Manor House Renovation

Manor House Renovation

Location:

Wretham, Norfolk

Project Type:

Residential

Services:

Renovation

The Brief

This extensive renovation of a Grade II listed Georgian manor house has been an extraordinary and rewarding journey spanning several years. Working closely with longstanding clients, our brief was to breathe new life into this historic property, creating a series of bespoke, luxurious, and functional living spaces that honour its heritage while incorporating contemporary comforts. 

About The Project

This manor house renovation is a testament to timeless design, intelligent planning, and unwavering attention to detail. Every room has been reimagined to honour the home’s Georgian roots while introducing moments of boldness, surprise, and modern sophistication. From statement kitchens to intimate snugs, each space is both functional and individually crafted to reflect the property's unique historical character.

Rebecca Coulby

About The Project

Kitchen, Pantry & Utility
We began by removing supporting walls to create a grand, open-plan kitchen and dining space—a dramatic transformation that involved complex structural engineering, including bespoke steel lintels and boxed-in ceiling lines. This kitchen balances modern and traditional influences, featuring rich, handless cabinetry in dark green-grey, black quartz surfaces with mirrored flecks, and warm solid oak flooring. The layout accommodates seasonal living, with two cooking zones—one anchored by a traditional Aga, the other featuring contemporary appliances. Full-height quartz wall panels celebrate the room’s arched architecture, while a central island and extendable dining table make it ideal for entertaining. The adjoining utility and pantry areas offer discreet but ample storage, ensuring practicality never compromises the refined aesthetic.

Cinema Room
Flowing seamlessly from the kitchen, the cinema room reflects the client’s love of Art Deco design. Bespoke oak panelling incorporates mood-lit, monogrammed glass details, while a hidden pocket door allows for flexible use of space. A black granite fireplace, built-in cabinetry, and carefully integrated lighting create a space that is both cinematic and beautifully composed. Solid oak flooring continues through from the kitchen, uniting the two rooms with elegance and consistency.

Drawing Room
In the drawing room, subtle sophistication reigns. Designed as a formal reception space that can also transform into a cosy family lounge, the room features bespoke French Grey wall panelling, sumptuous velvet curtains, and a striking granite fireplace. One of the highlights is a clever hidden doorway that leads to the home office—disguised within the panelling—adding a sense of fun and intrigue. A commissioned oil painting slides aside to reveal a concealed television, effortlessly blending art and technology.

Dining Room
This dramatic space was designed to command attention. Mid Azure Green walls provide a bold canvas for bespoke fabric wall hangings, framed in gold for both elegance and practicality. An inset wood burner sits within a granite surround, and hidden storage has been integrated to house the leaves of a large antique dining table. Original floorboards were restored to preserve the home’s heritage, while an oversized crystal chandelier and antique radiators lend grandeur and warmth.

Gallery
Conceived as a private art gallery, this indigo-hued room showcases the client’s collection while remaining adaptable for social events. Discreet gallery lighting was installed within a continuous pelmet, and a bespoke black granite fireplace with a Planika bioethanol fire adds a luxurious focal point. Golden oak herringbone flooring contrasts beautifully with the dark walls, and oversized chandeliers offer ambient light without competing with the artwork. This space combines gallery precision with inviting ambiance.

Principal Bedroom
This breathtaking suite was designed with boutique hotel luxury in mind. At its heart is a stunning copper bath, positioned on a raised plinth inset with Mother of Pearl mosaic tiles. Bespoke panelling in Little Greene’s ‘Dock Blue’ wraps the room, integrating concealed storage and forming an elegant headboard. The design overcame significant logistical challenges to deliver a seamless blend of beauty and practicality, with custom detailing throughout—from the bath’s placement to the Art Deco-inspired furnishings.

Bathrooms
The guest bathroom is a jewel box of colour and texture. Rich Monte Blanc blue tiles and mosaics add glamour, balanced by warm oak flooring and bespoke cabinetry. Careful planning allowed for a walk-in shower with flush tray, overcoming previous plumbing limitations. Traditional fixtures, including cast iron radiators with daisy detailing, add character, while every element—from vanity units to towel rails—was designed to maximise both beauty and function. In addition the Art Deco style shower room is bold, glamorous and romantic, with a strong preference for black and gold colouring and a bespoke design Gatsby Monogram with the client’s initials, also printed onto vinyl on a glass splashback.

Home Office & Snug
What began as a neglected workspace was transformed into a dual-purpose room that serves as both an elegant office and a cosy retreat. An antique bureau sits at the heart of the design, complemented by discreet built-in cupboards painted to match the walls. The fireplace was fully restored, with exposed brickwork and a new wood burner set into a black granite hearth. Oak shelving and warm textures make this space feel peaceful, welcoming, and entirely personal.

What Our Client Says

'Helen and I are both very pleased with the final result and are looking forward to using them in the months and years to come both for ourselves and with family and friends. They are both lovely spaces in different ways and once we have the finishing touches of some rugs, the coffee table and plant they will be beyond perfect.’

Mr T. Harris

‘My expectations were high as all the projects we’ve had from Coulby Interiors have been remarkable, of exceptional quality, workmanship, detail and finish. There is no doubt the Drawing room and office are beautiful and just as you designed. We are both very very pleased with them. We had the family round yesterday, showing them all the rooms you designed with lots of compliments and wows! And All asking which room next.’

Mrs. H Andrews