Back in 2018, my SW London Edwardian semi-detached house was renovated from top to bottom. We'd moved in the previous year and lived in what felt like a very dusty museum for several months before embarking on the work.

Every period home renovation reaches the same moment. The carpet comes up, and you hold your breath.

Adding an extension to a period home is one of the decisions homeowners worry about most. Here's what I learned from doing it to my own Edwardian semi - including the planning dispute, the design choices, and what I'd do differently.

You’ve bought the period property of your dreams and moved in, but now realise that the Victorian charm you fell in love with is hiding below many layers of (probably leaded) paint, peeling wallpaper and layouts that aren’t practical for modern family life.

Tom sent me these photographs of his bathroom and explained that 'our bathroom is outdated and needs an urgent refresh. The house is currently on the market so we don't want to spend the earth'.