Victorian Home Renovation in Tooting: Bottlebrush House with Tier-on-Tier Plantation Shutters Posted on 10 Mar 10:30 , 0 comments

We caught up with Danny Whitebread, one half of Bottlebrush House and renovation extraordinaire, about their beautiful property transformation. He shares his tips on taking on renovation project and why they decided upon plantation shutters for their windows.

Tell us a little about the property and your renovation plans

Bottlebrush House is a Victorian semi-detached home in London that we’ve been restoring since getting the keys in 2023. Like many period homes, it had incredible bones but years of patch-up jobs meant it needed more work than we first expected.

The renovation was originally meant to be fairly light touch. That quickly changed once we spent nearly two weeks stripping wallpaper and discovered the original lathe and plaster walls were crumbling underneath. At that point we made the call to take everything back to brick. The cost difference between skimming the old plaster and replastering properly was not huge, so it felt worth doing for the peace of mind that the walls will last another 125 years.

We took on the demolition ourselves to save money, then spent around three months planning the layout with an architect so we could properly understand how we wanted to use every part of the space. Planning permission then took another three months, so the actual rebuild did not begin until October 2024.

The main construction took just over five months to get the house watertight with plastered walls and the structure complete. After that we took over again and did much of the finishing work ourselves. That meant weeks of sanding, decorating, fitting skirting boards, installing dado and picture rails and laying flooring. None of it was something we had done before but YouTube became a surprisingly good teacher. We finally moved in during April 2025.

The overall approach has been about restoring character while making the house feel calm and liveable. We invested in foundational elements like flooring and tiles so they would last, then balanced the budget by doing as much as we could ourselves.

What Made You Decide on Tier-on-Tier Plantation Shutters?

Our windows are tall and generously proportioned, which is one of the things we love most about the house. They bring in an incredible amount of natural light, especially in the mornings.

At the same time, being in London means privacy matters. Tier-on-tier shutters felt like the perfect solution because the top and bottom panels operate independently. We can open the top half to let the light flood in while keeping the lower half closed.

That flexibility means the shutters work differently throughout the day depending on the light and how we’re using the room. They also sit neatly within the window recess, which suits the architecture of a Victorian home far better than something that feels added on afterwards.

Why Did You Decide on Shutters Over Curtains or Blinds?

We love curtains, but in this house we wanted something that would complement the architectural detailing rather than compete with it.

We’ve added astragal panelling, reinstated mouldings and restored coving, so keeping the window treatment clean and structured felt like the right decision. Shutters frame the windows rather than dressing them.

They are also very practical. They are easy to maintain, allow excellent light control and feel robust. In a renovation where you are making hundreds of decisions, it is reassuring to choose something that will stand the test of time.

We also chose an Arctic White finish, which was an important decision. Initially we considered going darker, but the bright white works beautifully with the natural light. It reflects light back into the room and helps maintain the airy, open feel we were aiming for throughout the house.

How Did the Shutters Change the Space Once Installed?

The difference was immediate. The rooms felt more finished and more intentional.

Because the shutters sit within the window recess, they emphasise the height of the windows and make the ceilings feel taller. They also create really beautiful filtered light. Rather than harsh glare or heavy darkness, you get this soft diffusion that changes throughout the day.

The Arctic White colour really helps with this as well. It brightens the space and keeps everything feeling light and calm. Even on grey days, the room still feels fresh rather than flat.

They also bring a sense of structure to the room. It is one of those finishing touches that quietly pulls everything together.

Any Advice for Homeowners Taking on a Renovation?

Plan more than you think you need to. Spending time on design and layout at the beginning saved us a lot of headaches later. Working with an architect really helped us understand how we would use every part of the house. Again we initially thought this would be out of budget but were surprised at how reasonable using an architect to help plan out the room flow was.

Another practical tip is to add more plug sockets than you think you need. It sounds simple but you will thank yourself later.

Shop around for quotes and make sure you have a detailed tender document so everyone is quoting for the same thing. That helped us avoid too many surprises during the build and made it easier to compare builders properly.

Finally, good design does not have to cost a fortune. Invest in the elements that are hard to change later like flooring, tiles and structural work. Then balance that by doing what you can yourself. We had no experience with things like panelling or installing skirting boards but with patience and a lot of YouTube tutorials it is absolutely possible.

Would You Recommend Plantation Shutters to Others Taking on a Property Renovation?

Absolutely. They work particularly well in period homes because they enhance the architecture rather than covering it up.

We originally thought shutters might be outside our budget, but once we found The Shutter Shop we were pleasantly surprised. The quality is brilliant and the whole process was incredibly smooth from ordering to measuring and fitting.

For us they have become one of those features that feels completely natural to the house. They improve light, privacy and the overall finish of the room all at the same time. If you are renovating a property and want something timeless that will last, shutters are a fantastic choice.

Thank you Danny! Follow more of the journey via @dannysquared