Timeless style

Matt Peover and Naomi Sheldon's restored 1930s semi is the perfect home for their new family and their collection of vintage furniture

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When Matt Peover and his wife Naomi Sheldon inherited a 1930s semi from Matt’s 91-year-old aunt Dorothy, they were living in an ex-council flat in Stepney, east London. The house was a welcome and timely gift, but it was far from habitable. ‘We had to do all of the work before moving in,’ says Matt, who is a theatre director. ‘The house hadn’t had any attention in sixty years. There were cracks in the ceilings, a 1950s kitchen and wallpaper was peeling off. Dorothy had lived in one room and refused to change anything.’ Not only did the couple have almost no experience in renovating properties, but the process was complicated by the need to obtain probate - plus it became a race to complete the works before the arrival of their twins.

MAKING PLANS

With help from Jonathan Duffett of Yard Architects, Matt and Naomi took on the task of modernising their home. They decided to extend the three-bedroom property, adding a kitchen, dining and living space at the rear, and a fourth bedroom with an en-suite bathroom in the loft. The house is a typical 1930s design, with a curved front bay window and steel-framed windows. The new extension has a graceful curved corner to echo the bay window, with exterior tiles in vibrant green inspired by those in the original bathroom.

Without the benefit of recommendations or prior experience, Matt and Naomi found their architects through solid research, meeting around three firms in person at the property. The couple chose Yard Architects as they were easy going and more open about the process. ‘The team at Yard were excited about responding to the period of the building,’ says Matt.