Publications
Practical Advice - Exterior & garden
Read our articles about the outdoors. These cover gardens and leisure time spent in the great outdoors for people who appreciate old buildings.
How to buy bricks to extend your Victorian house
When carrying out an extension on a period house, there are many things to consider. However, a fundamental consideration if you wish your extension to seamlessly mesh with your existing house is the size, colour and texture of the bricks you use. You need to…
How to buy bricks to extend your Victorian house
When carrying out an extension on a period house, there are many things to consider. However, a fundamental consideration if you wish your extension to seamlessly mesh with your existing house is the size, colour and texture of the bricks you use. You need to make sure they are as close to the original bricks as possible and that new bricks have gone through an ageing process to match the appearance of your older, more worn ones. How to…
How to create a Victorian rockery
During the Victorian era, fashionable gardeners created a wide range of artificial landscapes from rockeries and ferneries to elaborate water gardens. These brought together many elements of Victorian interests and passions such as garden design, landscaping,…
How to create a Victorian rockery
During the Victorian era, fashionable gardeners created a wide range of artificial landscapes from rock gardens and ferneries to elaborate water gardens. A Victorian rockery embodied their passion for travel, plant collecting and gardening. It brought together many elements of Victorian interests and passions such as garden design, landscaping, botany, geology and innovation in materials and techniques. As rockeries becomes increasingly…
How to make your garden look like a Victorian garden
The size of the garden of a Victorian house can really vary and tends to depend on what type of house you live in. In urban areas, most terraced and semi detached Victorian houses have a small strip of garden the width of the house but often really long with…
How to make your garden look like a Victorian garden
The size of the garden of a Victorian house can really vary and tends to depend on what type of house you live in. In urban areas, most terraced and semi detached Victorian houses have a small strip of garden the width of the house but often really long with room for borders, a pathway, a seating area and a compost heap! On the other hand many city terraces may have just a small yard with space for a couple of chairs.
Reclamation yard top tips
When you are renovating a period property, it’s the unique and authentic vintage elements that you add to it that make the project truly memorable. We are passionate about finding the best vintage or quality reproduction items to transform period properties…
Reclamation yard top tips
When you are renovating a period property, it’s the unique and authentic vintage elements that you add to it that make the project truly memorable.We are passionate about finding the best vintage or quality reproduction items to transform period properties from projects to a stylish Victorian period property house refurbishment project management success!
How To Use Victorian Wrought Iron Railings
The main function for the Victorians of railings and gates at the boundary of their property was to mark where one property began and another ended and separate the homes from the public highway and provide a level of security from unwanted intruders.
How To Use Victorian Wrought Iron Railings
The use of iron to create decorative Victorian wrought iron railings increased during the 19th Century. This is because the middle class Victorians used the interior and exterior décor of their homes as a means to impress visitors with their prosperity and good taste. As the first impression of the home would be made by the exterior elements, with the railings at the boundary of the land, these were given much importance as a means to…
How to choose Driveway Gates
Most people choose to have cast iron driveway gates painted in black and many impressive and ornate examples can be seen in Stately homes and historic houses throughout the world.
How to choose Driveway Gates
Driveway gates are both practical and can form part of a beautiful and impressive entrance to your home. Driveway gates can be wooden or metal. For a Victorian or period property, black cast iron driveway gates are the obvious choice for many reasons, although if you are restricted on budget, wooden gates can also look attractive.
Choosing Victorian Door Furniture
The most relevant finishes to choose for a period house are black iron or brass which can be smooth or rough cast brass in finish. Here is a brief guide to the main elements of Victorian door furniture.
Choosing Victorian Door Furniture
There is a wide variety of different items that can be purchased to enhance the aesthetics of your Victorian door. This applies to both the front door of your Victorian house and the internal doors. Victorian door furniture are both functional and can also be extremely decorative. The most relevant finishes to choose for a period house are black iron or brass which can be smooth or rough cast brass in finish. Here is a brief guide to the…
Tiles for Victorian porches
The Victorian porch provided ample opportunity to show this facet of the Victorians to the full. The typical Victorian porch would be reached after a short walk from the gate, up the tiled pathway, and then up a step or two.
Tiles for Victorian porches
The Victorians were always keen to show others the extent of their wealth and good taste, and as such their houses should be viewed within this context. Ornate plasterwork, decorative wooden mouldings, chandeliers, decorative gates and railings should all be seen as ways of demonstrating to any guests the prosperity and regard for aesthetics of the householder.
Create your own Victorian-style garden
Whether you choose to simply add Victorian-style furniture and ornaments to your garden, or opt for a full landscaped transformation, you can guarantee that your Victorian-style garden will be a real showstopper for many years to come.
Create your own Victorian-style garden
The Victorian era is renowned for its elegance and grandeur. This historical period was also celebrated for its progressive thinking when it comes to gardening and landscaping – new and influential discoveries from this era included garden tools, lawnmowers and giant glasshouses. If you’ve always been a fan of the Victorian period, why not create your own Victorian-style garden and bring the past back to life? Even if you don't live in a…
Types of Victorian Exterior Lighting
There are a number of different types of outdoor lighting you can use. These can be as decorative or plain as you wish – they will still fulfil the same function of providing light.
Types of Victorian Exterior Lighting
Outdoor lighting serves a number of different functions. It can be used for the illumination of say your driveway or entrance making it easier to retrieve your keys etc. Outdoor lights are also used for the purposes of home security – burglars are averse to lights and you will feel safer if you can see your way from your car or gate to your front door. As well as the practical benefits of outdoor lighting there is a notable aesthetic…
