Georgian House Renovation

A Georgian coach house restored for contemporary family life.

This Wimbledon Village home had been modernised to a low standard, stripping away much of the character its architecture deserved. Joel Azevedo Interiors reimagined the property as a warm and sophisticated family home—improving its flow, restoring period detail and considering every element, from the architecture and joinery to the lighting, furnishings and final styling.

Location

Wimbledon Village - London.

Client

A young family with one child who wanted a home that would feel comfortable for everyday family life while also working beautifully for entertaining. With relatives regularly visiting from overseas, the house needed to accommodate longer stays and larger gatherings without compromising privacy, storage or the family’s daily routines.

Property

A two-storey Georgian coach house dating from around the 1820s, comprising four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a guest WC. Previous modernisation had removed much of the property’s character, leaving interiors that felt disconnected from the age and architectural significance of the building.

Investment

An investment of approximately £1.3 million encompassing architectural and structural work, construction, bespoke joinery, kitchen and bathroom design, lighting, decoration, furnishings, procurement and installation. The project was approached as a long-term investment in both the property and the way the family wanted to live.

Scope

A comprehensive interior-design service delivered in close collaboration with the architect, project manager and main contractor. Our involvement included spatial planning, architectural detailing, kitchen and bathroom design, bespoke joinery, lighting and electrical planning, finishes, decoration, furniture, fabrics, window treatments, procurement, site coordination, installation and final styling. We provided input on every design decision and purchase to ensure that the completed house felt coherent from its architecture through to its smallest details.

Timeline

Eighteen months from the initial design brief through construction, procurement and final installation.

Collaboration

Close coordination with the architect, project manager and main contractor throughout the project.

Rooms Transformed

A complete renovation encompassing the entire house. The internal layout and circulation were reconsidered, the relationship between the principal living spaces and garden was improved, and storage was incorporated throughout. The project included the kitchen, living and dining spaces, entrance hall and staircase, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and guest WC.

The Brief

Restoring Character and Improving the Way the House Worked

Although the property had been fully renovated, the work had been completed to a low standard and felt disconnected from the architectural character of the house. The internal flow was awkward, the kitchen occupied the north side of the property rather than engaging with the garden, and the bedrooms felt small and lacked sufficient storage. Collectively, these decisions made the house feel smaller, less functional and less distinctive than it should have.

The clients wanted a home that felt homely and lived-in, while retaining a sense of sophistication. Above all, they wanted to make the most of the property’s period identity and create a house that worked naturally for a young family.

Reconnecting the House With the Garden

The kitchen was moved to the south end of the house, placing family life closer to the garden. The conservatory was almost completely rebuilt, with structural work, a new roof and roof lantern, to create a dining room that now acts as the bridge between the house and its outdoor space.

The new Tom Howley kitchen combines generous storage with a breakfast cabinet, Wolf range, Sub-Zero refrigeration and a separate utility room. Its custom spray-painted finish allows the kitchen to sit naturally within the wider decorative scheme.

The result is a sequence of spaces designed for everyday meals and larger gatherings, with a stronger sense of light, flow and connection.

The challenges

Reworking a Period House From the Inside Out

The central challenge was to recover the identity of an early-19th-century house while fundamentally changing how it worked for a modern family.

Planning consent was required to move windows, introduce a bay window and fully replace the conservatory. Windows were repositioned to create symmetry and given new surrounds. Underfloor heating, air conditioning, coving and new doors were incorporated throughout.

These interventions had to meet contemporary expectations without weakening the architectural character of the house. The most important principle was to get the architecture right first. Once the proportions, openings, circulation and sightlines were resolved, every decorative decision had a stronger foundation.

Limestone Window Surround Install

The Design Approach: Beginning With the Architecture

The design process began long before the selection of furniture. Every architectural detail was reconsidered to ensure that the interiors felt appropriate to the house: ceiling coving, door architraves, window frames, handrails, stair runners and even light switches were carefully specified.

The same attention extended to the kitchen, bespoke joinery, lighting and material palette. Rather than introducing isolated period details, the aim was to create a coherent architectural language that could be carried through every room.

Reworking the Bones of the House

Three interventions were particularly important: introducing a bay window, opening the vaulted ceilings and constructing a new fireplace. These were not decorative gestures. Each changed the proportions, character or experience of the house and helped establish the architectural foundation for everything that followed.

With the kitchen now moved to the south end of the house to take advantage of the opening to the garden, and the dining room located in the newly redesigned conservatory, we introduced a bay window and a fireplace at the north end. These additions create two architectural focal points in the room while appearing as though they have always belonged to the house.

Designing a Bathroom That Belongs to the House

The principal ensuite was designed to feel integral to the Georgian architecture. Wall panelling restored proportion and character, while the freestanding bath beneath the window created a strong focal point.

Dark timber, marble and aged brass bring warmth and depth, balanced by soft lighting and a botanical Roman blind. The result combines period-informed detailing with the comfort and practicality of a contemporary family bathroom.

Bespoke wardrobes, vanity units and the living-room media unit were designed around the way the family uses each space. Their purpose was not simply to add visual detail, but to resolve storage, proportion and everyday practical requirements while remaining integrated with the architecture. We remained involved from the earliest planning conversations through site coordination, deliveries, installation and final styling, maintaining one vision across hundreds of interconnected decisions.

Bespoke Details That Make the House Work

The media unit was fully bespoke, including a solid unlacquered brass track. It was important to hide the TV when not in use, as the formal area occupies the same space.

The completed house now supports the way the family wanted to live. The kitchen and dining spaces have become the centre of daily life and entertaining, while improved circulation, integrated storage and stronger connections to the garden make the property feel considerably more generous.

The finished home exceeded the clients’ expectations. They particularly valued the less predictable material choices and the way those layers made the rooms feel warm, personal and comfortable.

The Result

Client Feedback

“Joel has done an amazing job designing the interiors of our whole house. He captured the mood and style we asked for while pushing beyond the stereotypical palette to give us a unique finish. He went above and beyond throughout the project—helping to resolve architectural issues, being on site for deliveries and personally adding the final touches. 10/10; we would highly recommend him.”

Discuss your Project

Renovating a period home involves hundreds of decisions that must work together—from spatial planning and architectural detail to lighting, materials, furnishings and installation.

Joel Azevedo Interiors provides a complete design service, guiding each decision from the first plans to the finished rooms.

Planning the renovation of a London period property? Get in touch to discuss your project.

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