Historic Interiors
Vincent Reed is a heritage woodwork consultant, advising on everything from royal palaces to private residences. With 35 years’ experience in conserving and restoring period woodwork and joinery – including consulting on recent Studio Hooton projects – Vincent explains why every conservation and restoration project starts with assembling the right team.
Trained eyes uncover what others miss
I always advise clients to do two things before renovating: live in the property for a year and find trusted experts. Rushing to tear down walls often leads to regret. I’ve had clients pause demolition after learning the craftsmanship behind a lath and plaster wall, and then to turn it into a feature wall. Taking the time to understand your space and consulting experts early will help unlock its full potential and increase its value. Restoring instead of demolishing is also more sustainable.
Good communication equals better renovations
A common challenge in historic renovations is ensuring effective communication between property owners, whether developers or private clients, and the authorities.
Right now, I’m working on a high profile historic property in Kensington where the client submitted a pre-app to install underfloor heating. But with period wooden floorboards and a lack of expert input, approval seemed unlikely. In another case, a client was denied permission to remove pine flooring that I later confirmed was installed in the 1980s. Such situations can frustrate property owners and that’s where I can assist. I can bridge the gap between the property owners and authorities, providing the facts and solutions needed for informed decision-making.
Find the right people with the right skills
Skilled historic woodworkers are becoming harder to find, which is worrying given the UK’s rich architectural legacy. Heritage tourism brings in billions of pounds each year. Additionally, the exceptional craftsmanship found in 17th and 18th century buildings can’t easily be replicated today, so it’s important that we preserve these treasures for all to see.
I’m often asked how I identify architectural styles. While they evolved dramatically from the Tudor era through to the Stuarts and into Georgian England, it’s easy to be fooled. For example, the style from Queen Anne’s reign in the early 18th century was revived in 1880, making it easy to confuse the two. Right now, I’m standing in an Elizabethan-style property, but I can tell the staircase is from a later 19th century revival. A trained eye will examine details such as patina, paint build-up, dents, scratches and overall wear and tear to help reveal its true age.
Flexibility is key to successful outcomes
I often think it would help if the authorities recognised the important role owners with healthy budgets play in preserving historic properties. Many are passionate about maintaining the character of these properties. However, they frequently require updates to make them more habitable.
One of the biggest challenges in planning can be when a client wants to install new services or to restore features like panelling or floorboards. Once, we had a project at Kensington Palace that involved installing oak flooring. As part of the work, a 32-metre data cable tray had to be laid across the original wooden joists installed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1690. It took careful planning to preserve the historic structure, but the installation was essential for the palace to operate as a tourist attraction, welcoming over 400,000 visitors each year.
There’s usually a way to integrate modern upgrades into a historic property without compromising its charm. The key is assembling the right team of specialists to preserve the property’s heritage with the client’s contemporary needs.
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Own a historic property? Find out how Studio Hooton can combine the best of past and present to bringing new life to old properties for generations to come. Contact us to see how we can help with your project.
Image Credits: Main Image – Conservation Project – Vincent Reed