It’s hard to believe that we’ve now been in our little Victorian terrace for almost eight years. When we first moved in, the house certainly had character — but it also needed a lot of love, care, and patience. We’ve never wanted to modernise it beyond recognition or strip away its history. Instead, our goal has always been to slowly restore and enhance the original features wherever possible, while making it feel like home.
The front of the house in particular has gradually evolved over the years. None of the changes individually feel dramatic, but looking back at old photos, the difference is amazing. It’s still very much the same Victorian terrace, just a much tidier, more cared-for version of itself.
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Repairing & Restoring the Brickwork
One of the first things we tackled was the ugly old vent protruding awkwardly from the brickwork. It completely disrupted the symmetry of the frontage, so we had decorative bricks specially made to match the originals and carefully repaired the area. It’s a subtle change that most people probably wouldn’t notice, but it made such a difference to the overall appearance.
A Fresh Front Door
We also gave the front door a fresh coat of glossy red paint, which instantly brightened everything up and made the entrance feel far more welcoming. Alongside that, we updated all of the door furniture with new brass fittings. I especially love our little bee door knocker — it’s one of my favourite details and in keeping to the age and style of the house whilst still being fun.
Installing Bespoke Iron Railings & Gate
One of our biggest investments was having a bespoke iron railing and gate installed. The original railings had long since disappeared, so reinstating something more in keeping with the property was really important to us. It was definitely one of the more expensive exterior changes we’ve made, but it completely transformed the look of the house and added back some much-needed character. And it also just makes us feel a lot more secure, as the front was totally open before.
Cleaning the Original Minton Tiles
We’ve also tried to preserve and highlight the original features that survived over the years. The Minton tiled footpath is probably one of the most special details of the whole house, and we feel incredibly lucky that it was still intact when we moved in. After years of dirt and grime, we carefully cleaned it up and the colours underneath were beautiful. We get so many compliments on the footpath from passersby – it’s so unique!
Refreshing the Front Garden
The tiny front garden was another area we slowly improved. When we moved in the little front garden was covered in white pebbles but they looked really grubby! So instead we laid porcelain slabs down and added slate around the edges to create a much tidier and lower-maintenance space that still feels in keeping with the house. I also try to keep the plants and flowers alive as much as I can to brighten up the front of the house!
Rebuilding the Front Wall
The front garden wall had become quite tired, weathered, and damaged over the years.. To restore it sympathetically and preserve the character of the property, we decided to have it rebuilt using original Victorian bricks. We also added blue coping stones along the top to provide a smart finish. It looks much tidier, neater, and far more in keeping with the overall frontage. It has made a huge difference to the kerb appeal of the property and gives the whole front garden a much more polished appearance.
Tidying Up the Exterior Details
Some of the less glamorous jobs actually made a surprisingly big difference too. We had the messy electrical cable straightened and finally got rid of the old telephone cable running across the front of the house, which instantly made everything look cleaner and neater. The utility companies actually did this for us free of charge, which was a nice surprise! We also repainted the bay window and porch stonework to freshen everything up while keeping the original details intact.
Naming the House
And finally — perhaps one of my favourite finishing touches — we officially named the house (yes – I named it after myself!). We added personalised gold foil lettering to the glass fan light above the front door and registered the house name with both the council and the Post Office. Surprisingly, it didn’t cost anything to officially register, and it made the house feel even more personal. Here’s some photos of my Dad after he added the gold lettering, painting the door…
Slowly Transforming Our Victorian Terrace
It hasn’t been a huge dramatic transformation, and that was never really the aim. We’ve simply tried to tidy, restore, and enhance the original charm of the house bit by bit over the last six years. Victorian homes deserve to be preserved wherever possible, and we love that our little terrace still feels true to its history — just a little more polished than when we first arrived.
