PRE RENOVATION / EMPTY HOUSE TOUR | Laura Melhuish-Sprague 

Don't do the en suite! It would be a shame to lose the light and character. What a beautiful home, it has such potential.. Congratulations! X

First of all: congratulations on the house. Second: Don’t do the en-suite!!! Just because you have the space doesn’t mean you have to fill it up. When we first moved in to our place we had a huge room like yours. First it was a living/dining room, afterwards it became a huge playroom for the children. In the winter it’s good to not feel claustrophobic and be able to have a dance party if you feel like it. I’m looking forward to your renovation videos, but please don’t stop making the fashion ones

Hermoine Chantel has recently been working on a Victorian remodel. She is doing it on a budget and she might have insights. I have lived in houses while doing remodeling, especially plaster and replacing with drywall. It is an extremely dusty and constant clean up process but it can be done. If you do not have young children, it will be much easier. The master bedroom would be lovely with a sitting area to relax together at the start and end of your days. It sounds like each floor will have at least one bathroom. Hermoine connected her dining room and living room with an opening as you are describing. It made a beautiful difference for her rooms. Your fireplaces are gorgeous. I wonder if the paint would be able to be removed from the upstairs fireplaces? Your home has some incredible potential and with time and patience it will come through. Good luck.

The garden room looks like a perfect reading room. It would make a nice office, library or den. Or an additional sitting room. It has a lovely view ❤

Do the wall paper in the hall because you can bet 6 months lateryou will regret not doing it straight up. Its gong to be beautiful Laura, you must be so excited! X

Your house's layout is very similar to fellow RU-vidr Hermione Chantal's except she has a open living/dining room. You should check her channel for decorating advice & tips.

Keep the cupboard under the stairs it’s total Harry Potter vibes!!!!

I think it’s smart to take on a lodger to help with renovation costs! I would do laminate instead of carpet, it’s much more durable/easy to clean, and I think it looks nicer too. White walls, natural light, and a light toned wide plank laminate would look so dreamy in there 😍

I can already tell this is going to be such a beautiful home even before the big renovations! X

So exciting! Can’t wait to watch the renovations. You can hear the excitement in your voice. Good luck with it all 😊👍

It’s so amazing to look back and see how far you guys have come!

Wow, the house has such beautiful bones! I’m excited for y’all. I have to say the prior decorations are some of the most unusual I’ve ever seen. Many people wouldn’t have been able to see beyond them.

Omg that’s so exciting! Knowing your style I’m sure it will be beautiful!😍💕

Absolutely beautiful house, loving the spaces and there is so much potential for it to look just stunning! Congratulations Laura, I am sure you will do it up beautifully. I would not put an ensuite in, I think more than one window in a room is such a rare gorgeous feature that I would not want to give that up. There is opportunity for a vanity, reading corner, chaise - you could do so much with the space but still leave the bedroom as a a truly special place with the extra space and light!

I've been watching your renovations since the beginning and just rewarched this. Wow its hard to believe its thr same place!!! You've put sooo much effort and love and style into it, it's been amazing to watch it transform!

What a lovely house I can see why you loved it! It’s going to look lovely when it’s finished can’t wait xx

Please donate the furniture, don't just order a tip! Someone could really use it and most of it looks pretty okay and functional

Beautiful house. It has so much potential! Very exciting times!!

I watched this after seeing a bunch of others and didn't realize you had a second floor- LOL. Love some of your comments before you began working on some of the rooms and realized how big a few of the jobs morphed into. Love your channel!

I can see why you bought to the house full of period features !

She's a beauty. I can't wait to see how you fix her up. Congratulations.

Congratulations! What a gorgeous space. We look forward to watching your renovation journey!

We moved into our house 3 years ago and have been gradually working on it (new windows/damp proofing etc.) but last year we had our major remodel where we opened up the kitchen into a kitchen/diner. WE are so happy we did it, and it suits our lifestyle really well. SO while I love opening up a house, I would say be careful about opening up too much. I'm really glad I still have a separate living room as its nice to get away from the rest of the house and the kitchen in the evening. And don't do the en suite, if you have enough bathrooms already. Those double windows are something really special. And as you have so many extra bedrooms you could totally make one of those a dressing room!! All the best with all the work! I'm a little bit jealous you're getting to start this journey but in a way totally not! haha enjoy!

I’d say keep the front living room and dining room separate rooms, and from the kitchen back open plan

OMG Laura it’s huge! Congratulations! It’s very similar to the house I wanted that got away! 😢 I would definitely live in the house for a bit before deciding what to do, but personally I think I would add the en-suite. It will be a huge shame to eat into the room, but I think when you have more and more people over you’ll start to want to be able to just get ready in your room without running down the corridor in your towel! 💗💗💗💗💗

Congrats on your new home, it's gorgeous! Can't wait to see the renovation vlogs :)

Just started watching your channel and I think you and your partner are absolutely amazing. Your videos are fantastic and inspiring. I love what you’ve managed to achieve and I’m definitely enjoying the process with you. Thank you for sharing this amazing journey, well done to you both. You’re also such beautiful couple.

Love love love your renovation videos. Please keep doing them

Wow super potential in your gorgeous property. I have an en-suite and find it so useful ! Can’t wait to see the house develop 😊

I'm going to love following along with this!

I LOVE the size of your house!!!!!!! Can't wait to watch your more recent videos to see what you've done with it :-)

Omg congrats !!!! Loving this Reno! I think you should knock down the walls from the front to let it flow to the garden, open up the space :)

Love how beautiful and big the house is!

Congratulations to you both on your new home 💕 so much potential (we’re hoping to move back to the South West too ) I’m looking forward to following you on this journey as it’s something we’d love to do too.

Oh .! Such a lovely project to get your teeth into .so many lovely rooms Sandalwood floor sanders to a excellent job .. no mess and dust free .. I live in the southwest .. the area looks familiar . Good times ahead happy house renovating.. 👯X

Congrats on the new home Laura. Rather than an en-suite, perhaps consider fitting a closet somewhere in the room. I can’t wait to see the finished house :)

What a gorgeous home! Definitely live there before making massive decisions! I certainly wouldn’t put in an en-suite in that beautiful bedroom. Honestly when/if you have children, they’ll eventually be upstairs and have their own shower room/toilet anyway! We’ve now done 3 home renovations in Australia and my only advice is......Write a list of priorities that you’d like to tackle first, if not you’ll be completely overwhelmed and go way over budget❤️

from our experience open plan in these old houses is very hard to heat and the house never fully warms up. We have put the waala back up where they would of been and it is so much better. We not have different spaces which we can decorate differently and each room stays warm! :)

Wow so mig 😱 Congratulations! Definitely put an en-suite 👍

Why is it I like the pink room? 😂 Just found your channel and looking forward to seeing the progress... it's a beautiful home!

loved this! congrats on the house...😘 I actually loved the 1000 of different "pictures" on the bathroom walls.... I have really specific taste... hehe 😁

Omg that is one project 😱 Be very interesting to see the completion 😊

If you decide to create an en suite in the master bedroom, I would suggest installing a clear transom window above the door and using a frosted glass door. You seem most worried about losing the natural light from the solo window being walled off behind a bathroom wall, but this would allow much of that light to still entire the master bedroom. The bay windows let in such beautiful light too. It's a great space. Excited to see what you & Ollie decide upon.

I live in a house with a big open plan living room/kitchen/ dining area and my saving grace is having a separate snug! I would never design this way again - it is noisy and expensive to heat and cool, very difficult to keep tidy and the cooking smells permeate the whole house. In your lovely new house I would definitely keep the living and dining room separate and create an open plan area at the back - much easier to heat and sound proof. If you ever have children - then the dining room can become a playroom, the living room can be a quiet tidy room and the open plan area can be a family room/ kitchen / diner. Plus if you can keep the downstairs bathroom as a shower room / laundry, it will be very useful for guests in the future and for coming in from the garden / hanging out washing. As for the ensuite depends how many bedrooms you have - is there a small one next to your room you can turn into a dressing room/ ensuite?

Beautiful, beautiful home with so much character. I expect to be the only comment suggesting you leave the kitchen as is or just replace the countertop, cabinet hardware and maybe the appliances. The suggestion to live in the place (minus opening up the wall, replacing floor and wall coverings/painting) is excellent advice. Good luck with all the renovations!

hmmm - here I am re-watching the entire renno series again while I wait for your latest vlog :-)

I'm with your mum!! Don't do the ensuite, I'm a big believer in the saying "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should", lol. You are going to have a massive bathroom on that floor anyway, spend the extra money on that! When you have kids they'll want to be upstairs and will have their own bathroom, you have another bathroom downstairs which can be for guests so that huge bathroom on the same floor as your bedroom will virtually be yours alone anyway. Opening up the bottom floor is a great idea too! Cant wait to see it all come together and love that you are keeping original features. It's going to look amazing! X

Such a beautiful house and i look forward to watching your renovation journey 😍 perhaps you could put a roll top bath with shower tap in your master bedroom? That would give such a wow factor and make it feel so grand and luxurious 😍 just a thought! Xx love your videos

Pinterest has amazing Inspo!! I’m doing up a house with my other half before we move in. Old Victorian house that I love and can’t actually wait to do the hallway

Hi Laura......only just tuned into your channel yesterday....i can't wait to see your house when finished. You really remind of Kate Middleton !! I hope this doesn't offend. I love the video of you and your mum shopping so nice to see a nice close relationship. X

Maybe my ideas are a bit late, but I do have an idea for your "garden room". What do you think about making it into a sitting-room (put in sofa's and comfy chairs), open op the entrance to the garden, and in the summer it's a perfect room for gatherings

So I'm thinking that I wouldn't do an ensuite, if you put in a shower room on the very top floor and have a lovely big bathroom on the 1st floor and re-make a small bathroom/shower room downstairs when you do the extension that will be plenty of bathrooms/toilets for you and any guests/lodger and you can retain the grandeur of the master bedroom. I'm loving other people's comments of ideas on a reading nook or a dressing area for the master bedroom. It's a truly stunning house! Good luck with your renovations x

Congratulations, it is a fabulous house and will be beautiful when it's all done. I wouldn't put in the ensuite, it isn't necessary and would spoil the proportions of that lovely room. Looking forward to seeing the changes.

Just randomly discovered you and loving catching up on these videos. With some of the things you're thinking like the en suite, it's good to live in the house and see how it works for you before deciding! Sounds like you're planning to wait for some of the big changes though so maybe you already thought of that.

also the furniture in the bedroom upstairs looks sturdy and well made why don't you upcycle? Much cheaper than replacing it - that wardrobe could go on the wall without a fireplace in the second room and the bedhead and chest of drawers stay in the same room, with new handles and a coat of paint the details would really stand out beautifully!

Such a lovely project, with gorgeous fireplaces and cornicing already in place. In the 1960s, my father-in-law covered panelled doors with hardboard to make them look modern - some of the neighbours were so impressed that he did it for them too! Bannisters were often covered up too - at least if features are just boxed in and not removed completely they can be reinstated. One piece of advice often given is to live in a house for a while before changing too much, as ideas can alter with how you find yourself using spaces. Anyway, I am sure you will enjoy the challenges ahead, and your new house will soon be a beautiful home for you both - looking forward to regular progress updates and reveals! We get to enjoy the results without any of the hard work...

I love it!

Turn that backroom into a lodgers room for the time being then turn it into a library/sunroom

Wow, gorgeous! The potential in your home is amazing! You have probably already watched this but The Frugality's bedroom renovation videos and blog posts where she added an ensuite may be helpful for you in making a decision.

I’ve seen some of your house renovation but came across this video. It’s an enormous task but you have a whole lifetime to do it. I hope you haven’t thrown out some of the lovely old furniture that was left. There is money to be made and some of it is worth selling. You could look for some one who does house clearances. It would give you more to add to the renovation. Well done with the work that you’ve been doing. Don’t forget to have time out and have fun.

Love all the character in the home, I can see why you fell in love with it. Are there original hardwood floors under the carpet that you intend to restore? Do you know what year the house was built? Can't wait to watch the process.

Hi Laura, I just discovered your channel, and good luck for the renovation. I think that the bedroom is really nice as is, but an idea for the ensuite could be to have a glass wall, something that keeps continuity and but separates at the same time. Of course it's a really minimal and specific taste, but maybe you can look at some ideas on pinterest

Your house kinda looks like Hermonie Chantal’ house. She knocked down the wall you can look her livingroom to get the idea

May be too late for you, but Rust Oleum sells tub/tile spray (in white) which you may be able to get!

What a beautiful house 😍!! I can’t wait to see how it will turn out. But please please please don’t add an on suite in you master 🙏 either way congratulations on your new house

A wood burner would go where the Rayburn is and use it as a snug/ kitchen with comfy chairs

Laura, is blogging your full-time job? I’d be interested to see how you afford a property as sizeable as this one (congrats btw, can’t wait to see your renovations!)

hi I'm new here 😍 i love renovation videos! what a beautiful huge house...in London!! goals! good luck:)

🐼 Big Bear Hugs from a 67 yr old grandma in Kirby, Texas, USA 🐼 🖤🖤🖤

Beautiful house! I'm excited for you! I hope you won't paint over wallpaper, even as a temporary measure. It would make it much harder to eventually strip.

I would in the future rip out the downstairs bathroom and open it up to the lightroom which would allow open living

This house looks like harmoine chantal's (another youtuber). Hope your house turn out Beautiful in future. Best wishes to you guys.👍👍

Love our idea for the bathroom - you just don't seen all that hallway space.

Dear Laura Melhuish-Sprague; You Have Bought Splendid Looking House. Which Has Interiors in a good Shape. In these Renovations I Assume Personally that The House when The Burdensome Renovations Have been worked in The Finals. The House Corresponds Exactly The wishes of the Owners. Very Important Spaces I Would Categorise The Kitchen the Living Room the Bedrooms and The Bathroom With Showers and Preferrably a Bathtub or what is Even better Steem Shower. Allthough I'm a Finnish\ Italian Person I'm Preffering Showers compared in Sauna. Spacious Wardrobes For Your Fashion Items Are of Utmost Importance. Good Luck on Your Renovation Project. Sami Morelli; City of Espoo Finland

I’ve just discovered your home videos, so I may be way too late with this comment, but your house footprint is really similar to Hermione Chantal’s. She’s renovated hers. May give you some ideas 😊

There's a girl on here called lily pebbles she renovated her house with a small extention which would look lovely on ur house take a look it's beautiful can't wait 2 see what u do xxx

So much that did to get done.

I live in a 150 year old home. Anything we renovated rather than restored I regret, starting with the windows. Old windows are made to be fixable. Even though we paid dearly for matching size double pane windows (for looks and energy efficiency) they are beginning to have problems. One has a broken pane and can not be fixed by us (though we have carpentry experience). Another fits poorly in the vinyl track (the rest is wood) and lets in air. They have no real style, unlike yours that have the little stoppers in the middle (don't know what they are called). Studies have said that a good fitting old window, with a storm window typically, have every bit of the energy efficiency of replacement windows. There are people who do this for a living, and even have youtube channels :) Obviously this is all your decision, but I thought I'd offer a different perspective. Restore for the win, not unnecessary modernizing (you'll never keep pace, ha). This is the first of your videos I have watched, so who knows how this is beginning to work out. I'll watch and see. For possible context, I am a 60+ woman, married with many children and grandchildren, in this home for going on 40 years. Will probably die here, hopefully not any time soon, but I am committed for the long haul in this home and in this community. Nearly every house but mine in my village has been thoroughly vinylized so my house sticks out like a weird old sore thumb, even with the "updated" windows.

According to your plans with the uostairs bathroom! It’s not suach a good idea to have sinks with mirrors on the opoosite wall to the windows, because it would be immposible to see anything in the mirror with the sun hitting it.

I'm new to your channel, and wonder whether the shrieks of 'no ensuite' come from Brits? I say this because ensuites are common place in north america and every home i have had so far (5) have all had ensuites and i would never live without one! They create a safe refuge from unpleasant guests, they are completely private and not available to children or guests. They can be a life saver.

There’s so much you can do with the lovely house! Congrats! Wouldn’t it be better to do everything (long term + short term) in one go? Are you in a rush to move in? I find it really weird to move in somewhere before it is renovated. haha.

You could turn the pink room into your en-suite

Your house is fantastic. The only thing you said that horrified me, is that you want to remove the Rayburn. Don't do it; especially if you are going to knock through for a larger kitchen. For me, under no circumstances would I be getting rid of that. Its place in the kitchen creates part of the character of the house. So charming.

Nice house do not put carpet on the ground floor with all the garden will big a mess, get rid off of the bathroom downstairs , next to the kitchen is a no no, do a laundry room and a small guest wc.

Oh what are the floor boards like might be worth sanding ?

Where in England is this lovely Victorian terrace located? I am not from the UK, any info would be appreciated.

omggg we had the same microwave as u for 10yrs but a new one last yr random but yh

If the master bedroom is big enough for it, you could put in a free standing bath instead of an en-suite

Love the house congratulations

Looking at the top rooms of the house, you have a really big job on here. The thing is they have no heating or insulation and you have to wonder if the floor joists are going to meet the building regs. I mean you can't put a bathroom in the room with the fridge unless the joists are of sufficient depth. At 20.30 I see a window which is way too low to be safe, a child could open it and fall out, your surveyor should have picked this up. Really you are looking at a full strip out back to the rafters and joists before you can do anything, I think you will may need to use a structural engineer before proceeding. You see when these houses were built the servants lived in the attics and they were very lightly furnished, they weren't designed for the weight of bathrooms and all the furniture and belongings we have. Starting from the very beginning, if the house was sold to you as a 6 bedroom house say, then the joists may be OK. But if it was a 4 bedroom house with attic space with 'potential' then you are most likely looking at structural work. It is a complicated area but you need to understand the difference between habitable and non habitable spaces. It also affects your house insurance in a major way. I think you have a very big job on with this house and that you should engage a professional designer ie an architectural technician before undertaking any work. Otherwise you could end up putting the bathroom in and finding the whole attic doesn't meet building regs and it will cost tens of thousands to fix.

Don’t do an en suite! It will ruin that lovely room

Don't knock that living room wall down! It's so much more elegant to have a separate living room. Open concept layouts are not necessary everywhere, especially when you have so much room as it is.

How did they get that freezer all the way to the top of the house?

I invite you to go through the channel of hermione chantal a while ago he bought a house like yours and is reforming it little by little is one of my favorite youtubers, today I just found your channel and I already subs

Where have you moved to please? X

no don't do the ensuite its going to ruin the room I think

i am a boy using a laptop that belongs to my mother

That bathroom 🙈🙈🙈 why the crazy pictures?. Do you know much about the people who lived there before you?

It’s a mirror image of ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VjAV0hGHMTE.html. So excited to see what you do with it x

I wouldn’t waste time, money and energy putting in a temporary kitchens and bathroom.