Grade 1 listed building refurbishment

Henry Hardy Builders have been maintaining and refurbishing period properties in Islington for many years, sometimes as many as eight houses in one street. A project in 2010 in a beautiful Islington enclave involved working with an interior designer to achieve an expert refurbishment and redecoration of an eighteenth century Canonbury ‘cottage’.

The lounge required a complete refurbishment. The grade 1 listed house circa 1780 has a beautifully sculpted original marble fireplace, which we carefully cleaned and restored. The floor required re-surfacing and a 'white-washed' finish.

The lower floor of the house now features a beautiful hand-crafted and finished kitchen, supplied and installed by Henry Hardy Builders. The kitchen includes a stunning range cooker, concealed recycling bins and ceiling spotlights. We even came up with a custom-built floor-to-ceiling wine rack. The dining room chimney breast was fitted with a designer, chrome 'hole-in-the-wall' gas fire.

The main bathroom, no longer includes fittings from 1780, but a fabulous recent period restoration. The back wall now has a run of concealed cupboards with custom made clothing rails and drawers. A sumptuous, marble shower enclosure nestles neatly at the end of this run of cupboards. New lighting, including spotlights in the suspended ceiling give added sparkle and a contemporary touch.

A second (children's bathroom) also received a complete refurbishment with expert tiling and a lovely roll-top, claw foot bath.

The common problem of low water pressure for this large property was solved with a domestic pressure-boosting system. This compact unit can fit in any cupboard, or under a worktop. In this case it was sited by the utility room.

A garden summer house with guest bathroom also received our attention with internal decoration and new fittings.