Victorian Charm Meets Modern Living
The Brief
The Watermoor Road Restoration project involved reimagining a series of bathrooms within a beautiful period property, while also delivering a sensitive conservation-led refurbishment of the entire Grade II listed home. Watermoor Road required a design that respected its Tudor-Gothic character, while adapting the interiors for modern family life.
The clients wanted each bathroom to feel authentic to the home’s heritage while offering contemporary comfort and functionality, blending traditional Victorian character with modern details. They also asked us to create a new master suite with dressing room and en-suite upstairs, establish a more practical layout of bathrooms throughout, and replace the outdated 1960s garage with a new building that complemented the house.
Beyond the bathrooms, the Watermoor Road Restoration brief included a full refurbishment: restoring parquet floors and staircases, replacing intrusive UPVC windows, and updating unsafe services, all while preserving the house’s architectural heritage and ensuring it could function as a 21st-century family home.
The Work
Bathrooms and Interiors
On the ground floor, the shower room was designed as a seamless extension of the existing interiors. Deep studio green walls, crisp white metro tiles, and patterned flooring echo the property’s grand entrance hall, while antique brass fittings and a traditional vanity unit add warmth and elegance.
Moving to the first floor en-suite, the design connects directly with the master bedroom’s dressing area. A soft palette, marble finishes, and antique brass hardware create a calm and tranquil atmosphere.
The family bathroom takes on a more dramatic role as the only room with a bath. A freestanding tub was positioned centrally beneath a low-level window, allowing natural light to frame the space. Vertical slat panelling in Farrow & Ball Pigeon contrasts beautifully with pale walls and oak flooring, adding warmth while highlighting the home’s Victorian charm.
Finally, the first floor shower room explores a richer, more indulgent style. With abundant natural light, darker tones were chosen to create depth and character. Forest green tiles, patterned heritage flooring, and black-framed glazing nod to the Victorian era, while contemporary sanitary ware ensures functionality. The result is a bold yet harmonious room that completes the home’s collection of distinctive bathrooms.
CirencesterLocation
Heritage & Listed Renovation | Extension Scheme
Consultation and heritage approach in the Restoration
Early discussions with Cotswold District Council, supported by advice from a heritage consultant, helped refine the design. The collaborative process identified ways to reduce intrusion, such as removing a proposed carport and guided the decision to retain more of the original layout. This approach ensured a balance between conservation and family life.
Ground floor transformation
The former service yard was enclosed to create a utility room that remains true to its original purpose. An outdated timber and block garage was replaced with a new stone structure built on the same footprint, resulting in an outbuilding that blends naturally with the main house and complements the overall Watermoor Road Restoration.
First floor reconfiguration
Two bedrooms were combined to form a generous master suite with dressing room and en-suite. New partitions were designed as reversible elements, leaving the original structure intact. This reconfiguration reduced the total number of bedrooms from eight to six while increasing the number of bathrooms to three—offering a layout suited to modern family living without compromising historic character.
Restoration of fabric and services
Fireplaces were reopened, parquet floors repaired, and decorative mouldings carefully conserved. Intrusive UPVC windows were replaced with slimline metal-framed double-glazed units, while historic metal windows were refurbished with precision. Cast-iron rainwater goods were reinstated to match the home’s original appearance.
Unsafe electrics and plumbing were updated with modern systems. To protect historic finishes, new services were concealed within walls and floors, delivering comfort and efficiency without sacrificing the building’s fabric.
Outcome
The completed Watermoor Road Restoration delivers a home that feels both contemporary and timeless. This project demonstrates how Cotswold-based heritage architects and interior designers can adapt a listed building for modern living while conserving the qualities that make it special.
