Get the London look
When cabinet maker and boat fitter Paul Stevens and his partner Tina Lord first saw their current home it was totally unrecognisable from what it is today.
When cabinet maker and boat fitter Paul Stevens and his partner Tina Lord first saw their current home it was totally unrecognisable from what it is today, writes Cathy Stanworth.
This is because Paul, who has worked on some of the most expensive properties in London owned by super rich Arabs, Russians and pop stars, decided that he would create the London look at home.
His amazing redesign and renovation of this now stunning and extremely high-spec home, has now made Ludworth a one-off.
Done without the help of an architect, the work involved adding a contemporary kitchen and conservatory extension with extremely clever pivoting glass door to a deck, expertly
renovating sash windows to give them an "American/Georgian" theme with new hand-made solid oak sash windows (there are also hand-made solid oak doors), replacing the staircase and creating a top floor master guest suite which also comes with a custom-made teak wood bath.
Materials used in the 22 month full time project included designer Aston and Matthews of Islington sanitary ware, Travertine floor tiles and glass and oak to frame the staircase entrance to the top floor.
Paul skills are so polished that he even made his own kitchen, which has solid oak units with stainless steel bar handles, granite working surfaces and limestone tiled flooring.
As the house lies in a conservation area Paul and Tina had to get permission to knock down a 1970s porch and replace it with a bracket and canopy version copied from next door. He also had to get planning permission to work on the windows.
Ludworth has also been re-roofed, re-wired and re-plumbed throughout and a new damp proof course installed. The rear garden has been landscaped with decking and paving.
The renovation is so impressive that its story has been featured in Move or Improve? magazine.
As Paul, Tina and their son Tom are now ready to move on to one last "project", Ludworth is now up for sale with Balfours of Shrewsbury and Cooper Green of Shrewsbury for £399,000.
It has an entrance hall, living room, dining room, conservatory, breakfast room, custom made kitchen, cloakroom/utility, three
double bedrooms, a wet room, unique second floor bedroom/guest suite and wash room, gas fired central heating and under floor heating in the second floor and a private walled rear garden.
Paul said: "I used to subcontract at houses in Belgravia and The Boltons in London. This house was in a sorry state and I decided to do a watered down version of one of the houses in London."
Paul and Tina bought Ludworth three years ago. Paul said: "We spent a year in it and I worked out what I was going to do and planned it all out.
Tina then lived with her parents and I lived on site and gutted the place."
Work included knocking down the original kitchen, taking out the staircase and reinstalling a dividing wall to recreate the separate lounge.
Paul worked full time on the renovation and it looks like he enjoyed every minute of it. He said: "I love the design process."
Tina said: "And this is one of the most popular areas of Shrewsbury and it's becoming even more popular now that there's a new theatre and cocktail bars being built.
The whole area is being developed. And there's a real sense of community round here." Ludworth is literally minutes away from town. It is also opposite St George's Church.
Tina said: "There's a lot of people who have lived here for 20 or 30 years, and on Sunday you still see people going to church."
The front door leads you into the entrance hall. A staircase leads immediately up from the left. A door to the right opens to the living room.
Behind the living room is the open-plan dining room which leads into the conservatory and adjoining breakfast room, a door from which opens to the utility.
The kitchen lies at the back of the house. Off the first floor is a good-sized landing, two doors to the right, opening to two double bedrooms plus another at the rear to another.
A door to the left opens to the stunning, extremely high spec wet room. A staircase to the right leads up to the stunning second floor with bedroom, en-suite and teak wood bath.
Further details are available from Balfours of Windsor Place, Shrewsbury on 01743 353511 or Cooper Green of Barker Street, Shrewsbury on 01743 276666.
AT A GLANCE:
Type of property: Character three bedroom family home
Situated: Shrewsbury
Owner: Paul Stevens and Tina Lord
Bought in: 2004
Style: High-spec home which has been expertly renovated
Worth around: £399,000
