From the team behind Hampstead Renovations · Est. 2009 · Learn more
Case StudySt John's Wood, NW8November 2024

Period Refurbishment, St John's Wood

A flagship period refurbishment of a substantial Grade II listed stucco double-fronted villa in St John's Wood, delivered over 38 weeks. The scope included structural remediation, complete services replacement, bespoke joinery throughout, six bathrooms, a home cinema, and meticulous heritage conservation of all original fabric.

Project Type

Period House Refurbishment

Duration

38 weeks

Project Value

£450,000

The Challenge

The villa had seven principal rooms, each with significant original cornicing, ceiling roses, and marble fireplaces. Significant dry rot was found in the ground floor timber frame during pre-works investigation, requiring controlled demolition of floor sections and eradication treatment before any other work could commence. Westminster's heritage officer required the dry rot remediation methodology to be pre-agreed given the listed status.

Our Solution

We engaged a dry rot specialist who prepared a detailed eradication method statement that was agreed with Westminster's heritage officer. Floor sections were opened in controlled bays, treated, and reinstated using matching reclaimed timber. The heritage architect coordinated directly with Westminster's officer throughout, ensuring no work proceeded without sign-off. A specialist joiner produced new cornicing to match original profiles where sections required replacement.

Results

  • Westminster Listed Building Consent — full scope including dry rot remediation
  • Dry rot eradication with 30-year guarantee from specialist contractor
  • All seven principal reception rooms' cornicing preserved or matched
  • Six bathrooms in period-appropriate style with concealed modern services
  • 4K home cinema in lower ground floor — 150" screen, Dolby Atmos
  • Complete rewiring and replumbing — all service routes heritage-approved
  • Estimated post-refurbishment value: £6.5m

Key Features

  • Westminster Listed Building Consent — comprehensive scope
  • Dry rot eradication under heritage supervision
  • Cornicing conservation and matched replacement by specialist joiner
  • Six bathrooms — Burlington, Catchpole & Rye, Lapicida
  • Dolby Atmos home cinema — 150" screen, concealed installation
  • Full rewiring and replumbing with all routes heritage-compliant

Specification

ItemSpecification
Cornicing repairsRun-in-situ lime plaster matched to original profiles; fibrous plaster casts for roses
Floor reinstatementReclaimed pitch pine matching original — sourced from two NW London demolitions
Bathrooms (principal)Catchpole & Rye free-standing baths, Perrin & Rowe fittings, Lapicida marble
KitchenSmallbone in-frame painted kitchen, Pietra di Fossena stone worktops, Gaggenau Series 400
CinemaSony VPL-GTZ380 4K laser projector, Stewart Filmscreen 150", Steinway Lyngdorf Dolby Atmos
Boiler systemWorcester Bosch commercial cascade, three 40kW units, new low-loss header

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