Garden-city houses
Welwyn Garden City was founded in 1920 by Ebenezer Howard as England's second garden city. Many of its houses were designed in a consistent neo-Georgian style, with brick or rendered fronts, multi-pane windows and simple panelled doors, set along wide tree-lined roads. That planned look is a big part of the town's character.
Check before changing the outside
Much of the town is covered by an Estate Management Scheme and by conservation areas. These can control external changes, which can include things like front-door and window colours. Before choosing a new exterior colour, it's worth checking what applies to your house with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. I'm happy to match original colours or work to an approved scheme.
Windows and woodwork
Multi-pane windows take time to paint neatly, because every glazing bar has to be cut in by hand without getting paint on the glass. I prepare the frames properly, replace cracked putty where needed, and keep the paint line tidy. See exterior painting.
Inside
Inside, these houses tend to have well-proportioned rooms that suit classic colour schemes, with picture rails, panelled doors and fireplaces. I do full interior redecorations, and can restore period features with traditional finishes such as wood graining.
Hatfield and nearby
Next door, Hatfield is really two towns: Old Hatfield, a small historic quarter of Georgian and older buildings near Hatfield House, and the post-war New Town that grew up around it. The work there ranges from careful period decorating to full refreshes of 1950s and 60s family houses. I also cover Welwyn village, Digswell and Woolmer Green, all a short drive from Hertford.
Other areas I cover
Hertford, St Albans, Stevenage, Watford, Hitchin, and the rest of Hertfordshire.