Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend products I use and genuinely believe in.

I’d planned the kitchen renovation down to the tee. Spent hours/days (yep, really!) measuring, re-measuring and planning the kitchen by myself. We’d known for over a month what week it would arrive. So, of course, sods law we had no workmen here the week before. My husband was away playing in a squash tournament. The kitchen floor hadn’t been prepped, and it arrived a day early!

When we bought the house, the kitchen was still quite intact. However, it was quite modern, and not at all what would be found in a Victorian farmhouse. We were able to remove all the units, but there is a small cupboard at work surface height, which was located in the corner of the kitchen. This cupboard is listed, so has to remain. It has been the hardest part of the kitchen renovation to design around, and I’m still worried it may throw us a curveball.

Victorian Farmhouse Kitchen Renovation

We’ve gone for a shaker style kitchen, with range cooker (from our previous house), kitchen island and integrated appliances. It is more of a simple modern shaker style than our previous kitchen. But still in keeping with the farmhouse. There will be some open shelving in the utility and boot room, but we’ve yet to decide on worktops… and flooring…

We were obviously hoping to have the flooring ready so could have put the floor units ‘in place’ as they arrived. But, that wasn’t to be. The delivery guys were great and so accommodating. They kept the three deliveries (Kitchen, Boot Room & Utility) separated when storing in the dining room. This should hopefully help the kitchen fitter as he starts on the kitchen next week.

On weeks like this one, I’m especially grateful for Rebel Rituals — the hormonal chaos of perimenopause and ADHD, on top of renovation stress is its own particular kind of overwhelming. Having something that takes the edge off the symptoms makes the rest slightly more manageable.

Next Steps…

So finally this week, the kitchen was cleared, the underfloor heating matting went down and the screed went down to level the floor. Ready for the kitchen fitter on Tuesday. Floor tiles will go down after the units are in place. We also have to choose our worktop which I’m really undecided about. I really wanted wooden worktop, but I understand the hubby’s concern about burn/scorch marks from hot pans etc.

So make sure you save this post and come back for Farmhouse Friday #3 — the kitchen goes in. This next week is going to bring such a big change in the house. If you are new here, then check out what’s happened so far with our Victorian Farmhouse renovation journey. And follow me on Instagram for real-time updates.

Fay x

The post Farmhouse Friday #2 — the kitchen arrived. We were not ready. appeared first on How Felicity Finds.

Introducing my brand new series of Farmhouse Friday, where I’ll share a specific room within the house, and what’s happened this last week. The first room of the series is the family bathroom, which is pretty much done. It’s not been without its challenges; a Victorian farmhouse bathroom isn’t always straightforward. So check out the before and after, and how we managed to do this for less than £2.5k! I will caveat from the outset that the wall panels we used were kindly #gifted from Multipanel.

Small Victorian Bathroom Renovation

The room itself isn’t small as such, but does come with some limitations. It was originally part of a much larger room, hence the stunning, large window. However, this doesn’t immediately lend itself to a bathroom. Not only that, but it is long and thin, making it difficult to change any layout with great effect. And let’s not mention the 70’s pine cladding…

Originally, there had been a bath, basin and toilet, and the layout wasn’t going to change. However, with 3 boys, we wanted to go for a large shower, rather than a bath. I also knew this would probably be the most used bathroom, so it needed to be easy to keep clean, too!

A monochrome bathroom to me is timeless, and perfect to pick up/refresh with simple highlights if wanted. I did feel it would be very stark on its own, and so wanted to ensure some greenery was added to soften the look. The renovation itself was fairly straightforward, although we did come across a few hiccups.

What Worked

• The layout was already there, so no major work was required.
• The window added a fantastic amount of natural light.
• The panelling was pretty easy to install and went up in a day.

What Didn’t Work

• There was a small misunderstanding around the wall-hung basin, which means the plumber had to cut out the panelling once it had been installed. He very kindly cut out along the ‘grout’ of the tiles, so once back in place, it should be unnoticeable.
• The window gives no privacy at all.

Period Bathroom Restoration Costs

Here is the breakdown of exactly how much the restoration cost and where we sourced everything from.

Wall Panels – Multipanel UK – Alpine White Metro Collection (Very kindly #gifted) – P.O.A

Floor Tiles – Amazon #Aff – £127.60

Traditional Concealed Shower – Victorian Plumbing – £249.95

Shower Tray & Screen – Victorian Plumbing – £539.95

Wall Hung Basin – Victorian Plumbing – £129.95

Traditional Wall Mounted Taps – Victorian Plumbing – £139.95

Traditional Low Level Toilet – Victorian Plumbing – £299.95

Soft Close Toilet Seat – Victorian Plumbing – £79.95

Traditional Style Radiator – Victorian Plumbing – £419.95

Wall Lights – Dunlem – £64 (£32 each)

Mirror – B&M – £8

Shelf – B&M – £5 (have linked longer size for online, but shorter length available in store)

Japanese Screen – Amazon #Aff – £89.99 The perfect solution to the privacy issue!

Plants – My own

Wooden Storage Unit – My own

The bits you don’t think about…

Shower Waste – Victorian Plumbing – £37.95

Basin Waste & Bottle Trap – Victorian Plumbing – £89.95

Total Cost: £2,282.14

So, there we have it. The first of our Farmhouse Friday series, and a deep dive into our Victorian farmhouse bathroom before and after. If you have any questions, then please just ask, and I’d love to know if you like?!

Would you consider using wall panels instead of tiles?!

Fay x

The post Farmhouse Friday – Family Bathroom appeared first on How Felicity Finds.

Planning a home renovation can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re renovating a character property or listed building, where every decision matters and changes can be costly. One of the simplest ways to bring clarity to your ideas before the dust, disruption and design decisions begin is to create a moodboard.

Using Pinterest to gather inspiration and Canva to pull it all together, you can create a clear, visual direction for your renovation or room trannformation — without needing a designer or expensive software.

I love a good moodboard, here’s how I easily get my ideas out of my head and onto paper.

Why Moodboards Are Essential for Renovations (Especially Older Homes)

When renovating a period or listed property, it’s easy to fall into one of two traps:

• Playing it too safe and losing character
• Mixing too many styles and ending up with a confused space

I find a moodboard helps ensure you strike a balance.

It allows you to:

• Visualise the finished space before committing
• Keep character and history front of mind
• Make confident decisions on paint, materials and finishes
• Communicate your vision clearly to trades and suppliers

Think of it as your renovation compass — something to return to whenever decisions feel hard. I quite often find I’m still updating/tweaking as the journey moves on and I learn more about the building.

Step 1: Create a Focused Pinterest Board

Pinterest is your starting point for exploration.

Name Your Board Clearly

Instead of something vague, be specific:

• Victorian Farmhouse Living Room Moodboard
• Listed Building Kitchen Renovation
• Neutral Country Bedroom Ideas

This helps Pinterest serve you better suggestions — and keeps your ideas cohesive. You can then break it down into sections within that board. I did this to keep all the bathrooms together, but then had a section for each specific bathroom. You could also use to split out flooring from lighting etc. Whatever works best for you.

Pin Generously (At First)

At this stage, don’t analyse too much. Pin anything that:

• Stops you scrolling
• Feels like the atmosphere you want
• Includes colours, textures or layouts you’re drawn to

Look for:

• Whole rooms
• Close-ups of finishes
• Architectural details
• Lighting styles
• Flooring Styles

Aim for 25–40 pins initially.

Step 2: Edit Ruthlessly

This is where the magic happens.

Go back through your board and remove anything that:

• Feels trendy rather than timeless
• Doesn’t suit the age or character of your home
• Clashes with the overall mood

Patterns will start to emerge — similar tones, materials, layouts or styles. That’s your direction revealing itself.

Step 3: Identify Your Core Renovation Style

Before you open Canva, take a moment to get clear on the big picture.

Ask yourself:

• Is this space warm or light?
• Rustic or refined?
• Traditional with modern touches?

Most renovation moodboards come down to:

• 2–4 core colours
• 1–2 dominant materials
• One clear overall feeling

You’re not choosing exact products yet — you’re defining the vibe.

Step 4: Build Your Moodboard in Canva

Canva is perfect for turning inspiration into something tangible.

Choose a Simple Layout

Search Canva for:

• “Interior moodboard”
• “Collage”
• Or use a blank A4 or square canvas

Simple layouts work best, especially for renovation planning.

Add Your Pinterest Images

Download your favourite pins and upload them to Canva.

Tips for arranging:

• Mix wide shots with close-up details
• Group similar tones together
• Leave breathing space — less is more

Your board should feel calm and intentional, not busy.

Step 5: Add Colour Swatches and Materials

This is what transforms a moodboard from inspiration to a working tool.

Include Colour Blocks

Use Canva’s shapes to add swatches representing:

• Wall colours
• Wood tones
• Accent shades

You can sample colours directly from images using Canva’s colour picker.

Optional Notes

Light, minimal text works well:

• “Warm neutral walls”
• “Natural timber throughout”
• “Soft aged brass finishes”

This is especially helpful if you’ll be sharing the moodboard with trades or suppliers. You can also play around with Canva’s elements if you want to add graphics such as arrows, or in my case, a paint ‘splodge’ to help really bring the paint colours to life.

Step 6: Sense Check Before You Commit

Step away and come back later.

Ask yourself:

• Does this feel cohesive?
• Does it suit the age of the property?
• Will I still love this in five years?

If something feels off, tweak it. Moodboards are meant to evolve — just like renovations. Quite a few of mine are still being tweaked now, as my ideas develop.

Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

A renovation moodboard isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about creating confidence.

Using Pinterest and Canva together gives you:

• Direction without pressure
• Inspiration without overwhelm
• A clear vision to guide every decision

If you’re renovating a home with history, this step is invaluable. It keeps the soul of the house intact while making it work for modern life.

Fay x

If you’re mid-renovation, you’ll find more moodboards, real-life decisions and honest progress over on my renovation playlists on YouTube — don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• YouTube

The post How to Create a Moodboard for a Home Renovation Using Pinterest and Canva appeared first on How Felicity Finds.

When we bought Hall Farm, we knew we were buying more than just a new house. We were buying a piece of Thornton-Le-Dale history. Consequently, as part of our renovation/planning application to North York Moors, we had to commission a heritage statement. It’s been fascinating to read and learn more about our new home.

In the heart of the village, set back from the main road, lies Hall Farm — a structure with a rich past and a promising future. Originally established in the late 18th century, Hall Farm was constructed as a working farmhouse. Moreover, it was designed to support generations of tenant and owner-occupier farmers in this quiet corner of Yorkshire. There are still signs of its original use, which we can’t wait to restore. Over time, the building has witnessed the rhythms of the land, now in another winter marked by hearth-fires and strong Yorkshire winds. I’d love to know what stories lie beneath the decades of paint and plaster…

Through the Victorian era, the farm adapted: improvements were made, outbuildings added. The farmhouse itself saw modest extensions to accommodate growing farm households. In the 20th century, agricultural practices changed, and small farms struggled to remain viable. Hall Farm changed hands and ceased to function as a full-scale working farm. While the structure remained, many original features were altered or lost. Over the past decade, the home has gradually fallen from its former glory.

Hall Farm Renovation, Thornton-Le-Dale

We are excited to be part of a new chapter for Hall Farm: the property is undergoing careful renovation and conversion back into a family home, with a deep respect for its heritage. We aim to restore original features where possible — exposed stone walls, timber beams, historic windows. While sensitively introducing modern comforts: heating, insulation, and family-friendly layouts. We are committed to honouring the building’s past as a working farm while bringing it back to life as a place of warmth, domesticity and family-centred living.

As we progress, we hope Hall Farm will again echo with laughter, footsteps on old floorboards, and the smells of home-cooking. A true restoration of its former glory, blending history and home in one beautiful place. Stay tuned for updates as this restoration journey unfolds.

Fay x

The post Restoring Hall Farm: From Historic Farmhouse to Family Home appeared first on How Felicity Finds.

Restoring a Grade II listed farmhouse gives you character, history and unique architecture — but it also brings legal obligations, specialist procurement and a patient timeline. This guide walks you through pre-purchase research, statutory consent, selecting professionals, budgeting and practical conservation approaches so you understand the full scope before committing, along with a couple of hints from what we’ve learned so far!

What “Grade II listed” actually means

A Grade II listing identifies a building of special architectural or historic interest. Any alteration that affects the character of the building requires Listed Building Consent from your local planning authority — even interior changes in many cases. Always consult your local conservation officer early: it can save time and avoid rejected applications.

Key takeaway: Don’t assume “cosmetic” changes won’t need consent — if the work affects character, it likely needs formal approval.

Pre-purchase due diligence

Before exchange, carry out thorough checks:

Essential reports

• Full structural survey (not just a mortgage valuation).
• Damp & timber report (timber frames, rot and insect damage are common in older buildings).
• Roof and thatch inspection (if present).
• Historic research — identify original features and previous alterations; some changes may be later additions you can alter more easily but not always.

Red flags to watch for

• Extensive rising damp requiring replacement of historic plaster.
• Unsuitable modern interventions that are costly to reverse.
• Unknown ownership of historic fixtures or curtilage structures (sheds, boundary walls).

Planning, Listed Building Consent (LBC) and the local conservation officer

Process overview

1. Informal pre-application meeting with the conservation officer — discuss likely acceptability.
2. Conservation architect or surveyor prepares detailed plans and heritage impact statement.
3. Submit LBC application to the local authority (there’s no fee).
4. Possible parallel planning application if extensions or external changes are planned.
5. Work only after consent is granted — unauthorised work can lead to enforcement action.

Historic England guidance and advice notes are a crucial reference when preparing applications and understanding what will and will not be acceptable.

Working team: who you need

• Conservation architect — essential for sympathetic design and LBC applications.
• Heritage surveyor — structural and materials expertise.
• Specialist tradespeople: lime plasterers, stone masons, thatchers, sash-window specialists, joiners skilled in traditional methods.
• Project manager experienced with listed properties (recommended for complex projects).

Tip: Ask for portfolios of previous listed-building work and references.

Materials, methods and sustainability

Traditional materials (lime mortar/plaster, sash windows, breathable insulation) preserve the building’s fabric and avoid long-term moisture problems.

Thermal upgrades:

• Internally insulate carefully (vapour-permeable systems).
• Consider secondary glazing rather than replacing original sash windows where possible.
• Modern insulation solutions must be chosen to avoid trapping moisture and damaging historic fabric.

Note: Energy improvements often need sensitive detailing and may require LBC for visible changes.

Typical costs and timescales

Costs vary hugely; older roofs, structural timber work or thatch re-thatting substantially increase budgets. A realistic restoration timeline for a medium-scale Victorian farmhouse could be 12–24 months from detailed design to completion for complex work — longer when significant conservation is required.

Budgeting tip: Add a 20–30% contingency for unforeseen issues (timber rot, hidden defects). We discovered a huge amount of woodworm, weevil infestation, dry rot, and damp throughout the property.

Practical estimate categories

• Surveys & designs: 2–5% of build budget.
• Specialist conservation trades: high unit cost due to skill level.
• Mechanical & electrical upgrades: necessary but must be sensitively integrated.

(Refer to reputable trade quotes for accurate numbers in your area.)

Finding and managing specialist trades

• Source trades via conservation organisations, local conservation officers, or references from previously restored properties.
• Use staged payments tied to milestones and require materials to be approved by you or the conservation architect.
• Keep an annotated photographic record of all original details before work starts — this helps with conservation records and future resale.

Dealing with common Victorian issues

Damp & rising moisture: address source first (drainage, gutters), then repair breathably with lime-based products.
Subsidence or settlement: get a structural engineer; underpinning or soil stabilisation may be needed.
Original windows & doors: repair rather than replace where possible — joiners can draught-seal and repair sashes.
Services (plumbing, electrics): route carefully to minimise cutting historic fabric; trunking and surface conduits may be preferable if reversible.

Grants, tax and funding

Grants for private residential restorations are limited; check with Historic England, local heritage trusts and your local authority for any small grants or advice programmes. Tax reliefs are rare for private homeowners, but VAT rules can sometimes apply to listed building repair works — seek professional tax advice early.

Permissions beyond LBC

• Planning permission may still be required for extensions or changes to curtilage.
• Scheduled monument consent applies only if the building or land is scheduled (rare for typical farmhouses).
• Building Regulations still apply for work affecting structure, drainage or fire safety — these are separate from LBC.

Record-keeping and aftercare

• Keep all consents, drawings and photographs together.
• Prepare an operations manual describing maintenance schedules (thatched roof checks, stone repointing, timber treatment).
• Regular small maintenance avoids bigger interventions later.

Sample phased project plan (high level)

1. Pre-purchase (1–2 months): surveys, research, pre-app advice.
2. Design & consents (3–6 months): conservation architect drawings, LBC & planning.
3. Tender & hiring (1–2 months): pick contractor, agree milestones.
4. Works (6–18 months): structural, roof, services, finishes.
5. Handover & maintenance planning (1 month): snagging, documentation.

Final checklist before exchange

• Historic surveys completed and reviewed.
• Clear understanding of consents required.
• Budget with contingency.
• Quotes from specialist trades.
• Evidence of where original features must be preserved.

If in doubt: pause the purchase, get more specialist advice — once irreversible work is done, you can’t always put it back.

Highlight: Discovering the two main reception rooms still had full height, working wooden shutters which were built in to the wall frames was possibly my happiest moment. That along with discovering old plans of the house in a trunk up in the eves!

Lowlight: We found that a large portion of the woodwork in the house was affected by an untreated weevil infestation.

Conclusion — heritage with responsibility

A listed Victorian farmhouse rewards patience with character and a deep sense of place, but it asks for stewardship. We are merely guardians of the farmhouse: respecting its fabric, working with conservation professionals, planning finances carefully and documenting everything. The result is not merely a house restored — it’s history lived in and conserved for the future.

Fay x

The post Restoring a Grade II Listed Victorian Farmhouse: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on How Felicity Finds.