It seems fitting that Abigail and Dave Rogers, with their shared passion for property renovation, first met at a corporate sandcastle-building competition. ‘It was in Woolacombe Bay in Devon, and Dave and I were at the same team-building event,’ remembers Abigail. ‘It was my first day working for the company and we just happened to be in the same group. You could say it was good practice for things to come!’
Three years later, the pair moved from North Devon to Bristol, renting first in Clifton before buying and renovating a flat in the Redland area of the city. They then looked for a larger restoration project. ‘We wanted something new to get stuck into that had more space for our growing family and was close to good schools,’ explains Abigail, who works in musculoskeletal health and has an interior design business (@abigailrogersinteriors). She lives with husband Dave, an enterprise architect at a local university, and their children Reuben and Poppy.
James French
The south-facing aspect means the house is filled with natural light
‘This house was way over our budget, and it was only on the recommendation of our estate agent that I popped by to see it. It hadn’t been updated for years, but I fell in love with it immediately and knew we’d be happy here.
James French
The open shelf adds character to the kitchen giving a space to display pictures, trinkets and kitchen items
‘It was in my dream Bristol location, an area with lots going on and sweeping views over the city. The south-facing aspect meant the house was filled with natural light, plus it had good proportions with all the rooms leading off a central hallway.’
James French
The cupboard curtain, made from a Dunelm tablecloth, hides the washing machine. Cabinets in Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball
However, a structural survey revealed that the house – a six-bedroom, four-storey late-Victorian house – needed a lot of work. It was damp and there were big cracks on the outside. The layout also required some rethinking – the kitchen was in a tiny 1960s extension at the back of the house. ‘We couldn’t let it go though, and stretched ourselves financially to make an offer, beating other potential buyers in a bidding war.’
James French
The vintage desk belonged to Abigail’s father, while the chair was a charity shop find upcycled with Fermoie Wave fabric. Lucky wallpaper, Hovia. Shaftesbury medium glass pendant, Neptune
But the problems didn’t stop there. Once they started the restoration, the couple discovered dry rot in the first room they tackled. ‘It was at this point we realised that transforming this house was going to be a much bigger job than we’d imagined,’ recalls Abigail. ‘Luckily, we knew a good builder, which meant we were able to get the work done quickly and efficiently.’
James French
The living room is north-facing, so lends itself to being a cosy evening space where the family watches films or plays games. Oscar sofa in Sapphire velvet; Valentin footstool in Radish; both Sofa.com. Floral gold foil Poppy and Dahlia prints, Monika Petersen
Interior walls have been rebuilt, new windows fitted, and electrics and plumbing replaced. ‘At every turn it felt as though we had to face a new problem, but it was exciting too – decisions had to be made quickly and we learned early on to take each day as it came, never quite knowing what we were going to uncover next!’
James French
The couple knocked through into an adjacent reception area to create the dining space without impacting the layout of the new kitchen. Matching the existing coving and flooring means it looks like it has always been there. Artemis chandelier, Pooky. Engineered oiled European oak flooring, BL Flooring
When it came to reconfiguring the layout, the couple started by relocating the tiny kitchen, which they moved into one of the large reception rooms at the back of the house. ‘We managed to save on the cabinetry by buying cupboards from Ikea and fitting them ourselves, but invested in the appliances, quartz worktops, flooring and the boiling water tap.
James French
A traditional white suite and tiles have been given an uplift with broad yellow and white stripes that Abigail handpainted onto the wall. Evesham rolltop bath and patterned tiles; both Bathstore
‘Two years later, we decided to knock through into the next room and this larger space really has become the hub of our home.’ The old kitchen is now Abigail’s office, which the couple recently updated. ‘It’s a bright space with wonderful views out across the city skyline – the perfect spot for getting creative.’
James French
Blue walls have been contrasted with shots of red on the skirtings, cabinet and rug. Walls in Kittiwake; bedside table in Bamboozle; both Farrow & Ball. Oliver bed, Feather & Black
The transformations continued. Once the new plumbing was in place, Dave built a utility area in the basement with a run of cabinetry and a sink – a useful space that leads straight onto the terraced garden. A large family bathroom was created by knocking together a little loo and smaller bathroom. And, more recently, the loft has been converted into a spacious main bedroom with a dressing area, an extra bathroom and a bedroom/office space for Dave.
James French
Pretty and practical, the room has soft pink walls and fitted cabinetry. Walls in Pink Ground; woodwork in Setting Plaster; both Farrow & Ball
‘We’d tried twice to get planning permission for the loft, but our plans were rejected,’ says Abigail. ‘Then we had a lightbulb moment when we realised we could lower the first-floor ceiling and replace the leaking roof at the same time. It was a big, messy job, but it gave us the height we needed for the conversion without raising the roofline.’
James French
To warm up the guest bedroom, Abigail drenched the walls in a warm terracotta. Walls in Red Earth, Farrow & Ball
Recently, Abigail has turned her attention to the decoration. ‘I’ve really enjoyed filling our home with colour and interest,’ she explains. ‘Our main rooms are in earthy, warm pinks and taupes, which respond to the changing light, growing cosier as the nights draw in. Then I’ve added rich accent colours to give each space depth and its own unique character.’
James French
Abigail chose neutral hues for the main bedroom, adding a deep red feature wall. Panelling in Preference Red; wall in Oxford Stone; both Farrow & Ball. Antoinette bed; Marmo side table; both Loaf. Ceramic Hector wall lights, Original BTC
Patterned fabrics, wallpapers and panelling have been teamed with upcycled furniture and statement pieces to create beautiful, elegant rooms. ‘It’s been a labour of love breathing life back into this building. I don’t think you’re ever truly finished but, eight years on, we finally feel we’re at the stage where we can relax and enjoy the home we’ve created.’
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