London Rowhouse Restored To Regency Glory

For those of you who love taking a turn about a new city or town and admiring the views, you like us will be excited to hear an old property in London has been restored to its former glory. Located on a quiet street in the district of Knightsbridge, the house has been saved from dereliction by the careful expertise of Boston interior designer Gary McBournie and the London based architect Mike Fisher. Fisher has restored several listed buildings in the past and used his experience to make sure the original magic of this house was brought back to life.

The house, which was built in 1840 right at the end of the elegant Regency period, had an overgrown garden, a rickety staircase, and holes in the floor of each story when the homeowners bought the property. As charming as it looked on the outside, the inside of the four-story house was a disaster. Fisher explained how their philosophy when renovating was to "restore the building in the most authentic way possible", and to do so he made the most of what was leftover. Casts were made from fragments of the original details, making sure the renovators were able to restore dilapidated areas as authentically as possible. He excavated the lower ground floor which was once the site of the original kitchen and servants' quarters to add height and grandeur to the ceilings. 

The homeowners opted for an open plan living room and library, making ample space to recline and read or entertain guests. In most rooms, the homeowners upholstered the walls and selected rounded furniture to channel a feel for the nineteenth century. A beautiful homage to the age of the house was made by interior designer McBournie who placed an Italian alabaster temple miniature in the living space, dated to roughly around 1840 and sourced by London antique specialists Timothy Langston. Another stand out feature of the restoration is the curved staircase, topped by an oval oculus. The much-improved staircase brings in lots of beautiful sunshine and exudes elegance. 

If you don't want to miss a beat when it comes to Jane Austen, make sure you are signed up to the Jane Austen newsletter for exclusive updates and discounts from our Online Gift Shop.

Words by Hannah England.