How to Renovate a Period Property in Kennington Without Losing Its Character
Author: Laura Fellows
The Question Every Kennington Homeowner Asks
Kennington is full of beautiful period homes that have been well lived in but slightly neglected. Not structurally, the bones of a Victorian or Edwardian terrace are usually excellent. But decades of mismatched updates and trend-led decisions have left a lot of these houses feeling like they've lost the thread of what made them special in the first place.
At Baker & Fellows we work on period properties across South London, and Kennington is one of our favourite places to do it. The neighbourhood has a particular quality to it - generous ceiling heights, original detailing that's often still intact underneath layers of paint, and a real sense of architectural history. Getting a renovation right here isn't about making a statement. It's about understanding what the house is trying to be, and helping it get there. If you'd like to talk through your project, take a look at how we work with period homes across South London.
Image: Pintrest
Start With What's Already There
The most common mistake we see in period property renovations is the impulse to start fresh. Strip everything out, start again, make it new. And we understand the temptation, it can feel cleaner and simpler than trying to work with what's there.
But the things that make a Kennington terrace worth renovating in the first place are precisely the things that get lost when you approach it that way. The cornicing. The ceiling roses. The original floorboards. The proportions of the rooms themselves. These aren't just decorative details - they're the reason the house feels the way it does, and they're almost impossible to recreate once they're gone.
Our starting point on every period property project is a thorough audit of what's already there and what's worth keeping. Sometimes that means restoring original features that have been damaged or painted over. Sometimes it means sourcing reclaimed materials that match what exists. And sometimes it means accepting that certain things are gone and making considered decisions about how to fill those gaps in a way that feels honest rather than pastiche.
Image: European Heritage
Image: Architectural Digest
Modernising Without Compromising
A period property renovation isn't about preservation for its own sake. You need your home to work for the way you actually live, and that usually means updating kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, and lighting alongside the more visible design work.
The art is in doing this without the modern interventions feeling like they've been dropped into a Victorian house from a different planet. A well designed contemporary kitchen can sit beautifully in a period home if the proportions are right and the materials are chosen carefully. A new bathroom can feel considered and calm without pretending to be Victorian. The key is always coherence - every decision relating back to the character of the house rather than existing in isolation.
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The Details That Make the Difference
Period property renovations live and die in the details. The profile of the new skirting boards. The way a new door architrave relates to the existing ones. The colour of the woodwork and whether it reads as part of the room or fights with it. The height at which curtains are hung and the weight of the fabric.
These aren't things that most people think about consciously, but they're the things that make you walk into a finished room and feel that it's right without being able to say exactly why. Getting them wrong is equally invisible - you just end up with a room that feels slightly off, and you can never quite put your finger on it.
How Long Does a Period Property Renovation Take?
This is one of the first questions clients ask us, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on scope. A whole house renovation of a Kennington terrace, including structural work, new kitchen and bathrooms, and full interior fit out, typically takes between six and twelve months from design to completion. A more focused project - a single floor, a kitchen extension, or a whole house interior refresh without structural work - can be completed in three to six months.
What we always do at the outset is give clients a realistic programme so there are no surprises. A well-managed renovation on a clear timeline is a very different experience, with every step and decision made ahead of time, makes for a stress renovation.
Getting Started With Baker & Fellows
If you're thinking about renovating a period property in Kennington, the best first step is always a proper conversation. We offer an initial design consultation where we come to your home, look at what you have, understand what you want to achieve, and give you an honest picture of what's possible and what it's likely to cost.
Get in touch at hello@bakerfellows.com and we'd love to come and take a look.
Image: Domino
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renovate a period property without ruining its character?
The most important thing is to start with a thorough understanding of what makes the property special before anything is changed. At Baker & Fellows we always audit what's already there — original features, proportions, materials — and make those the starting point for every design decision rather than an afterthought.
Do I need planning permission to renovate a Victorian terrace in Kennington?
Internal renovations generally don't require planning permission. However, if your project involves structural changes, extensions, or alterations to the exterior in a conservation area, permitted development rights may be restricted. Kennington has several conservation areas so it's always worth checking your specific property's status before committing to a design.
How much does a period property renovation cost in South London?
Costs vary significantly depending on scope and specification. A full renovation of a Victorian terrace in South London typically starts at around £150,000 for a well finished whole house project, rising considerably for larger properties or higher specification work. We give all clients a clear cost picture early in the process so there are no surprises.
How do I find a good interior designer for a period property in Kennington?
Look for a designer who has specific experience with Victorian and Edwardian properties and understands both the interior design and architectural elements of a renovation. At Baker & Fellows we work across both disciplines, which means the design of your home is considered as a whole from the very beginning rather than in separate parts.
Baker & Fellows is a residential interior design and architecture studio based in South London, working across Kenningtonand surrounding areas.