Period Home Renovation, Paisley

About this project

This traditional home in Paisley is over 100 years old, with the high ceilings, cornicing, deep skirtings and panelled doors you would expect. The kitchen was dated and the ground floor was split into small rooms, so the family wanted one bright kitchen and dining space that still felt like part of the old house.

It was a big job and a tricky one. The wall between the kitchen and dining room was structural, carrying the house above, so the floors and walls were propped and needled before the brickwork came down by hand. A new steel beam went in to carry the load and was boxed in with fire rated board, turning two rooms into one long open plan space.

New stud walls formed a utility, a WC and a pantry, with new door openings and linings. The ground floor was fully rewired, with new lighting, sockets and switches throughout, and the plumbing and heating were rerouted to suit the new layout. In the utility and WC, the old solid brick walls were lined with a damp proof membrane and insulated plasterboard to keep those rooms warm and dry.

We wanted the house to keep its character. New double glazed sash and case windows replaced the tired old ones, the plaster cornice was carried round the new open plan room, and new skirtings, architraves and door linings were fitted to suit the period. New oak external doors went in, including a traditional stable door at the back.

Herringbone flooring was laid by hand through the hall, kitchen, dining room, pantry and utility, and our own team fitted the new Howdens Elmbridge in frame shaker kitchen in Linen, with a large island, tall oven housing, quartz worktops, Belfast sinks and a separate utility.

Everything from the rip out to the decoration was done by our own team and trades, managed as one job from start to finish. The family are delighted with the finished house, and so are we.

The main image at the top of this page is a visual of the kitchen design. The photos further down are from the job itself.