Interior Design for London Renovations: Materials, Finishes and What to Specify

Flooring is often the most impactful single interior decision in a renovation — because it covers the largest surface area and sets the tone for the entire space. London Victorian terraces traditionally had timber floorboards throughout; modern renovations and extensions offer a wider range of options.

**Large-format porcelain tile:** The most popular choice for kitchen-diner extensions in London. 600mm × 600mm or 600mm × 1200mm format creates a clean, contemporary look, is extremely durable, requires minimal maintenance, and works with underfloor heating.

• •Supply cost: £20–£80/m² (standard quality to premium Italian or Spanish)
• •Installation cost: £25–£45/m² (London rates, including adhesive and grout)
• •Total: £45–£125/m² for a tiled kitchen extension floor

Note: large-format tiles (600mm × 1200mm and above) require a particularly flat and level screed. Specify a laser-levelled screed for tile sizes 900mm+ to avoid lippage (edge differences between tiles).

**Natural stone (limestone, travertine, slate):** Premium alternative to porcelain. Genuine character, warmer under foot, each tile unique. More maintenance-intensive than porcelain (requires sealing, sensitive to acids in cleaning products).

• •Supply cost: £50–£200/m² depending on stone type and grade
• •Installation cost: £35–£65/m²
• •Total: £85–£265/m²

**Engineered hardwood:** A popular choice for open-plan ground floors and first floors throughout Victorian terrace renovations. More stable than solid wood (suitable for underfloor heating if UFH-compatible grade specified). Typically 125–190mm wide planks.

• •Supply cost: £30–£100/m² (standard to premium brands)
• •Installation cost: £20–£35/m²
• •Total: £50–£135/m²

**Polished concrete:** A growing choice for contemporary kitchen extension floors — seamless, low-maintenance, dramatic appearance. Requires proper specification of the screed (SikaFloor or similar polished concrete system applied to a structural screed).

• •Supply and installation cost: £60–£120/m² for a polished concrete floor system

**Note:** rcbGroup installs all of the above flooring types (with client-supplied materials) except carpet. If client-supplied tiles are delivered to site, rcbGroup will install them as part of the build package.

The kitchen is the most complex and highest-cost room in a renovation because it combines cabinetry, worktops, appliances, plumbing, electrics, and extraction in a single integrated space. Under standard rcbGroup terms, kitchen units, worktops, and appliances are client-supplied; rcbGroup installs.

• **Kitchen unit cost ranges (supply only):**
• •Budget (IKEA, B&Q): £3,000–£8,000 for a full kitchen supply
• •Mid-range (Howdens, Symphony, Benchmarx): £6,000–£18,000
• •Premium (Schuller, Nobilia, German kitchens): £15,000–£40,000
• •Bespoke (painted in-frame, hand-built): £25,000–£80,000+

• **Worktop material cost ranges (supply only):**
• •Laminate: £150–£500 for a run (cheap, functional, improving in quality)
• •Solid timber (oak, walnut): £200–£600 per linear metre supplied
• •Quartz (Silestone, Caesarstone): £400–£900/m² supply; fitting is additional
• •Porcelain slab (Dekton, Neolith): £500–£1,200/m² supply; fitting additional
• •Natural granite: £300–£800/m² supply; fitting additional
• •Calcatta or Carrara marble: £500–£1,500/m² supply; fitting additional

• **Appliance cost ranges (supply only, mid-to-high spec):**
• •Integrated fridge-freezer: £700–£2,500
• •Induction hob: £300–£1,200
• •Single oven: £400–£2,000
• •Dishwasher: £400–£1,500
• •Extraction hood (ducted): £300–£3,000

• **rcbGroup kitchen installation scope (building works cost, separate from units and appliances):**
• •Installation of client-supplied kitchen units and appliances
• •Worktop fitting and sealing
• •Tiling of splashback (client-supplied tiles)
• •Plumbing connections
• •Electrical connections
• •Extraction ducting
• •Cost: included within kitchen building works budget (£8,000–£22,000 for most London kitchens, depending on extent of structural and M&E works)

As with kitchens, bathroom tiles, sanitaryware (bath, basin, toilet, shower tray and enclosure) are client-supplied under standard rcbGroup terms. rcbGroup provides the building works — waterproofing, first-fix plumbing, tiling labour, installation of client-supplied items.

**Tile selection for bathrooms:** The biggest aesthetic and practical decision in a bathroom renovation. Key considerations:

• •**Wall tile format**: large format (600mm × 300mm or 600mm × 1200mm) creates a clean, contemporary bathroom with fewer grout lines. Requires a perfectly flat wall — budget for skim plaster or tile backer board if walls are uneven.
• •**Floor tile format**: slip-resistance is critical for bathroom floors. Specify tiles with a PEI rating of 4 or 5 for floor use. Larger-format floor tiles (600mm × 600mm) may require a more level screed.
• •**Grout colour**: white or light grey grout with light tiles looks clean initially but shows dirt over time. Dark grout with dark tiles is more forgiving. Epoxy grout (more expensive than standard cement grout) is stain-resistant and more durable — recommended for kitchen splashbacks and shower areas.

• **Tile budget guide for a typical family bathroom (5m²):**
• •Budget (Wickes, DIY store): £200–£500 total supply
• •Mid-range (Porcelanosa, Topps Tiles premium): £600–£1,500
• •Premium (Fired Earth, Bert & May, Ann Sacks): £1,500–£4,000+

**Sanitaryware selection:** The brand and specification of sanitaryware (bath, basin, WC, taps, shower) significantly affects the bathroom's feel and longevity.

• •**Budget to mid** (Ideal Standard, RAK Ceramics, Burlington): basin £100–£350, bath £400–£800, WC £150–£350
• •**Mid to premium** (Villeroy & Boch, Duravit, Grohe): basin £250–£800, bath £600–£2,000, WC £350–£1,000
• •**Luxury** (Victoria + Albert, Bette, Agape): bath £2,000–£10,000+

**Taps:** Taps are a visible quality signal. Chrome taps from a budget supplier corrode. Specify solid brass body taps with a chrome or brushed nickel finish from a recognised brand (Grohe, Hansgrohe, Crosswater). Budget: £150–£800 per tap for mid to premium specification.

**Skimmed plaster vs. painted skim vs. exposed brick:** The base finish to the walls affects everything that follows:

• •Skimmed plaster (smooth skim over plasterboard or backing coat): the London renovation standard. Provides a smooth, flat surface ready for paint. Cost: included in plastering works.
• •Polished plaster (Venetian plaster, marmorino): a decorative skim finish with a polished sheen. Adds character to feature walls. Cost: £60–£150/m² for a specialist application, supply and labour.
• •Exposed brick: removing plaster to expose Victorian brickwork is a popular but potentially problematic choice. Victorian brickwork was not designed to be seen and is often irregular, patchy, and was never finished — it was always intended to be plastered. Exposed brick can also cause cold bridges and condensation if the wall is external.

• **Paint specification:**
• For a quality finish, interior walls should receive:
• •1 coat mist coat (diluted emulsion on new plaster)
• •2 coats mid-sheen or matt emulsion
• •Woodwork: 2 coats eggshell (oil-based gives the best finish but requires longer drying between coats; water-based is quicker but slightly less durable)

Paint quality: Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, and Zoffany paints provide excellent depth of colour and finish. These cost 2–3x more than standard trade paint but cover better and look significantly better. For London Victorian properties, these brands are well-suited to the often atmospheric light conditions.

**Coving and cornice:** Victorian London terraces originally featured plaster coving or cornices in reception rooms. Where these survive, they should be repaired rather than removed. Where they have been stripped out in a previous renovation, reinstating fibrous plaster coving appropriate to the period adds significant character. Cost: £40–£100 per linear metre supply and fix (fibrous plaster coving, period profile).