UK Houzz Tour: An Architect's Airy Apartment Revamped on a Budget
This Victorian apartment is proof that it’s possible to keep costs down and create a home that’s stylishly individual
Sarah Alcroft
11 March 2022
Houzz UK Editorial Team
Homes don’t have to be huge to function well and look unique, as this two-bedroom, first-floor apartment demonstrates in Bristol, UK. Owner Lizzie O’Neill, an architect, used her skills and eye for design to change the flow and feel of the apartment while altering very little of the layout.
Opening up the small, dark, shabby kitchen to the light living area was key to the transformation. O’Neill then cleverly used inexpensive timber, natural materials and second-hand finds to give the whole home a unique boho look and a peaceful mood.
Opening up the small, dark, shabby kitchen to the light living area was key to the transformation. O’Neill then cleverly used inexpensive timber, natural materials and second-hand finds to give the whole home a unique boho look and a peaceful mood.
Photos by Jolanta Valeniece of Valeniece Studio
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Lizzie O’Neill
Location: Bristol, UK
Property: An apartment on the first floor of an old three-storey Victorian terrace
Size: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Architect: Lizzie O’Neill of EJ Studio
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Lizzie O’Neill
Location: Bristol, UK
Property: An apartment on the first floor of an old three-storey Victorian terrace
Size: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Architect: Lizzie O’Neill of EJ Studio
The first job was to knock through the wall, seen here, between the living room and kitchen. Rather than taking out the whole wall, O’Neill went for a smaller opening, which happily retained the beautiful cornicing.
The kitchen can now share the living room’s plentiful light. O’Neill created a laundry and pantry to the right of the kitchen, which contains the washing machine and shelving.
“It has a sliding door to shut out the washer noise and keep all the messy stuff away,” she says. “I’ve painted the walls in there in the same grey-green as the guest bedroom and a shelving unit in the living room, so it ties the look together.”
The oak units are from Ikea (no longer available). The tall unit on the right houses the fridge-freezer, and there’s a small dishwasher next to it, plus an oven and an induction stove to the left.
The oak shelf was custom-made and has a lip at the front to hide an LED strip. “Quite often, LEDs can be stuck on and they’re quite glarey, whereas this has a diffuser,” says O’Neill.
As you can see from the previous photo, the step leading up to the kitchen was already there, due to drainage needs for the bathroom, but it helped with the layout. “It creates this really nice divide,” says O’Neill.
Renovating on a budget? Find an architect near you who can tailor your vision to your budget
“It has a sliding door to shut out the washer noise and keep all the messy stuff away,” she says. “I’ve painted the walls in there in the same grey-green as the guest bedroom and a shelving unit in the living room, so it ties the look together.”
The oak units are from Ikea (no longer available). The tall unit on the right houses the fridge-freezer, and there’s a small dishwasher next to it, plus an oven and an induction stove to the left.
The oak shelf was custom-made and has a lip at the front to hide an LED strip. “Quite often, LEDs can be stuck on and they’re quite glarey, whereas this has a diffuser,” says O’Neill.
As you can see from the previous photo, the step leading up to the kitchen was already there, due to drainage needs for the bathroom, but it helped with the layout. “It creates this really nice divide,” says O’Neill.
Renovating on a budget? Find an architect near you who can tailor your vision to your budget
As this ‘before’ shot shows, the existing kitchen needed some love. The shutters aren’t original, but O’Neill has reinstated them since the photos were taken.
The detail that really elevates the kitchen is the pine batten cladding on the back of the peninsula, which introduces pleasing vertical lines. “With the pine cladding, I just wanted to do something quite inexpensive and easily available,” says O’Neill, “so these are off-the-shelf, plain, softwood battens secured to a plywood back, then just whitewashed.”
O’Neill kept the hot-water heater (seen on the left in the previous photo) in the same position to save money and simply boxed it in using more cladding.
The peninsula unit only has a depth of 600 millimetres (the standard depth of a regular kitchen bench) and sits below pendant lights from Ferm Living. “Many people think a kitchen island has to be big, but this does all the things you need it to,” says O’Neill.
There’s no breakfast bar here, as one might expect. “With the level change, it wouldn’t have quite worked, as you’d need really tall stools,” says O’Neill. It makes a good bar area on social occasions, though, with friends able to stand there with a drink. “And sometimes I stand on that side to work,” she says. “It’s quite a good level to put the laptop on, because it’s much higher, so it’s like a standing desk.”
To keep renovation costs down, O’Neill didn’t change the living room floorboards, but simply sanded the orange-varnished pine to lighten it. The kitchen flooring is 600 x 600-millimetre concrete-effect porcelain tiles.
O’Neill kept the hot-water heater (seen on the left in the previous photo) in the same position to save money and simply boxed it in using more cladding.
The peninsula unit only has a depth of 600 millimetres (the standard depth of a regular kitchen bench) and sits below pendant lights from Ferm Living. “Many people think a kitchen island has to be big, but this does all the things you need it to,” says O’Neill.
There’s no breakfast bar here, as one might expect. “With the level change, it wouldn’t have quite worked, as you’d need really tall stools,” says O’Neill. It makes a good bar area on social occasions, though, with friends able to stand there with a drink. “And sometimes I stand on that side to work,” she says. “It’s quite a good level to put the laptop on, because it’s much higher, so it’s like a standing desk.”
To keep renovation costs down, O’Neill didn’t change the living room floorboards, but simply sanded the orange-varnished pine to lighten it. The kitchen flooring is 600 x 600-millimetre concrete-effect porcelain tiles.
The rhythm of the pine cladding is replicated in the verticality of the splashback tiles from Fired Earth in the UK, O’Neill explains. “I got these because they have that look of being handmade, even though they aren’t, and are more affordable than zellige [tiles],” she says. “They have a slight lilac tint to them.”
Between the kitchen and living room, O’Neill has slotted in a dining area. The chairs belonged to her grandmother. “They’re in pretty ropey condition, but they go quite nicely,” she says. The Habitat oak-veneer table is one of the only pieces of furniture Lizzie purchased new.
The windows have also been upgraded to reduce heat loss. “I got a local guy to replace all the windows with slim double glazing – you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from the original ones,” she says.
The windows have also been upgraded to reduce heat loss. “I got a local guy to replace all the windows with slim double glazing – you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from the original ones,” she says.
The orange tiles in the fireplace are original. “They’re kind of love or hate,” says O’Neill with a laugh, “but I think they work really well. The whole palette is quite earthy and there are lots of plants, artwork and antique furniture, so the tiles go, and are quite a striking feature.”
The fabulous ceiling rose is original. The second-hand pine unit on the right of the fireplace hides the TV and adds to the home’s contemporary bohemian flavour.
The fabulous ceiling rose is original. The second-hand pine unit on the right of the fireplace hides the TV and adds to the home’s contemporary bohemian flavour.
It took a long time to choose the off-white for the living room walls and O’Neill tried out a lot of paints before settling on Rolling Fog Pale by UK-based paint company Little Greene. “The previous colour was lovely, but I wanted to make it all light and bright,” she says.
“This has a slight pinky tone to it, but it’s also stony – not too cool,” she says. “It makes a lovely backdrop for the different timbers – the oak, which has an orange tinge, and the pine of the TV cabinet and floorboards.”
“This has a slight pinky tone to it, but it’s also stony – not too cool,” she says. “It makes a lovely backdrop for the different timbers – the oak, which has an orange tinge, and the pine of the TV cabinet and floorboards.”
A grey-green shelving unit in Dulux Misty Moss runs the length of the room and holds everything from books to O’Neill’s favourite pieces of pottery. “I had the cabinet custom-made from MDF and painted, so it’s really simple but designed to fit my things,” she says. “It was a cost-effective way of getting a really big shelving unit.”
O’Neill made the architectural model herself for a former project. “That was back in the days when I had time to make models,” she says.
O’Neill made the architectural model herself for a former project. “That was back in the days when I had time to make models,” she says.
The Ikea curtains are simple cotton and O’Neill simply bought some oak dowel to create the curtain rod. The sofa is also Ikea, but purchased from a marketplace site. “A couple were getting rid of it, as they’d just had twins and it was too low for them to breastfeed, so I got an almost brand-new sofa for next to nothing,” she says. “I just changed the feet to oak to marry up with everything.”
O’Neill put new column-radiator heaters in all the rooms, which happily chime with the vertical lines throughout.
O’Neill put new column-radiator heaters in all the rooms, which happily chime with the vertical lines throughout.
O’Neill’s bedroom is painted in a similarly pale, calming shade, but she’s gone for a pinky-purple on the wardrobe. “I just thought I’d go a bit bold with that,” she says.
It was made to measure, as the walls are “a little bit wonky”, but O’Neill couldn’t quite decide what she wanted for the doors, so left them off initially. She’s since put some on (see the next photo).
It was made to measure, as the walls are “a little bit wonky”, but O’Neill couldn’t quite decide what she wanted for the doors, so left them off initially. She’s since put some on (see the next photo).
She eventually decided on louvred doors for the wardrobe. “They were off-the-shelf pine doors that I cut to fit and whitewashed,” she says.
Browse more beautiful bedrooms
Browse more beautiful bedrooms
The fireplace is the original Victorian one with a slate hearth. “I like the slightly rough, worn look,” says O’Neill.
The Ercol oak bed is one of the items O’Neill splashed out on. She fitted a slim oak shelf above it to display pictures and other treasures. “It’s a nice way of mixing it up,” she says. “I quite often change the things on there.”
There’s a small row of hooks to the side of the bed to keep things tidy. “I bought a couple of these in the antiques market – one for the hall and one for in here,” she says. “I think it’s nice to hang up clothes rather than piling them on a chair.”
The bespoke bench was custom-made, partly to be used in the bedroom and partly for when O’Neill needs extra seating in the dining area.
The bespoke bench was custom-made, partly to be used in the bedroom and partly for when O’Neill needs extra seating in the dining area.
The guest bedroom/home office is painted in the same green as the laundry and the living room’s shelving unit: Misty Moss by Dulux. “I just wanted it to feel a bit cosier in here,” says O’Neill. “It’s the reverse of the other rooms, which are all light, but have elements of this colour in the furniture.”
The green works beautifully as a backdrop for the various timbers – the pine floor, oak bed and reclaimed side tables.
The green works beautifully as a backdrop for the various timbers – the pine floor, oak bed and reclaimed side tables.
The room looks out onto a beautiful leafy view and it’s very quiet, so this is an ideal space in which to work. There’s a desk in the right-hand alcove and shelving to the left for spare bedding and office paraphernalia.
“I can’t leave my bike downstairs because of fire regulations, so that’s hung up,” says O’Neill. The cupboard stores items that aren’t used very often, so access isn’t an issue.
The natural tones and timber continue into the bathroom. The tiles have an interesting glaze with a variation in colour and bring a touch of earthy green into the bathing space, too.
There’s a lovely mix of different timbers again in here, with a vintage mirror, olive-wood accessories and a sycamore vanity unit.
The top of the unit is protected with Osmo oil. “I’m careful not to get too much water on it, but it’s a year old now and has held up really well,” says O’Neill.
The top of the unit is protected with Osmo oil. “I’m careful not to get too much water on it, but it’s a year old now and has held up really well,” says O’Neill.
The home is perfect for its owner. “Even though it’s only a two-bed flat, it has everything it needs and you can tidy everything away quite easily,” she says.
Renovating the apartment has given O’Neill a real appreciation of her home. “Taking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room was one of the really interesting things,” she says. “Even though it was a very old timber stud wall with lath and plaster on it, inside they’d filled it with rubble, and within the rubble we found interesting artefacts – little drinks bottles, matchboxes and even a cigarette card that dated to around 1900.
“In the process of renovating, you come to be more connected to the building, because you find out interesting things about it,” she says. “It’s been a proper labour of love.”
Your turn
What are your favourite elements in this refreshed apartment? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
You won’t want to miss this stunning Houzz Tour: A Warm, Modern Farmhouse for an Outdoorsy Family
Renovating the apartment has given O’Neill a real appreciation of her home. “Taking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room was one of the really interesting things,” she says. “Even though it was a very old timber stud wall with lath and plaster on it, inside they’d filled it with rubble, and within the rubble we found interesting artefacts – little drinks bottles, matchboxes and even a cigarette card that dated to around 1900.
“In the process of renovating, you come to be more connected to the building, because you find out interesting things about it,” she says. “It’s been a proper labour of love.”
Your turn
What are your favourite elements in this refreshed apartment? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
You won’t want to miss this stunning Houzz Tour: A Warm, Modern Farmhouse for an Outdoorsy Family
Related Stories
Houzz Tours
France Houzz: A New Island Home With an Old Soul
Check out this young family's welcoming and characterful French island home on Île d’Yeu, which embraces local style
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Germany Houzz: A Small Cabin Transformed Into a Forest Retreat
In this secluded area in the Taunus mountains of Germany, a family enjoys their weekends in 29 square metres of space
Full Story
Houzz TV
London Houzz: Tour a Contemporary Loft in an Old Victorian School
Watch and read how a design firm updated this light and airy apartment in an old block with sleek style and warm touches
Full Story
Garden Design
Spain Garden Tour: A Mediterranean Makeover With Colour & Texture
Once neglected, this naturalistic garden is now a series of outdoor rooms with idyllic spots to swim, dine and relax
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Berlin Houzz: A Touch of Japanese Forest Bathing in a German Home
Beloved memories of Japan come to life with the renovation of this 120-square-metre apartment in Berlin, Germany
Full Story
Houzz Tours
London Houzz: Daring Colour & Texture Transform a Victorian Home
By Kate Burt
The busy owners of this terrace sought help to design outside their decor comfort zone – the result is a cool classic
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Germany Houzz: Creating Summer & Winter Homes in a Converted Barn
One barn, two homes – see how architects designed separate zones for summer and winter living in an old country barn
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Before & After: Finding the Perfect Pink in a Barcelona Kitchen
Barely-there pink acts as a warm neutral in a new open-plan Spanish kitchen, replacing dark cabinets and drab finishes
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Before & After: Colour Blocking & Pattern Nod to Nature in Rome
Move and upsize or stay and renovate? This young family chose the latter in their small Italian apartment – here's why
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Barcelona Houzz: Style, Sustainability and Pattern in a Tiny Flat
Part-renovation, part-restoration, the owners of this Spanish apartment balanced historical style with forward thinking
Full Story
Love everything about it, especially the orange tiles around the fireplace and the beautiful cornice.
Masterpiece.
What a beautiful renovation. Simplicity with interest, and colour pops at every turn. I wouldnt change a thing and move in tomorrow. It evokes calm yet invigorates at the same time.
I adored that tiled orange fireplace....