As a UNESCO World Heritage site the village of Saltaire in West Yorkshire attains the same historical significance as the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids of Egypt. Saltaire is a living and breathing example of our industrial heritage and a fine tribute to our own modern preservation and conservation ethos.

Vicar Tony Mills called us in to help with the renovation of his two up two down 150-year-old terraced house on Helen Street in Saltaire. Instead of choosing a damp proof course for the outer walls – often the perceived wisdom – Tony decided to use traditional 3 coat sand and lime plastering. Using sand and lime allows the building to breathe and prevent damp. It’s also a natural product that is very sympathetic to the architecture and design of buildings such as those in Saltaire.

Here at Ornate Interiors we understand the pitfalls of mortaring on the hard. We did comprehensive tests to ensure the areas were dust free, and meticulous preparation ensured a consistent base surface for subsequent layers.

The results are perfectly in keeping with the building and its surroundings, and brought praise from the conservation officer at Bradford City Council who said, “Owning or occupying a listed building in Saltaire brings with it the responsibility of caring for an important part of our local heritage. In this instance Tony has stayed true to this ethos and we applaud his approach and that of Ornate Interiors which will pay dividends in both the short and long term”