Bath has always had a way of capturing the imagination. With its honey-coloured stone, elegant crescents, and cobbled streets that seem to whisper stories of centuries past, the city holds an undeniable charm. At the heart of this architectural heritage is a recently restored Georgian townhouse that blends historical elegance with a quietly modern touch — a project that’s turning heads not only in the city itself but across the UK’s design community.
Walking through the heavy front door of this four-storey home feels a little like stepping through time. The townhouse, built in the late 18th century, had stood silently for decades, its bones sound but its spirit tired. Now, after a meticulous two-year restoration, it’s breathing again — light, elegant, and deeply rooted in its heritage.
A Building with a Story
Bath’s Georgian townhouses aren’t just pretty façades. They were built during a period of ambitious urban planning, when the city was the darling of English high society. This particular house was part of a terrace commissioned in the 1790s, with characteristic sash windows, ornate cornicing, and a perfectly symmetrical façade.
By the time its current owners, a couple from London looking to move westward, discovered it, the house had seen better days. Water damage had crept in through the roof, layers of poorly chosen wallpaper covered delicate plasterwork, and the once-grand staircase was creaking with exhaustion. But beneath the wear and tear, the original craftsmanship remained astonishingly intact.
“It wasn’t about creating something new,” says interior designer Sophie Turner, who led the restoration. “It was about revealing what was already here.”
Balancing Heritage and Modern Living
One of the greatest challenges with any historic property is striking a balance between preservation and practicality. Georgian homes, beautiful as they are, weren’t built with modern life in mind. Narrow staircases, small kitchens tucked into basements, and draughty windows can make them difficult to live in comfortably. But the owners were adamant: they wanted to respect the building’s character, not erase it.
The design team approached the project with a philosophy of “gentle intervention.” Rather than gutting the structure, they worked carefully within its framework. Period details — cornices, mouldings, ceiling roses, and even fragments of original paintwork — were conserved and restored where possible. Modern interventions were introduced subtly, often hidden in plain sight.
The kitchen, for example, now occupies what was once a service basement. Instead of fighting the low ceilings and uneven floors, the designers leaned into the building’s quirks. Bespoke joinery in pale oak was crafted to fit the irregular space, while a cool stone floor nods to the materials of the period. A long, farmhouse-style table brings warmth and functionality, turning the kitchen into the social heart of the home.
“It’s not about perfection,” Sophie explains. “It’s about layering old and new so they speak to each other.”
Light, Air, and a Sense of Flow
A key part of the restoration was bringing light back into the building. Over the years, dark paint, heavy curtains, and poorly placed partitions had made the interior feel claustrophobic. The team stripped away the excess, revealing tall windows that flood the rooms with the soft, golden light Bath is known for.
On the first floor, where the grand drawing room sits, the walls are painted in a chalky off-white that reflects the light without feeling harsh. The original fireplace has been carefully cleaned and reinstalled, surrounded by a mix of antique and contemporary furniture. A velvet sofa in a muted green adds a touch of colour, while artwork by British printmakers brings subtle modernity.
Rather than creating stark contrasts, the designers opted for a layered palette: soft greys, earthy ochres, and warm neutrals. The result is a space that feels calm, lived-in, and timeless — as if it has always been this way.
Respecting the Past Through Materials
Materials tell the story of any building, and in this house, they play a starring role. Wherever possible, the team used traditional methods and natural finishes: lime plaster instead of cement, reclaimed timber instead of modern laminate, and handmade tiles sourced from British artisans.
In the bathrooms, for example, rather than installing shiny new fixtures, they opted for classic roll-top baths and brushed brass taps that will age gracefully over time. In the hallway, the original flagstones were lifted, cleaned, and relaid, their uneven surfaces whispering centuries of footsteps.
Even the colour palette was guided by history. Paint analysis revealed traces of soft blues and creams from the early 19th century. Inspired by these findings, the team recreated period-appropriate shades that feel authentic without being overly “museum-like.”
“We wanted the house to age beautifully,” says Sophie. “Everything we chose was meant to settle in, not to shout.”