A Considered, Multi-Phase Transformation

Location: Greenwich, SE10
Property Type: Georgian Terraced House
Project Type: Phased Design & Build Refurbishment
Status: Ongoing – Further Phases Planned

Overview

Some projects don’t begin and end with a single contract. The best ones evolve – each phase carefully considered, each stage building on the last. This Georgian house in Greenwich is exactly that kind of project: a long-term relationship with clients Kristina and Nathan, who acquired the property with a clear vision of what it could become, and entrusted S & M Solutions to help them realise it, one well-planned phase at a time.

Across multiple phases of work – with more still to come – we have progressively transformed this substantial 1900s home from the lower ground floor upwards, restoring its heritage character while bringing it firmly into contemporary living.

Phase One – Lower Ground Floor & Exterior

Structural Works

The lower ground floor refurbishment began with some significant structural intervention. To create the open, flowing layout Kristina and Nathan wanted, we installed a steel beam to facilitate the creation of a new wall opening, into which we fitted bespoke double pocket doors. The result is a seamless transition between rooms — spaces that can breathe together or be divided as needed, without compromising the proportions of the original Georgian layout.

During the strip-out and groundworks phase, the team encountered a decommissioned manhole at the rear of the property — an unforeseen but not unusual discovery in a house of this age. Rather than importing material to resolve it, we used our on-site mini-crushing solution to process demolished brick and concrete from the old front and rear garden walls and slab, compacting the recycled material directly into the manhole void. The same crushed material then formed the hardcore bed beneath the new porcelain terrace — a practical, circular approach that eliminated skip runs, reduced imported materials, and kept waste off the road and out of landfill.

Heritage Restoration

The interior works were guided by a clear principle: restore what’s there before adding anything new. We meticulously revived the original fireplaces, reinstated period ceiling features, and installed intricate coving throughout — details that give Georgian properties their character and are all too often stripped out in lesser refurbishments.

Central heating was modernised throughout, with radiator selection carefully considered to complement rather than clash with the period aesthetic. Herringbone-engineered flooring was laid across the lower ground floor, adding warmth, texture, and a timeless quality that suits the property well.

Exterior & Landscaping

Outside, the transformation was equally thorough. The rear garden was landscaped with a new porcelain patio, incorporating a functional slot drain and feature lighting. A new concrete filled block retaining wall was designed and constructed to define the garden levels, and the front boundary brick wall was fully rebuilt — complete with traditional columns and period-appropriate coping to reinstate the kerb presence the house deserved.

The project ran to 19 weeks — three weeks beyond the original 16-week programme, due to supply delays and scope additions identified during the works. A realistic outcome on a project of this complexity.

Phase Two – Front Steps

With the house’s exterior now structurally sound and the garden transformed, attention turned to the front approach. We returned to design and construct new front steps in natural sandstone — a material chosen for its durability and its sympathy with the Georgian streetscape. The result ties the front elevation together and gives the house an arrival that matches the quality of everything behind it.

First Floor Bathroom & Bedroom

The most technically demanding phase to date began like many do in properties of this age: with a discovery.

During strip-out of the first floor bathroom and bedroom, our team identified the presence of asbestos-containing materials — not uncommon in properties that have been altered at various points through the twentieth century. Work halted immediately and correctly. We coordinated the engagement of specialist licensed contractors to carry out a full asbestos removal and clearance, ensuring the site was certified safe before our team returned to complete the renovation.

It’s worth noting that handling this correctly – stopping work, not cutting corners, bringing in the right people – is not optional. It’s the only approach. The first floor bathroom and bedroom were subsequently renovated to the same standard as the rest of the house.

What’s Next

This project is not finished. Further phases are already in discussion, continuing the careful, room-by-room approach that has defined the work so far. Phasing a project of this scale and complexity allows each element to be properly considered, properly specified, and properly delivered — rather than rushing decisions in a property where the wrong choice has consequences that last decades.

It’s an approach that suits the house, and it suits the clients.

Sustainability Notes

Throughout the project, we applied practical sustainability measures wherever possible:

• On-site material recycling: Demolished brick and concrete were crushed on site and reused as compaction fill and hardcore — no imported aggregate, minimal skip movement.
• Decommissioned manhole resolution: Resolved entirely with recycled crushed material, avoiding excavation and disposal.
• Heritage conservation over replacement: Restoring original fireplaces, cornicing, and ceiling features is inherently lower in embodied carbon than manufacturing and installing new equivalents.
• Considered material selection: Flooring, external stone, and landscaping materials selected for longevity, reducing the likelihood of early replacement.

Client Testimonial

“Conscientious, high-quality workmanship — our home and garden have been beautifully transformed.” — Kristina & Nathan, Greenwich SE10

Interested in a phased refurbishment of your period property in Greenwich or South East London? Book a free consultation with the S & M Solutions team.