Trend Spotlight: Restoring Lansdowne

Seven years ago, Kristine Hall and her husband, Dan, bought Lansdowne, a Victorian terraced house in a state of disrepair, with the aim to restore the building to its former glory.

Seven years ago, Kristine Hall and her husband, Dan, moved into a Victorian terraced house in a state of disrepair, with the aim to restore the building to its former glory.

Many people complete incredible restoration projects, but only a handful of friends and family usually get to see the finished product. Kristine and Dan have done things differently, deciding to share their renovation journey through the social platform of Instagram.

Less than ten years ago, Instagram didn’t even exist. Now, more than a billion of us are snapping, editing and sharing photos with the world every month. For many users, the app has become more than just images of brunch and sunsets - some people are turning Likes into a living.

Case in point: Kristine set up an Instagram page to document the extensive renovations to her Victorian house in north east London. Since the first photo was posted in 2016, the account has gained more than 40,000 followers, been featured in national magazines, and helped Kristine launch her own interior design business.

The project took more than six years to complete; Kristine and Dan did much of the work themselves at weekends and in the evenings after work. When they first bought the house it was clear that most of it needed a full brick-to-brick renovation.

“Wallpaper was holding up the crumbing plaster, woodworm had eaten through the floor joists, the wiring was faulty, doors and windows needed refurbishing, and the garden was overgrown,” said Kristine.

The pair began the project by refurbishing two of the bedrooms, and for Kristine it was crucial that they retained the essence of their Victorian home.

“In terms of my vision, it was really important to me that we reinstate original features wherever possible and keep the bones of the house much as they would’ve been when it was built,” she said.

“I love mid-century style, design classics, industrial vibes, and characterful vintage furniture pieces.”

To complete their master bedroom, Kristine was looking for a Victorian hospital-style bed to make the most of its restored period features. She found the Cornish Bed Company online.

“The Cornish Bed Company appealed to me for a few reasons: its beds are hand crafted using traditional methods, it’s based in the UK and it has a great reputation for quality,” she continued.

“The bed we bought (a super-kingsize Maud) fits exactly with my vision for the space. The matte bronze finish looks very romantic in this setting, but the design is timeless and would work equally well with lots of interior styles, from rustic farmhouse to urban loft.

“The service from the Cornish Bed Company was great - the team sent me samples of finish options, delivered on schedule, and the bed is clearly very well made.

“I would definitely recommend them to any of my clients looking for a beautifully made cast iron bed.”