Bespoke Conservation™ windows and doorsets by specialist manufacturer Mumford & Wood have been specified by architects McDaniel Woolf of Richmond, Surrey in an extensive domestic restoration project.

The four-storey early Victorian terraced property is located in the desirable London Borough of Richmond on Thames which has a wealth of historical provenance, vibrant atmosphere, adjacent wild heath and woodland, and is the home of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew. The two-year project was managed entirely by McDaniel Woolf and every element of the interior and external design work was handled by the team.

While the property is unlisted, it falls within a Conservation area necessitating careful and sympathetic consideration is given to design detail and materials. Windows and doors to the front elevation have been repaired and retained while the single glazed windows to the rear elevation have been largely replaced with Mumford & Wood’s high performance, energy rated, double glazed vertical sliding sashes. Tailor-made extra fine Lambs Tongue moulded glazing bars were specified to perfectly match the remaining windows while traditional cord, sash weights and heavy duty brass pulley wheels was the preferred choice of operation.

“Our local Conservation officers wanted to see every detail of our plans and in truth we had no trouble at all in changing from single to double glazed units,” says Richard Woolf, Director, McDaniel Woolf. “The unexpected benefit over and above the obvious ones of great aesthetics and improved thermal performance is that of acoustics. This house is directly under the flight path of one of the world’s busiest airports but when you close the windows the engine roar is reduced to a mere muffle. We didn’t actually specify an acoustic glazing option, but properties in this area would greatly benefit from this.”

Mumford & Wood offer a choice of high quality ironmongery in polished and satin brass or chrome. In this project the architect specified an alternative, traditional brand which was fitted on site. Alternative hinges were factory fitted by Mumford & Wood on request.

A special shape bullseye window with obscured glass has been used in the beautiful Purbeck marbled cloakroom, and a beautiful French doorset with fixed glazed side panel provides access from the spacious, well proportioned basement kitchen and dining room. This leads up stone steps to the circular patio and garden. A rendered wall adjacent to the stone steps featuring the special shape window has dramatic ashlar detail.

“Our client’s vision included a sun room at first floor level leading from the excellent and wide corridor space,” continues Richard Woolf. “This is a beautiful, light room with a solid roof which is copper finished with an aluminium clad roof. The sun room replaces an outdoor lavatory and cold frame. It’s difficult to believe that it hasn’t always been a part of this beautiful house.” Here traditional Conservation™ Victorian bar fixed cill to ceiling casements form the side elevation while a matching glazed door flanked by vertical sliders, to Mr Woolf’s personal design, lead down to the patio via a handsome wrought iron spiral staircase. Pull-up blinds are discreetly contained within the cills which overcomes the loss of any window detail. Exterior fluted corners to the sunroom were also supplied by Mumford & Wood.

“I’d like to say we’ve designed this home in Saville Row style,” says Richard Woolf, “from the classic beauty of the windows to the hand laid antique Parquet de Chantilly Victorian floors and the specially commissioned radiators which all work so well with the retained original features of the property.”

Windows in Mumford & Wood’s Conservation™ range are manufactured from premium quality engineered and laminated clear grade Larch. Windows carry BFRC energy ratings from A to C, dependent on specification, as well as the BSI Kitemark, Secured by Design and Energy Trust accreditations. Windows and doors were fitted by Mumford & Wood’s approved installers, a nationwide service by qualified professionals.

“Our raw material is certified and sustainably resourced and is the only material to meet the future needs of our planet and our population,” says Roy Wakeman, CEO, The Performance Window Group (PWG). “New and refurbished buildings deserve style and authenticity and essentially need our energy rated windows that meet the standard set by the Code for Sustainable Homes, Level 6, well ahead of time.” Mumford & Wood is a member of PWG, the British Woodworking Federation TWA Scheme, and a founding member of the Wood Window Alliance.