2024 An update on current renovation projects

listed stone house

I’ve been taking a brief moment to reflect on my current projects, my lovely clients and totally awesome builders. It feels like the right time to share some insights on my recent and current projects; where they are, what they are, the scope and duration, to give you a flavour of what life as a […]

Armada House, Listed Holiday Cottage – Review

window seat interior design

The renovation of a Grade II listed holiday cottage in Lyme Regis was carried out in two phases in 2022 and 2023. The owners had the foresight to engage an interior designer and project manager well ahead of time so that plans could be made, schedules arranged and trades booked. We worked with Coral Interiors […]

Warmer Windows

Old window

As autumn approaches so does the perennial problem for many listed and period property owners. How can we keep warm this winter? Can we be more energy efficient? What can we do about draughts? Are there any energy-saving measures we can use? In summary, how can we deal with the lack of double glazing? The […]

Floorplans – re-imagining your space

Ground floor plan

If you are listing your property for sale, a floorplan has become a necessity rather than a ‘nice-to-have’ option. Potential buyers expect to see 2D floorplans in addition to several photos supported by a more detailed description of any property. However, a decent floorplan of your own home can be useful tool when planning how […]

Tom’s Renovation Project – Review

Victorian Cottage

“Beverley managed a major renovation of our semi-detached cottage in Poole and I thoroughly recommend her as a dedicated and professional project manager. Beverley picked up the first phase of the work for me once I had already done the design and appointed some contractors and so I was extremely grateful to her for her […]

The Piggery – Testimonial

Doorways

“The Piggery is a former stone barn which many years ago had accommodated an assortment of farm animals – almost certainly not just pigs as the roof is very high.  In the 1970’s it had been converted into a 2 bedroom/1 boxroom home with permitted use as a holiday let or tenant accommodation. We were […]

The Former Door

Flowers on windowsill

A few of you have asked how I came by the name of @theformerdoor for my Instagram account. The answer is steeped in the lore of Thomas Hardy, the legendary author and poet (and architect) who wrote so captivatingly about Dorset. If you’ve visited Hardy’s lovely cob and thatch cottage in Higher Bockhampton near Dorchester you might […]

It’s Curtains

Fabric

The engaging – and eccentric – Phyllis the curtain lady has been round again. I found her via the local parish magazine. She’s of advanced years, always beautifully turned out and with her silent husband, Ted, in tow. He’s the driver.Phyllis has done amazing things with the curtains from my previous house, making two pairs […]

Stockham Farm – Testimonial

Living room

“We had been pleased to enlist Beverley in a previous space planning project when she had helped us adapt a dark, cramped 19th century terraced cottage into a stylish Tardis-like 3 double bedroom/2 bathroom property; so she was the obvious choice to help us tackle our Exmoor farmhouse.  The building had at one time been […]