Published by Marshall Cavendish Books Limited ‘58 Old Compton Street London WIV 5PA © Marshall Cavendish Limited 1972 ~ 1984 Printed in Yugoslavia First Printing 1975 This printing 1984 ISBN 0 86685 094 2 “This volume is not to.be sold in Australia, Now Zealand or North Amora.Introduction If your home needs new sparkle or added style, this book has been designed with you specially in mind. It describes unusual and interesting home improvements carried out by architects, designers and builders, containing many original and striking ideas for giving your home ~ inside and out ~ an improved appearance and extra comfort. Over seventy individual cases are looked at, from the sophisticated town house to a rural farm house. Hundreds. of colour photographs show you how professional ideas and effort can result in beautiful decor and interior design. Many of the ideas introduced require little money to put into operation, but the effects can be far reaching. Learn how to make the most of colour schemes or the best way of giving a small room a feeling of spaciousness. Or, if you're interested in antiques, you can find out useful ways of keeping them in good condition and how to arrange them for the most eye-catching appearance. Some of the most common problems facing you when starting out on improving your home are dealt with, showing you how they can be overcome to best advantage. This book will give you inspired ideas and practical instructions on how you can make the most of your dwellings whether you live in the country or in town.Contents Getting on top of the space problem Flat with a first floor A roomful of illusions Bright ideas for a new house Elegance in coffee and cream Acottage in town The flexible family home Elegant home from three rooms Cottage in the city Farmhouse conversion Bold ideas and effort home from two cottages Calm amid the storm Simply brilliant Aterrace house refashioned The low-down on a nursery Astable/barn conversion Anartisan’s cottage An adventure in colour Dutch treat 10 12 14 16 18 2 25 29 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 50 52 Comfort with economy Victorian conversion Bringing the country to town Ariverside home ‘Blind’ loft into glamour home The ever-accommadating town house Kitchen-dinerin a mini-space Converting without fuss Design in narrow confines Design for compact living Staying in after school Combining old and new Keeping your cool in the sun The best of old and new Child-proofed for safety The house in the hill Rescue on the river Flexible living for the future A fresh look at a large house Raising the roof 54 60 63 66 68 70 72 15 78 80 82 84 86 89 90 92 94 96 98‘A Regency conversion 101 Do-it-yourself with original ideas 148 An illusion of space 104 Blending old with new. 150 Making every inch count 106 Total renovation 153 flat full of ideas 108 Using money wisely 156 Big impact on a small budget 110 Colour planned for space and comfort 158 The tall and narrow 112. Simplicity in style 160 Preserving that natural look 115 Spaceinasmall flat 162 Flats-into-house conversion 118 Victorian into modern 164 Open plan upstairs — privacy below 120 Oldintonew 166 Simplicity in stone 122 Making the most of it 168 L-shaped success 124 — English cottage, '70s style 170 Colour ina small flat 126 Converting a vintage house 172 Improvement through planning and patience 128 An Edwardian conversion 174 Makeshift garden home 130 Rescued from rot 176 The Georgian home revitalised 132 Adapted for comfort 178 Back-to-front for the sun 134 Living in boats 180 Transforming the past 139 The modern look 182 Take your time for the best solution. 140 Open-plan designing 142 Adding living space 145 errr ae z i 3Credits ‘Avenue — Daily Telegraph Syndication, pp. 52, 94 Bell Peter, 9.98 Belton, Robert pp. 110.132 Benson, Mike, p.70 Bernhardt, Jurg.p, 115 Bethell, John, pp. 12,63, 86,80,120, 126 Beyda, Janetand Frank, p.122 Boys, Michael pp. 16,42 Bull, Gunhid, p. 162 Broad, J.P. Macavoy, R.,pp. 44,160 Camera Press, pp. 78,168 Goreless, Clive, 9p. 50,172, 174 Dunne, Michael, pp. 7, 138 Duns, Alan, p. 92 Elle/ Photo Roger Gain/Transword,p. 68 errant, Leonardo, pp. 18,26, 40,57, 126,140, 148, 176. Formica Lt, p. 182 Francoise Rapin/Fersina/Conzett & Hubet,p.2+ Goad Housekeeping. 160 Hargreaves, Nelson, pp. 72,101, 108,128, 153, 170 Henderson, Graham) Elizabeth Whiting, p. 96 Holly, Noel, pp. 75, 82 Howitt, David and Mi Lambert, Sam, p.131 ‘MacLaughiin Bil, pp. 36, 60,164 “Matheson, Rob, p. 180, MeConnel, Sally, p. 54 ‘Moris, Brian, p. 32, Myers, ohn, pp. 199, 136, 145 Ner, Grazio, pp. 38,142 Peters il,» 28 Powell Spike, p. 156 Seymour, Joba, pp. 68,108 Simpson, Paul p. 80 ‘Tabbernor, Carol p. 166 ‘Transworld/Photo Roger Gain, p.25 Tubby. pp. 47, 108,112,158 ‘Tubby/Elzabeth Whiting, p.10 Walters, Rp. 34 Watmough, Colin. pp. 14,178 \Wieford, Joyce, pp. 84, 104 mp. 88Getting on top of a space problem Although a mews house may provide ample living space for a bachelor, quite often it is considered barely adequate nily. One such Landon mews however, was converted to ‘accommodate a large family, with the help of architect Peter WoodTop teft The extra for hich sarely rises above the roof line of the row of mews Tensei ust ele fom the street. Top right. The black quary-tiled entrance dal here te spiral taircate tate. The ‘red door leads othe garage-cum: tudo. conly way to accommodate all the fami, in any degree of comfort, was to build another floor ‘on top of the house. So the original valley root ‘wos removed, the party walls raised, two stee! ‘beams slung across them, and 2 new raat put on top. The interior ceiling was covered in stee! reinforced waod-waol insulation slabs sprayed ‘with: white paint, making it shallower than = Above left. A study area for Michael Dunne, ‘which was provided by incorporating a section of the landing at the front of the house into the lieing room. His desk fits neatly into this corner without affecting the rest ofthe room. The whole house i now double glazed. conventional construction while providing an interesting contour This top floor is devoted to the five children, 420 it was but with materials which withstand pretty. rough teatment, ond finished in bight colours. Constructed to look lke 2 cabin cruigor, it houses three bedrooms and a bath room, with an extra Bedroom on the landing Above right. The laundry area at one end of the kitchen ehich, though imaller than before, is compactly planned. The concertina loucred doors close to hide all the washing debris then necessary. The slats in the ceiling conceal the air conditioning system. Which can be closed off by a louvred partition, In this way the central ate, illuminated by root lights, becomes a play space, with the bedrooms for lular units off The large sliding