Modern Performance, Georgian Character: A Thoughtful Renovation in Cambridgeshire

Project description

This stunning Georgian property, located along the border of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, in Royston, was a renovation journey to remember.

The home is situated in the historic town of Royston, a town with a unique connection to both prehistoric and medieval England. During the Georgian era, Royston was a significant market town, known for its historical and cultural importance. To this day, the town has a vibrant market culture and offers a variety of architectural styles, from medieval to modern.

Honouring Georgian charm with new timber windows and doors

Georgian homes are admired for their symmetry, proportion, and balanced detailing, particularly in their windows and doors. Preserving these elements was a priority for this homeowner throughout the renovation. Wanting to maintain the unique design elements of Georgian homes, whilst bringing the home into the 21^st century, the owner chose to combine Regency charm and elegant Georgian design quirks with 21^st century manufacturing.

Initially, new windows and doors hadn’t featured in the renovation plan. The homeowner originally planned to remove an old conservatory and install a new kitchen and garden landscaping until the estate agent mentioned that if they really wanted to improve the value of the home, they should consider installing new windows and doors. What began as a secondary consideration quickly became central to the renovation once the impact on appearance, comfort, and long‑term value was made clear.

To suit the property’s varied and irregular openings, a fully bespoke approach was required. The final specification included 20 flush casement windows, with carefully detailed Ogee arched heads and astragal bars designed to mirror the home’s original proportions. There were also 3 Spiral Balance Sash Windows and 3 Inward Opening Entrance Doors with astragal bars, all featuring a range of hardware from our Classic Collection.  

Alongside visual improvements, the new timber windows and doors significantly improved thermal performance, with upgraded and advance double or triple-glazed units, helping reduce draughts and make the home more comfortable all year‑round.

A little help from a friend

Once the decision to replace the existing windows and doors was made, the homeowner’s friend, Christopher Vane Percy, a leading interior designer and past President of the British Institute of Interior Design & International Interior Design Association, became involved in the project. He offered his support in bringing his vision for this stunning home to life.

This project gave Christopher a complete blank canvas to work with. Knowing his friend’s style and his vision for the property, the concept for the home evolved around paying homage to the Regency era, incorporating Ogee Gothic windows with the Regency style canopy on the ground floor, as well as Gothic Georgian-style casement windows for the upstairs to really bring the historical essence of the property to life.

Christopher worked collaboratively with Excell Timber Windows, our Approved Partner and installer on the project, providing sketches of his vision and overseeing the design iterations created by George Barnsdale. Collaboration between the homeowner, designer, installer, and manufacturer ensured the historical character was carefully interpreted.

Regency design meets 21st century performance

While the home dates from the Georgian period, Regency‑influenced details were thoughtfully incorporated to enrich the overall aesthetic without conflicting with the property’s origins.

Homage to the Regency era was paid throughout, with the Ogee Gothic windows with a Regency style canopy on the ground floor, as well as built-in lintels, which help light flood through the round window on the bottom floor into the kitchen, creating the perfect ambience.

An ‘amazing experience’ with the perfect partner

When starting on their renovation journey, the homeowner wanted to make what was initially a daunting process as simple as possible.

A friend had recommended Excell Timber Windows, one of our Approved Partners, as a trusted supplier to the homeowner. From the very beginning, the team at Excell made the daunting process an ‘amazing experience’ for the homeowner, providing excellent attention to detail and an exceptional installation process, working with the owner to have full control in the direction they wanted to take. Excell truly helped them make something special. The owner was thrilled to be able to still live in the home whilst work was ongoing, making the impact of the project as minimal as possible.

Due to the owner’s design requests, they needed a window and door manufacturer who could offer a bespoke product that could be customised whilst retaining the character of the Georgian-style home. The owner was really impressed with the fact that George Barnsdale products allowed them the freedom to choose what they wanted to do with limited design restrictions, achieving exactly what they wanted from the products.

This Cambridgeshire renovation demonstrates that historic homes can be thoughtfully customised for modern living without losing their original character. By choosing bespoke timber windows and doors designed around the property’s Georgian proportions, the homeowner was able to enhance comfort, performance, and long-term value while remaining true to the building’s heritage. The result is a home that delivers modern performance, while retaining the Georgian character that makes it so distinctive.

Check out the case study video, created by our Approved Partner, Excell Timber Windows & Doors, below: