Blackbird Cottage: Restoring an 1870s Victorian Home

Extension Attention

When it came to a newly added extension, Lindy knew that building in a relationship with the heritage part of the home would create a calmer, less disjunctive transition between spaces. “We carried the skirting and architrave into the new section of the home,” she explains. “We felt that the cottage was better to be treated with a traditional hand, rather than have a modern box on the back.” 

Matching isn’t Always Best

“I chose varying styles throughout, mixing TradCo’s Antique Brass products with our bronze and copper tapware and existing brass cabinet hardware,” says Lindy. “It was a slightly controversial idea, but my reasoning was simple: the home had been built on a budget, so many of the original fixtures didn’t match. I wanted to elevate that ‘collected over time’ feeling. I opted for simpler profiles in the original part of the home, while the new section of the cottage features more embellished hardware. The finishes tie the old and new together and add the patina of time, complementing both restored elements and new additions.” The light fixtures help bring everything together through their eclecticism. “The cottage didn’t have electricity until the 1930s so we chose a style to replicate that,” she says. “We mixed traditional milk glass style cottage pendants with Traditional Light Switches in Antique Brass from TradCo.”  

The Finer Details

Creating a seamless heritage home is not just about the big hitters — the windows, doors and kitchen. To truly cement this as an old property, the details must be addressed. At Blackbird Cottage that meant paying attention to the small things, like window sash lifts and other traditional window fittings, skirting and the edges of openings. “To add extra charm, we replaced the old flat skirting with a colonial profile of the same depth,” says Lindy. “I added Georgian-style rosettes to the corners of each door and window as a finishing touch.” The sash windows, too, were embellished with Classic Sash Lifts in Antique Brass, creating a sense of Victoriana with every touch. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Go Bespoke

If a building is old, it’s likely many of its features were made to measure, so when renovating one, it’s wise to use the same approach again in the restoration process. Embellishing with a heritage brand doesn’t hurt either. “The dishwasher cabinetry was custom-built by a friend to resemble old flour bins,” says Lindy, “and TradCo’s Porcelain D Pulls in Antique Brass provided the perfect finishing touch.”