairs, the bedrooms continue the home’s calm and relaxing feel. Each room is a peaceful retreat, with high ceilings and soft, neutral colors.

One of the children’s rooms is decorated with a tropical wonderland wallpaper called ‘Reverie Black’ by Holden.

The first floor is home to three bedrooms and a bathroom with a combined shower and bath.

The top floor, under the slanted ceilings, is home to a grand master suite where the walls are decorated in the ‘Exuberance’ wallpaper from Harelequin.

The top-floor suite features a large bathroom with a bath, a separate shower, and marble floor tiles paired with gray and white tiles laid in a herringbone pattern on the walls.

The house is listed for £1,250,000 at Aucoot.

The blend of old and new is wonderful in this house. Exposed brick walls, marble fireplaces, and sash windows pair beautifully with terrazzo tiles, a sleek white kitchen, and a modern split-level garden.

You enter the house on the ground floor, where you’re greeted by a double reception room with sash windows flanked by traditional box shutters on either side of the room.

The sitting area is centered around a restored marble fireplace flanked by built-in bookshelves.

The back room is turned into a charming home office and music room and also features a marble fireplace topped with a large mirror.

The lower ground floor has been extended and is now home to an open-plan kitchen, dining room, and sitting area. The dining room sits in the center with green walls and a fireplace flanked by bookshelves.

The house has a simple kitchen with white cabinets and a stone floor.

In the extended area, a second sitting room has been created with a glass wall that can be fully opened, giving access to the modern split-level garden.

There are two bedrooms on the first floor. The master bedroom is painted in a soft pink shade and features built-in wardrobes. The en-suite bathroom has a combination of pink and terrazzo tiles paired with brass fittings.

From a short staircase in the hall on the ground floor you can also access a small room that is now used as a study. A brick wall that formed part of the original rear elevation has here been left exposed and the floors are painted white.

The home office also gives access to the roof terrace.

The charming coral pink front door gives access to the charming house.

The house is listed for £1,800,000 at Inigo.

The two-bedroom house is decorated in a light color palette, added with the occasional bold color pop like a burgundy fireplace and green tiles in the bathroom. The extended kitchen is wonderfully light and opens into a landscaped city garden.

The double reception rooms showcase Georgian features at their finest, which the current owner carefully restored. The original Georgian paneling has been restored and painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Strong White.’ The sash windows in the front of the room are flanked by new shutters.

Period fireplaces have been reinstated, and the floorboards were striped to their original pitch pine color.

The back of the house has been redesigned with a glazed side return extension, creating a wonderfully bright and spacious kitchen area thanks to the Crittall style doors leading to the garden and the large skylights.

A new timber kitchen has been added with inky blue cabinet doors topped with quartz Blanco Carrara worktops. The central island has plenty of seating space and a charming storage niche in the center.

The dark blue cabinets and white countertops are paired with brass handles and fittings.

From the kitchen, you can access the paved courtyard, which has been landscaped with Red Robin’s and Feijoa Sellowiana.

A timber pergola with climbing jasmine creates a cozy dining spot in the summer months.

On the top floor are two bedrooms with stripped pine floorboards, original fireplaces, and built-in wardrobes.

The spacious bathroom is a wonderful space with a fireplace, exposed brick, a freestanding bath, and a shower. The room has fixtures by Chatsworth 1928 and a charming wooden door with imitation stained glass panels.

The house is listed for £1,800,000 at Inigo.

Like many Victorian homes, the house has been extended in the back, creating a light and spacious open-plan kitchen, dining, and living room. Soft curves, textured surfaces, and a sun-soaked palette that invites light and ease into every corner and echoes the feeling of a Tuscan veranda.

When you step into the home, you enter a traditional double reception room with a large bay window in the front.

The light palette with simple wooden floorboards is paired with the original cornicing, deep bay windows, and restored sash windows.

The room is centered around a wood-burning stove set into a mantel with playful pink stripes.

The back room, painted in a rich navy blue shade, contrasts nicely with the front room. The color palette creates a more intimate atmosphere, and the room features a fireplace, built-in bookshelves, and bespoke built-in wardrobes.

A wide arched doorway gives access to the wonderful new extension.

The kitchen and dining room is a sunlit expanse where natural light and thoughtful design converge. Romanesque arches, soft lines, and natural materials bring a quiet romance to the space.

A generous timber island becomes both a sculptural anchor and social hub, paired with fluted cabinetry by Naked Kitchens, brass accents, and an elegant sweep of terrazzo-style flooring.

The Romanesque arches create beautiful framed views of the house and garden. The repeated form is inspired by Raphael’s School of Athens.

Glass doors open seamlessly to the landscaped rear garden, where oversized tiles continue underfoot, drawing the eye outward.

Designed by Marco O’Neil, the garden feels like an extension of the living space, structured with a few gentle steps that shift the energy from social to serene. Surrounded by mature planting, the space offers a sense of privacy and calm

The upper two levels feature five bedrooms. The master bedroom, located on the first floor, is a grand room with a large bay window and built-in wardrobes.

The nursery room is painted pale blue and fitted with built-in cabinets and bookshelves paired with colorful drapes made from Pierre Frey’s “Lasso” fabric.

There is a bathroom on both floors. This bathroom is designed with gray narrow-strip tiles and a blue and white checkerboard floor.

The top two bedrooms bring a splash of color to the interiors. One room is painted in a sage green hue, and the other one is painted pink.

One of the top-floor bedrooms is a wonderful teen room with cozy slanted ceilings, an exposed white-painted brick wall, and enough room for a sofa and a desk.

The house is listed for £1,500,000 at Aucoot.

The renovation preserved the building’s heritage while adding a light and spacious kitchen extension where refined Scandinavian and Moroccan influences were introduced to the home. The result is a wonderful blend of old and new, light and dark.

A few steps down from the main house, you enter the magnificent kitchen extension where the ceiling reaches an impressive 3.6 meters. Large sliding doors to the garden and skylights flood the room with natural light, adding a sense of volume to the kitchen.

Scandinavian and Moroccan-inspired designs are paired with Bauwerk limewash walls and a polished concrete floor.

In the center of the room stands this beautiful bespoke handmade maple wood kitchen with a large island with bar seating.

On one side of the kitchen, a dining area has been created with a large, simple wooden table.

The abundance of plants connects the extension with the garden.

On the other side of the kitchen, the owners created a charming lounge area, making this room multifunctional and the absolute heart of the home.

The design is very different when we move into the original Edwardian house. Here, the period features like the box bay window, parquet floor, and intricate cornicing are embraced fully and paired with a moody blue color scheme.

Central in the living room stands a fireplace with a slate surround, flanked by built-in cabinets and shelves.

More bookshelves have been added surrounding the double wooden doors.

The muted color palettes continue in the master bedroom, where the walls and ceiling are painted a dull gray shade.

One wall is fitted with custom built-in wardrobes with cane doors.

There are three bedrooms on the first floor, and each retaining period features like the parquet floor, sash windows, and cornicing.

The family bathroom features a marble-encased bath, walk-in shower, dual vanity unit, and brushed brass fixtures.

The top floor is home to a charming bedroom suite with large windows in the slanted ceilings and clever storage solutions.

The house was listed at Aucoot.

This historic home beautifully blends building styles from all centuries, from an exposed timber ceiling to a staircase salvaged from the medieval manor house Clevedon Court to a modern glass-fronted extension at the back of the house.

At first glance, the house makes a striking impression. Despite being built in different phases over the centuries, its exterior has a cohesive look thanks to a roughcast render finish. This is accented by trefoil casement windows, some with mullions, and topped with pantile roofs of varying slopes.

The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described the house as an “astonishing survival.” Its central hall and cross passage date back to the 13th century, and a solar wing was added to the south around 1441–42.

The earliest known record of the house is from 1331, when the Bishop of Bath and Wells granted permission to hold mass there. This tradition reflects its private chapel, which still exists today.

The porch tower at the entrance was originally built in the 15th century. It was extended in the early 17th century by adding two more storeys and a roof with an ogee (S-shaped) cap.

The main entrance features an open porch with a wide outer arch, originally sized for carriages. Inside, the arch is four-centred and framed with broad stone mouldings, suggesting the porch once served as a porte cochère.

A decorative vaulted ceiling (a tierceron vault) rests on carved head corbels, with heraldic ceiling bosses bearing the arms of the Courtenay, Perceval, and Gorges families. The floor is laid with large flagstones.

The central, galleried entrance hall is a dramatic, triple-height space with a soaring open-timber roof. The floor is tiled with pamment bricks, and a large open fireplace with a substantial bressummer (support beam) creates a warm focal point. A mezzanine gallery on the first floor overlooks the space, enclosed by a modern glass balustrade.

The ground floor has two sitting rooms flanking the open staircase. This open-plan sitting room has chamfered ceiling beams, deep ochre lime-plastered walls, and a fireplace set into an oak surround.

The mullioned, canted bay window offers views of the south-facing parterre garden.

The other sitting room on the ground floor is more refined, as this room was enhanced in a classical style in the 18th century. This room features wainscoting, decorative plaster cornices with dentil and egg-and-dart detailing, and an elegant Carrara marble fireplace with eared surrounds.

On the first floor in the south wing, the staircase leads to the drawing room. This dramatic space opens to the original solar roof structure, showcasing four arch-braced collar trusses with intricate tiered wind braces, creating a tracery effect.

The 13th-century gable wall is still visible, complete with original pigeonholes. The walls are deep green limewash, and a large medieval stone fireplace contains a Darby wood burner.

The imposing open-well oak staircase was originally built in 1883 for Clevedon Court and relocated here in 1960 after the west wing of that house was demolished.

Steps on the opposite side of the stairwell lead to the main kitchen. A trefoil timber tracery acts as a modern open partition connecting it with the drawing room.

The kitchen is centred around a large island with an oak countertop and plank-style cupboards. A double butler sink with a brass Perrin & Rowe mixer tap is inset, and a La Cornue range cooker stands opposite an open dresser.

Tucked away behind the chapel on the ground floor is a secluded ground-floor bedroom suite that opens onto a private courtyard garden.

The en suite bathroom is cleverly designed, with a bathtub positioned beside a floor-to-ceiling glass window offering views of a pond.

The modern glass-fronted, two-storey extension has been added at the north end of the house. Though contemporary, it has been thoughtfully placed at the rear of the property and built around an oak-beamed open-pitch structure that echoes the design of the original cross hall in the main house.

The master bedroom suite lies in the east wing, well-separated from the main living areas. It features a polished brass bateau bathtub by the north window and a spacious en suite with striking black-and-white marble flooring and a large walk-in shower.

The grounds surrounding the house feature a series of garden areas of various designs.

The house is listed for £2,850,000 at Inigo.

Clad in timber and anchored by an oak kitchen with wide wooden floorboards, this eco-conscious project brings together sustainability, simplicity, and style in perfect harmony.

The brief was clear: to reimagine a cramped and uninspiring space into an open-plan sanctuary where cooking, dining, and entertaining could unfold seamlessly. But this wasn’t just about aesthetics; at the heart of the redesign was a deep respect for the environment and a desire to use natural, durable materials that would stand the test of time.

The result? A warm and welcoming space that embodies the best of Scandinavian design, with white walls, clean lines, and the organic textures of natural wood, all bathed in natural light.

The standout feature of the extension is undoubtedly the oak kitchen, which sets the tone for the entire space. Here, the choice of oak veneer is both beautiful and practical.

Its rich, natural grain adds warmth and character, while the birch ply core offers strength, moisture resistance, and durability — essential qualities for a busy kitchen.

Far from rustic, the sleek slab-fronted cabinets are modern and minimalist, with each door carefully grain-matched for a seamless finish.

Simple metal pull handles maintain a pared-back elegance, and ebonised oak plinths provide a subtle yet striking contrast, visually separating the cabinetry from the wooden floors and adding a refined edge.

Functionality was just as important as form in this redesign. A clean L-shaped run keeps appliances and pull-out bins out of sight, maintaining a streamlined look. At the heart of the space, a generous kitchen island doubles as a social hub — one side designed for casual seating, the other offering deep drawers for hidden storage.

Clever storage solutions are woven throughout the space, from open shelves and wall hooks to concealed drawers tucked behind minimalist cabinetry.

There’s even a secret laundry zone discreetly housed in floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. It has enough space for a washing machine, tumble dryer, and hanging area for drying clothes—all neatly hidden from view.

Every detail of this extension has been considered with both design and sustainability in mind. It’s a space that looks beautiful and feels good to live in, where natural light and organic materials come together to create a calming, tactile environment.

Cub Kitchens is a small bespoke kitchen company based near Brighton. It creates beautiful wooden kitchens from locally grown timber. Together with its sister companies, Load Bear and BearHaus, Cub Kitchens designed and built this kitchen extension from the ground up.

photography by Helen Leech for Cub Kitchens

Now known as the Frame House, it’s a stunning example of how traditional homes can be reimagined for modern living. It is full of light, innovative design, and carefully chosen materials.

The architects called the project Frame House because of its clever design, which pushes the boundaries of what’s normally allowed in planning rules. They created the largest possible layout using clean, straight lines that step back gently along the edges of the property.

Inside, the original hallway leads into a large, open-plan ground floor. The space flows across different levels, gently stepping down towards a private walled garden at the back.

The entire ground floor has been fitted with terrazzo tiles. Each area is clearly marked while keeping a modern, open feel. A large skylight above the sitting area brings in natural light, and electric blackout blinds provide shade when needed.

Floor-to-ceiling glass doors at the back open directly onto the garden, with the same terrazzo flooring running outside to connect the spaces beautifully. Raised planting beds along the edges add greenery all year round.

The small garden is a natural extension of the living space. A pivoting glass door opens onto a patio with matching terrazzo flooring and beautifully shaped raised beds. These are filled with olive trees, jasmine, palms, and trailing ivy, creating a green and peaceful outdoor retreat.

At the front of the house, the kitchen sits where it can catch soft morning light through a bay window. Cabinets in a calm, muted colour rise to the ceiling on both sides, offering a modern take on classic shaker style.

In the centre is a curved terrazzo island that doubles as a breakfast bar and a spot for casual meals.

The staircase is a work of art, made from oak and steel, with delicate green terrazzo details in the handrail.

The main bedroom suite stretches across the front of the house. Tall, built-in wardrobes reach the high ceilings, and the rich oak flooring adds warmth.

The en suite bathroom is both stylish and functional, with a freestanding bath, walk-in shower, and double sink made of concrete by Kast. The taps and fittings throughout the house are by Samuel Heath.

Each bathroom in the house has its own personality, marked by different shades of terrazzo.

There are more bedrooms on the half-landings, each with garden views and its own bathroom. Another suite on the upper floor includes a Juliet balcony and built-in wardrobes under the eaves.

The house is listed for £1,975,000 at The Modern House.

The soft taupe-painted brickwork from the house’s facade gives a glimpse of the color palette used inside the home. Muted tones and natural materials are used to create a harmonious and calm atmosphere, while statement art and the occasional color pop add a personal and fun touch to the interior spaces.

From the entry hall, you walk into this open-plan living and dining room. A large bay window floods this space with natural light, and chevron-laid reclaimed teak floorboards lie underfoot.

Both sides of the living space are fitted with built-in shelves and storage units, providing plenty of space for books, trinkets, and art.

The dining area sits between the living room and the kitchen. An obscured glass panel has been placed in the wall between these two rooms, creating nice silhouettes of the objects placed on the shelves on the other side.

A large sliding door opens into the kitchen, which is placed in the glazed extension of the Edwardian house.

Open timber units have been fitted alongside one wall opposite a broad concrete-topped island that separates the cooking area from the sitting area by the garden doors.

A large skylight brings natural light to the cooking space, and glazed shelves are fitted in the niche in front of the obscured glass panel. There is also a large pantry on the other side of the kitchen.

Directly connected to the landscape architect-designed garden is a charming sitting area where you can fully embrace the natural wonders outside the glass windows and door.

The front and back gardens are designed and planted by Jane Brockbank, an award-winning landscape and garden design studio, and winner of the Chelsea Flower Show gold medal.

On the first floor are two large bedrooms with integrated shelving and dark-painted wooden floorboards.

The top floor is home to two more bedrooms, including the master bedroom with gray walls and storage under the eaves, some clad in Iroko wood to match the floorboards.

The bathroom walls and floors are painted in a soft pink shade and paired with a reclaimed solid teak dual-sink vanity unit. 

On the top floor is a second bathroom. The walls are finished with varied terracotta Norfolk pamments and birch timber boarding, which is paired with antiqued brass fittings.

The house is listed for £1,600,000 at Inigo.