Historic Epsom Home Reno

This five-bedroom Epsom bungalow arrived with most of its original features intact: timber floors, stained glass, french doors, casement windows, panel ceilings and chandeliers. Even the wiring was sound. The owners, a young family with two small children, had no plan to change the character. The kitchen was the sticking point. It had timber cabinets, a granite top and a gas burner, but none of the storage or wipe-clean surfaces a young family relies on. We designed the new kitchen in a classic Victorian style rather than a sleek modern one, which would have looked out of place. Textured Dezignatek Thermoform fronts in a 'Ronda' pattern, antique-look black handles and a white-marble-look engineered stone bench keep it traditional, while pull-outs, internal baskets and extra cupboards under the breakfast island deal with the clutter. SMEG appliances complete it. The panel ceiling over the kitchen and dining was closed in so the eye lands on the new kitchen instead. Elsewhere the rule was simple: restore what's there. The timber floors were sanded, epoxy-filled and sealed with three coats of waterborne polyurethane for a satin finish. The chandeliers, the lounge and family-room panel ceilings, the gas fireplace and every french and casement window stayed. Scope Kitchen rebuild with MR MDF carcasses, BLUM soft-close hinges and a Blanco Silgranit sink SMEG dishwasher, 90cm Portofino pyrolytic oven and 90cm rangehood Ensuite update with a Cassini freestanding bath and Caesarstone cabinet from Reece Tight space turned into a standalone guest toilet with basin Full interior plastering and Dulux repaint, including window frames and sills Original timber floors restored downstairs New underlay and carpet upstairs, through the bedrooms and on the stairs Kevin Yang project managed the whole job, completed in July 2020. Full case study: Character Bungalow Home Renovation in Epsom