5 Ways Decorative Plaster Can Enhance Your Interior Space

Decorative plaster mouldings have been used throughout the centuries to add character and definition to interior spaces, from grand Gothic cathedrals to humble Victorian terraces. Sadly during the latter half of the twentieth century, much of the art of traditional plasterwork has been lost and many original examples have been damaged or destroyed.

As historic plasterwork restoration experts, we can restore or reinstate a wide range of features from lath and plaster walls to cornices, ceiling roses and panel mouldings. We can also install new plasterwork in your home, restaurant, theatre, or any other space. Here’s a look at just some of the ways these features can enhance your interior space.

Cornices and coving

Cornices and coving are used to provide a pleasing transition between the ceiling and the walls, helping to define the space and make the ceiling feel higher. Larger rooms with higher ceilings particularly suit elaborate designs, while smaller spaces benefit from clean lines with subtle details. 

Ceiling roses

Ceiling roses originate from the days of gas or candle lamps, and were used to disguise the soot marks and protect the ceiling from heat. As electric lighting took over, the roses took on a decorative purpose, to add interest and show off the light fittings. The right ceiling rose can also add depth and drama to a room.

Wall panels

Panel mouldings are a common feature of period properties, and they are often used to add interest and depth to plain walls. They can be combined with traditional wainscotting, or even frame carved wooden panels or paintings. The panels are especially effective in large high-ceilinged spaces to turn a plain expanse of wall into a statement.

Corbels 

Corbels were originally used as an architectural feature to support structures, and now they are commonly used as a decorative feature underneath mantelpieces, shelving, or around entryways or other ledge structures. They add sophistication and help a room to feel more finished and aesthetically pleasing rather than merely functional. 

Architraves

Architraves are the mouldings that are used to frame doors and windows, helping them to look more finished and defined. They can turn a simple opening into a key feature of the room, and also draw a whole property together by creating a sense of flow and consistency between each room. 

The style of the architraves can be matched to the style and colour of the skirting boards and cornices to enhance the visual harmony and bring a pleasing sense of coherence to the room.

These are just a few of the features that we can restore to their original condition, reinstate with exact duplicates, or install as new features to enhance any style of property, whether contemporary, mid-century or of period design.

800-Year-Old Listed Building Undergoes Ambitious Restoration

An 800-year-old listed building in Dover is in the process of some significant restoration work that will preserve some of the legacy of leading Victorian neo-Gothic architects. BBC News reports that the Maison Dieu town hall in Kent will also be permanently open to the public for the first time in its history when the work is completed in 2025.

The Grade I listed building was originally founded as a pilgrim’s resting place, before being used as a victualling yard and since the 1830s, Dover’s Town Hall. A £4.27m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant has been awarded to help fund the £10.5m restoration project, which began in 2022. 

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “We’re delighted to see work underway on the Council’s biggest heritage restoration project to date. The project will bring the Maison Dieu to life as one of the most significant civic heritage buildings in the country, ensuring that it plays a key role in the future of Dover as a heritage, cultural and community venue.

He added: “Bringing a restoration project of this size to reality has taken a huge amount of work by specialist architects and conservators, and the in-house team at DDC, and would not have been possible without the incredible support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Wolfson Foundation, Dover Society and Dover Town Council.”

The building has an internationally significant decorative scheme that was designed by the renowned Victorian neo-Gothic architect William Burges (1827-1881). He created ornate designs including a striking wyvern dragon painted onto the decorative plasterwork ceiling. 

Unauthorised Renovations Highlights Purpose Of Listed Status

Planning officers have served enforcement notices after significant alterations were made to a Grade II* listed manor house without consent. BBC News reports that Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire, which was built in 1755, has been the subject of illegal work including the building of a swimming pool and the removal of fireplaces and internal walls.

There are also reports that UPVC windows have been fitted instead of windows that are in keeping with the original materials. While it is not impossible to make alterations or restorations to listed buildings, strict regulations mean that the owners must seek planning permission and/or listed building consent from the local authority first.  

Grade II listed buildings are considered to be of national importance and special interest, and their special status is intended to safeguard them for future generations. The building might be listed because of its architectural merit, or because of its association with historical events or significant historical figures. 

Owners of listed buildings are obliged to maintain the building in reasonable condition, and to carry out any repairs and alterations using materials and methods that are sympathetic to the original characteristics of the building.  In some cases, the owners may be able to apply for grants and financial assistance for repairs from heritage and charitable organisations.

Swinfen Hall in Lichfield was designed by Benjamin Wyatt in 1755 for the Swinfen family, and remained in the family for the next two hundred years. When the family line discontinued in 1948 after the death of Michael Swinfen-Broun, the hall and estate passed to the Church and the City of Lichfield, and most of the land was sold off.

The hall stood empty for many years, and was granted listed building status in 1982. IT was acquired by private owners in 1987 and converted into a hotel, which recently closed down. It is not clear who is responsible for the illegal changes to the fabric of the building, but they could face significant legal penalties, including fines or even a jail sentence.

A spokesperson for Lichfield District Council commented: “Owning a listed building comes with the responsibility of conserving, maintaining and protecting it for the benefit of the public and future generations. This work has been done with complete disregard to that responsibility, and the law, and those behind the work could now face imprisonment.”

“Lichfield district is rich in history, often portrayed through our wonderful buildings, and the council will be robust in protecting them.”

The building’s Grade II* status means that it is in the top five per cent of protected listed buildings in the UK. The case highlights the importance of respecting the legislation so that buildings of significant cultural, historical and architectural value are protected for the benefit of society, community and tourist sector.

Victorian Society Adds Ten At-Risk Sites To Endangered List

The Victorian Society, a UK charity that is dedicated to preserving Victorian and Edwardian built heritage, has added ten new buildings to its Endangered Buildings List. BBC News reports that all of the new additions are at least Grade II listed, and in need of significant restoration. 

Although listed status affords the buildings a degree of protection from demolition or unsympathetic renovations or alterations, the owner of the building is not legally obliged to maintain it to certain standards. 

If the building is deemed to be at serious risk of deterioration, the local authority may serve an urgent works notice to instruct the owner to carry out the necessary repairs. If the owner does not comply, the local authority may carry out the works themselves and recover the costs from the owner, or seek a compulsory purchase order to acquire the property. 

However, campaigners argue that the regulations do not go far enough, and that many UK buildings that are deemed to be of historical or architectural importance are in danger of falling into ruin. 

The Victorian and Edwardian era was notable for some fine examples of architectural design, both of the exterior and interior of buildings. It was a time of great change as the industrial revolution and the advent of the railways opened up more advanced construction methods and access to a wider range of materials.

Earlier Victorian architecture was influenced by the classical style, while later on the Gothic Revival style became more popular. The Arts and Crafts movement influenced the interior design of buildings, with an emphasis on quality hand-made products with high standards of craftsmanship. 

Victorian and Edwardian homes with original features such as fireplaces, parquet flooring, ceiling roses and cornices are highly sought after today for their spacious interiors and character. Some of the buildings on the list of the Victorian Society include a former boarding school, a banqueting hall, and one of the world's first purpose-built amusement parks. 

Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society President, said: “As always, this sad (but fascinating) list of buildings is a testament to the excitement, variety and invention of the Victorian Age. Nobody should dismiss the 19th-century British for their social and political achievements, or their legacy. There is so much to cherish.”

He added: “How terrifying to see buildings I have known loved or used all my life in Southend and Cardiff in need of rescue. But come on. Look at the character on display here. They all add colour and story to any urban landscape. Their restoration and reuse make huge commercial sense. They are attractions in themselves.”

Other buildings on the list include the former Bramcote Tennis Pavilion in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and St Luke’s Chapel, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottinghamshire. The list was drawn up from public nominations across England and Wales. 

To qualify, the structures must have been built between 1837 and 1914, and be representative of the industrial, domestic, religious, or civic architecture of the era to a nationally significant degree.

What Changes Can You Make To A Grade II Listed Building?

If you have acquired a Grade II listed building and are planning to carry out restoration work, it’s important that you check in advance what is legally permitted. Buildings are listed because they are considered to be of special historical or architectural significance, and the listing is designed to protect its unique characteristics.

Listed buildings are graded into three categories according to how significant they are considered to be by a panel of experts. Buildings of the highest significance have a Grade I listing, followed by Grade II* listings and Grade II listings. The vast majority of listed buildings in the UK (97 per cent) are Grade II listed.

Owners of listed properties do not have full control over the alterations or renovations they can make, even if it is restoration work that involves essential repairs. The listing, whatever the grade, covers the whole building including the exterior and interior, unless otherwise specified in the listing. 

Even later additions or extensions to the building may be covered, so check the small print carefully. Listed Building Consent (LBC) must be applied for via the local planning authority before any alterations, extensions, or demolitions are made. The overall aim is to preserve the original character of the building. 

Grade II listed buildings

The above-mentioned restrictions are not quite so stringent for Grade II listed buildings. Minor repairs or general maintenance work will not usually require permission from the local authority, but if in doubt always consult them first. Often they will employ a conservation officer who will be able to discuss your concerns prior to a formal LBC application.

It is impossible to categorically state what changes will and will not require permission, because it can depend on the nature of the work, the unique characteristics of the building, and human interpretation of the guidelines.  Generally, installing new kitchens and bathrooms is allowed as long as it doesn’t alter any protected characteristics.

Grade II listed building owners often wrongly assume that modern structural additions can be altered or even removed without permission, but this is not the case. No matter when the addition was made, it will have been considered as a feature of the building and the same rules will apply. 

On the other hand, it’s also commonly assumed that extending a listing building is banned or very difficult to get permission for. This might have been true in the past, when planners insisted that any extensions matched the original style and materials of the building like for like. 

However, new thinking on this matter means that planners often look more favourably on extensions that provide a deliberate contrast between the old and new. Remember that whenever there is room for doubt, always consult the local authorities rather than guess or make assumptions.

How Was A Scottish Listed Building Saved From Destruction?

Aside from giving historic buildings a future, one of the biggest rewards of a listed building restoration is preserving vital parts of British heritage for future generations, even when it appears that such a possibility is nearly impossible.

This was the case with Mavisbank House, one of the most important country houses in Scottish history and yet one that until mid-May 2024 looked destined to be demolished entirely.

Built in 1723 by William Adam, the “Universal Architect” of Scotland, Mavisbank was the home of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, one of the biggest advocates of the Act of Union 1707, which created a United Kingdom of England and Scotland.

By 1815 it had left the ownership of the Clerk family, was expanded and became an asylum in the 1870s under the stewardship of psychological reformer Dr John Batty Tuke.

When the asylum was closed, the building was bought by Dr W. M. Harrowes, but his attempt to restore the building to its former glory ultimately went unrealised.

By the late 1950s, it had become a dealership for used and scrap cars by a man named Archie Stevenson, who was believed to have been squatting on the property. After a devastating fire in 1973, the building was on the brink of demolition.

This led to a round-the-clock vigil by volunteer campaigners to halt the potential destruction of the building, and the building was stabilised with emergency powers whilst the complexities surrounding the building’s status were navigated.

After Mr Stevenon had died, the house had been left to three American nominees who turned out to not exist. An attempt to fund the renovation of the building through the television show Restoration went unfulfilled. 

Ultimately, the Landmark Trust successfully received a £5.3m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to stabilise the building and survey its condition.

What Are Corbels And How Are They Used In Interior Design?

Corbels are both functional and decorative architectural features that don’t always receive a lot of attention, but they can be used to bring character and interest to modern or renovated buildings. Here’s a look at the historical uses of corbels, and how they can be integrated into a contemporary project or a listed building restoration. 

What are corbels?

Corbels are a type of wall bracket that might be a structural element of a building, but more often these days they have a purely ornamental function. Historically they were used to provide extra support in buildings where the ceiling meets the roof, or for arches or balconies. 

Corbels that have a structural role are usually made of wood or stone, but when used as a decorative interior design feature they can be made of plasterwork. The word ‘corbel’ comes from the Latin word ‘corbellus’, which means raven, and draws a likeness with the beaked shape. 

The historical use of corbels

Examples of corbels can be found in mediaeval architecture, particularly that of the Gothic or Romanesque style. Sometimes the corbels are plain and functional, but as they are a highly visible element of the structure, they were often carved to add interest and reinforce the style of the architecture.

In mediaeval European architecture, there are many examples of corbels carved into intricate animal forms, human heads, or mythological creatures. Later examples were carved to represent foliage or scrolls of paper. In interior design, corbels can often be found supporting the mantlepiece of grand fireplaces, and under parapets and shelving.

Later uses of corbels

As building methods advanced, there was less need to use corbels as a load-bearing feature, but they were often retained to add interest and complement the architectural style of the building. Decorative corbels were often made of a type of fibrous plaster that is easy to carve and create fine details. 

Corbels can form part of a decorative plasterwork ceiling to define the transition between walls and ceiling, and examples can frequently be found in formal buildings from the Victorian and Edwardian era. They can also be used to frame a doorway or entrance to add a sense of grandeur, particularly in larger properties.

The exterior of buildings from this era often have balconies or porticos that incorporate corbels. The intricate designs of historical corbels can often become worn and damaged with time and environmental pollutants, and restoring them properly requires specialist techniques. 

The use of corbels in modern architecture

Corbels are still frequently used as an ornamental and sometimes structural element in modern architecture, particularly under mantle pieces and shelving. They can be made of traditional materials such as plaster, stone or wood, or from a composite material..

If you wish to enhance an interior design project with a corbel, choose a size that is appropriate for the space and will not overwhelm it or be too small to have any impact. The material and style of the corbel should work in harmony with the rest of the features.

New Uses For Renovated Norfolk Grade I Listed Building

A public consultation has led to a change in the planned uses of a renovated listed building in Norfolk. BBC News reports that the proposals for the 17th century Custom House in King’s Lynn have been adapted to align with the opinions of local residents. 

The historic building was renovated as part of the wider efforts to revamp the town’s waterfront. It was originally built as a merchant’s exchange in 1683, before converting to a custom house in the early 18th century. It is constructed in the classical style, and is considered to be an outstanding national example of its type.

The striking building has been used as a backdrop for films and TV dramas, including Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield, filmed in 2018. Originally, West Norfolk Council wanted to use the renovated building for hospitality, exhibitions, and events.

However, after taking into consideration public feedback, the plans have now been adapted to include the use of the venue for educational, arts, and history projects. There will also be some revisions to the exterior architectural details. 

Alistair Beales, the council's cabinet member for business, said: "The Custom House is an iconic building and we are fully committed to ensuring that it is carefully and sensitively restored in a way that is respectful of its heritage. Like everyone, we want to see it once again open its doors for public use.”

"We have listened to what we have heard and accordingly we are in the process of adapting the designs to reflect key emerging themes from our public feedback, and our conversations with conservation officers and Historic England."

Funding for the renovation project has been received  from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' Towns Fund, as part of the King's Lynn Town Deal.