Modernising A Period Interior

A Reluctant Period House
Love For Colour
A Family House

Despite their home's grumbles at being updated, the Frosts persevered to create a bright and beautiful place to live.

A Reluctant Period House

A family home bursting with colour was top priority for Jane Frost, husband Vijay and their three children when they moved to their Grade I-listed house in south London in July 2004.

But it takes time to make a home your own, and occasionally time is not on your side. 'When we moved in I was heavily pregnant,' says Jane. 'We were all camping in one room and there was no hot or cold water. The only thing that worked was the wall-mounted coffee machine.'

The classic Vitsoe bookshelves in the study have travelled with the family from previous homes. 'We've been collecting them for a while,' says Jane. 'I think they're such a timeless design.'

With architect Alan Higgs on hand, Jane started customising the house. She had done three previous projects with Alan, so their relationship was relaxed and she was happy to go with some of his suggestions as well as put forward some of her own.

'It wasn't necessary to strip everything out, it just needed to be adapted,' she explains. 'I feel that this house has a strong character. Parts of it date from the 1770s, and I got the impression it didn't like being tinkered with. It certainly grumbled a lot and additional problems arose as we started work. But I think that now the work is done, it is happy and has really benefited from its facelift.'