From the moment @georgieandmichael got the keys to their forever home, they knew they had somewhat of a project on their hands. One that was all about honouring the building’s past, its original details, and their future life it will become a home to. Every decision has been about breathing new life into the property without erasing its history.
When the couple first viewed the property, it was far from move-in ready but it had that kind of character you just can’t replicate. Despite years of neglect, many original features had survived, from ornate cornicing and high skirting boards to generous bay windows and beautifully proportioned rooms - a design lover’s playground!
“When we first walked into the house, it was clear it had good bones, even though it had been extremely run down and unlived in for a number of years. When we discovered our home dated back to around 1912–1914, we knew we wanted to work with its history, not against it. Our aim has always been to restore the home with respect for its era while layering in our own ideas to make it work for modern family life.”
That balance, traditional without feeling staged, characterful but practical, set the tone for the entire renovation. From day one, the plan was a full renovation, with as much DIY and loving first-hand work put into it as possible, creating a home designed to evolve with them.
“From the outset, we knew we wanted a full-scale renovation. As soon as our offer was accepted, the Pinterest boards quickly started filling up. We had to think long-term: while it’s just the two of us and our dog right now, we wanted a home that could grow with a family and comfortably host friends and loved ones, which gave the project even more meaning and motivation.”
“Our vision has always been to create a space that feels warm, inviting and functional, but above all, truly feels like home.”
The first space Georgie and Michael tackled was the family bathroom, developing a timeless look with soft green painted panelling, natural materials, and beautiful traditional fixtures. They opted for the Abingdon Historical Limestone Cabochon Tiles as a feature flooring, that feel completely at home in a period property. The warmth, variation and detail bring an authenticity that’s hard to replicate.
“The bathroom remains one of our favourite rooms in the house. We chose the Abingdon Historical Limestone Cabochon Tiles, which instantly became the standout feature of the space and the first thing everyone comments on... we love them so much that we’re already looking for excuses to use them elsewhere in the house!”
"The warmth and character of the stone completely transformed the room, making it feel like a sanctuary rather than something cold or clinical. As this will be our family bathroom, it was important that it felt calming, homely and timeless, and these tiles delivered exactly that.”
Next steps for Georgie and Michael involve them tackling their full downstairs space along with a kitchen renovation, which is currently underway. With a busy household and their gorgeous dog, Bee, in mind, porcelain was the obvious choice the couple, but they didn’t want character to come as a cost of practicality. Stay tuned to see the finished result of their downstairs and kitchen renovation coming soon!
“For the kitchen, which is currently being renovated, we've chosen the Kensington Beige Antiqued Porcelain Tile. It perfectly captures the feel we wanted for the space: warm, cosy and lived-in, not overly polished, but perfectly ours.”
How was your experience with Stone Store?
“We’re returning customers to Stone Store, and for good reason. The Abingdon Historical Limestone tiles exceeded every expectation, but when it came to selecting tiles for our large open-plan downstairs space (nearly 60 square metres), we knew this wasn’t a decision we could take lightly so we paid a visit to the Wilmslow showroom.”
“Being able to see the full-size tiles, compare ranges in person, and place them alongside our kitchen cabinet colours, all while being guided by genuine expert advice, completely changed our decision. In fact, we ended up choosing a tile we hadn’t even shortlisted from samples alone!”
“Seeing the tiles properly and speaking to people who truly know their products gives you complete confidence that you’ve made the right choice for your home.”
Keep up to date with with the couple's renovation journey over on instagram @georgieandmichael, from big design decisions to the realities of living through a full house project.
And be sure to follow along over on YouTube for helpful tips and advice, behind the scenes moments, and weekly progress updates as their home continues to take shape. It’s for-sure a renovation journey worth following along - we can’t wait to see what’s next!
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Abingdon Historial Limestone Cabochon Tiles
