This high-end luxury refurbishment was completed with Hampstead as a magnet for literature enthusiasts in mind.
As a single chapter in the story of London’s affinity for books, this piece of 19th-century history began with Sir William Nicoll. He founded the British Weekly newspaper, and his personal comfort was the upstairs library. Nicoll’s influence as a contemporary lived on through the bespoke custom furniture and finishes of this refurbishment.
We provided our overseas client with reassuring honesty as we carefully navigated the complexities of a dated, deteriorating interior. It was an amalgamation of two flats and a complete back-to-bricks renovation that saw the first floor of ‘Bay Tree Lodge’ converted into one high-end luxury apartment.
Our story of this grade-listed Georgian refurbishment began while we were working on a neighbouring Hampstead home.
The client had previously struggled to find a team of builders who could handle the complex details and bespoke joinery of their own project.
Our neighbouring site was neat and organised, our team was professional, and our tour of the neighbour’s completed luxury refurbishment was an overwhelming success.
The renovation of Bay Tree Lodge ran smoothly, but not without some surprises along the way. We found old chimney stacks where we planned to install structural supports. We had to replace them and build proper supports to carry the load of 3 structural beams to open up the lower part of the house.
Such situations are unpredictable, yet we are always ready to face the challenge when they occur.
Each week, we moved the relationship with our new client forward with progress reports that included photography and site meetings with the entire project team.
We uncovered and repaired several other non-decorative features, such as structural ties and cast-in concrete beams, which are not unusual in a complex back-to-bricks renovation.
Warmth was a top priority, so we installed London’s must-have heat PIR insulation and double-glazed, council-approved windows identical to the existing building.
We met the budget and earned high praise by implementing proven solutions based on our vast experience. Just as this chapter of the home was about to close, we were asked to extend the project budget by a further 2%. This decision was premeditated and based on honest cost discussions held before the project began.
We often manage the unpredictable nature of a deteriorating interiors.
Experience once again enabled GBG to complete this high-end luxury refurbishment in line with the new architect’s plans and to a remarkable standard.
The client was delighted when he arrived with a bottle of champagne to celebrate the project’s completion!
A word from our Clients:
Mariusz, Eric and the team delivered the project on time, on budget and to an exceptionally high standard. In our experience this is rare.
The project involved converting two very dilapidated flats, on different levels, into one high end fully reconfigured/renovated flat. The work was complex, not least because it is a Georgian building with difficult access.
Working with a contractor for the first time is always a learning curve on both sides. We were pleased to find that Mariusz’s approach is very much in the spirit of collaboration. Our attention to detail does not make for an easy ride for a builder, Mariusz was patient and understanding about this. However, it’s the fact that he cares enormously about whether the client is happy, and his determination to deliver quality that makes him stand out.
