Aformer court building has been transformed into a home that embraces contemporary style while honouring its historic past
HOME INSPIRATION
It is customary to view a house before you buy it, but when The Old Court House in Whittingham, Northumberland, came back onto the market unexpectedly in 2021, Steven Rowe and his partner Paul O’Donovan had to put in their bid on the strength of a video tour sent to them by Steven’s sister Lesley, who lives nearby.
“We were living too far away in Bedfordshire, but we knew we’d have to act quickly if we wanted it,” Steven explains. It is easy to see why they did, because this unusual property – which once served as the courthouse for the surrounding area – had a wealth of period details plus some decidedly quirky features to capture their imagination. The handsome Grade II-listed Victorian building, with its stone gables and pretty mullioned windows, still has two original holding cells, complete with lockable doors, which are definite talking points. Then there is the first-floor courtroom itself, a huge, light-filled space running the whole length of the building, which Paul and Steven – who are product designers – realised would make a perfect studio.
“I grew up in Northumberland and was keen to return to the area,” Steven explains. “We could see that this project needed a lot of work,” Paul adds, “but that didn’t faze us. We are very decisive because we can clearly visualise what a room is going to look like once we have reworked it.”
Neither is afraid to tackle DIY, which has helped to eke out their renovation budget. “We get professional plumbers, electricians and joiners in where we need them but we both decorate,” Steven says. Paul tackles the fine detail while Steven wields a roller. They decided on the colour schemes by observing how the light falls. Visitors seem to love the wall paint in the breakfast room – First Light by Woodchip &Magnolia: “It changes from pale terracotta to pink depending on the time of day, so it always feels cosy and relaxing,” Steven says.
Similarly, Craig &Rose’s Tapestry Green is perfect for the hall, setting of
