Local couple Mr & Mrs Ringart purchased this house under probate, from our Chorleywood Office at the start of 2013, and it was in need of complete refurbishment. Two and a half years later, we re-visited the family home to witness the stunning transformation.
I spoke to Mr Ringart about the extensive project:-
1. So how long did the project take?
We completed on the house purchase in January 2013 and started work immediately, working tirelessly until all was completed by October the same year.
2. What was your vision for the house?
We loved the fact that we owned a period property but we really wanted the comfort and luxury of a modern home, so we tried to replicate all of the original Edwardian features (such as the deep skirtings, panelled doors, feature cornice and re-claimed open fires) but at the same time we introduced all of the modern technologies you would find in a brand new ‘high spec’ property.
3. Were there any obstacles or unforeseen circumstances?
We knew that we would be gutting the house completely and only intended to leave the original four walls (including the demolition of the previous extension). However, we couldn’t remove the existing floor joists without complicated temporary works to stop the house collapsing so we had to run new floor joists bolted to the existing ones. This was necessary in order to level the floors as in some areas they were over 6 inches out from one side of the house to the other.
4. What was the ultimate cost of the renovation?
The total cost of all the refurbishment work was in the region of £400k, which includes a £30k AV installation and a £25k landscaping scheme.
5. Was there anything you would have liked to do but couldn’t or didn’t do in the end?
Not really! As we were literally starting from scratch it was a blank canvass so everything was designed and installed exactly as we wanted it to be. The house is literally a new build as apart from the original 4 walls (which have been re-insulated and rendered externally) everything else is brand new.
6. What advice would you give to someone looking to start a similar project?
As I work in the construction industry I knew what to expect from a project such as this and we rented a house while the work took place. This actually made the whole process quite enjoyable as we could see the project coming together through the various stages without having to live on a building site. The only advice I would give is to factor in a contingency within the budget as things always cost more than you think. Also, if you can move out it is far less stressful!
It is always exciting to see a property after the new owners have carried out works, and in this instance it was particularly fantastic to see such an amazing transformation that we feel has been done sympathetically and to a very high quality throughout.
If you are interested to find out more about any properties for sale in Chorleywood, or if you would like to discuss any renovation works that you are considering carrying out, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01923 601401.
Martyn Drabik
DEA & Marketing Consultant
Check out the BEFORE & AFTER shots: