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Set just one road back from St George’s Park sits a beautifully renovated two bedroom Victorian terrace. With an established home reno Instagram account with thousands following their journey, we meet the faces behind Richmond Renovation to learn more.
Originally hailing from Cirencester, Hollie, a Digital Marketing Manager, met Surrey native Matt, a Geophysicist, at uni in Southampton, and with work commitments steering them towards the West, the couple started their Bristol life in chic Clifton.
“Clifton is such a beautiful part of Bristol and served us so well during our time there, but after falling in love with the city and looking to put down roots, we knew we wanted more space, and Matt’s an avid gardener, so outside space was essential”, explains Hollie.
“As amazing as Clifton was, we didn’t really feel like we were getting to see authentic Bristol, and after chatting with a few work colleagues, they encouraged us to look East towards St George. We spent weekends exploring the area, the parks, the walks, and we had the pleasure of viewing Bristol in a whole new light from a new perspective, it was like discovering the city again”, says Hollie. “ Having met at uni in Southampton, there are aspects of St George that are similar and are really nostalgic for us”, adds Matt.
With the location chosen, it was time for the couple to find the perfect pad. Ideally looking for a period home that they could update, the pair eventually found Richmond Road. “As soon as we viewed it, we knew it was the one!” says Matt. “Initially we thought it would just be a lick of paint and a few cosmetic changes, but like anyone who has undertaken any kind of renovation, peeling back the layers revealed years of neglect and more work was needed to really bring the house back to its former glory, so we essentially started from scratch”.
From floorboards to flakey plastering, no stone was left unturned as the couple set about creating their home.
”We got lucky with finding good local tradespeople; you hear horror stories from other renovators but we thankfully didn’t find that. Then where possible we completed a lot of the work ourselves, that really felt like a labour of love and we were really making this place ours. One of our favourite spaces has to be the open living-dining area. This is where we spent a lot of time, replacing the parquet flooring, installing panelling and coving…don’t mention the angle work, it’s triggering for us,” jokes Hollie. "We’ve tried to play up to the gorgeous original Victorian features and let the character of the house guide our interior style and choices."
When the couple purchased the property, it was with the vision of creating their forever home, but with an unexpected, yet exciting move to Melbourne, Australia on the cards, Matt and Hollie reflect on what has been the perfect primary project.
“We’ve absolutely got the renovation bug! Seeing what you can create and to know what we are capable of with the knowledge we’ve gained, we find ourselves constantly looking online for potential projects”, says Matt.
“It’s a bit bittersweet for me to say goodbye to this house as we’ve poured our heart and soul into it over the years, but the thing I will miss the most is our bath, believe it or not! It’s a haven for me after a long day and there’s nothing like it!” Hollie adds.
“It’s been the best journey and utterly served its purpose of our first home and introduction to home renovations, and it now feels like the end of this project, and we are just so excited for our future.”
Book your viewing at Richmond Road here.
