A couple who purchased a 1950s London fixer-upper late last year have uncovered original parquet flooring beneath 70-year-old carpet, a find they described as unexpected. The homeowners, who are chronicling their renovation on Instagram, now face restoring the historic flooring with professional help.
Discovery of hidden parquet flooring
Joe Brawn, who owns the property with his partner, revealed that the living room flooring had caught his attention several months earlier, but it was only recently that they realized the historic flooring extended throughout the entire ground floor. The couple bought the house, which they described as the "worst house on the best street," late last year, hoping to transform it into their dream home.
Joe told Newsweek: "We had no idea when we bought the house." The couple has been sharing their renovation journey on Instagram via the account @hillendhousereno, posting a clip of themselves peeling back a corner of the carpet to reveal the stunning wooden flooring beneath. They captioned the post: "Cannot believe what was under these 70-year-old carpets," adding: "Cannot believe anyone would ever want to cover these up."
Social media reaction and restoration plans
The post amassed 1,100 likes and numerous glowing comments, with many agreeing the original flooring looks breathtaking. One follower wrote: "Oh yeah. The glow up is going to be good." Another commented: "Wow! How stunning is that flooring! Very jealous! Was hoping to find some original flooring in my Edwardian home, but nope." A third said: "Love that they kept it. Don't get why they had to hide it," while a fourth simply stated: "It's beautiful."
Despite the thrilling find, the couple still faces considerable work to restore the flooring to its former glory. They plan to have a professional floor restorer evaluate the parquet, though they have yet to settle on the exact finished look. Joe said: "A lot of work is needed to restore this beautiful parquet, but it will be so worth it."
