Painting and decorating in Shoreditch

Describe the existing surface before specifying a finish

We inspect walls, ceilings and woodwork for differences in texture, loose coatings, staining and damage. The record separates what can be observed from what still needs explanation. A repeated defect may need investigation beyond the decorative layer, so the scope identifies that requirement before a new coating is selected. The aim is to avoid completing an attractive surface over a problem that has not been resolved and will be harder to examine afterwards.

The preparation schedule states what is included for each type of surface. Cleaning, repairs, filling and other treatments follow the condition and intended finish, with trials where needed to establish a suitable method. We also identify existing irregularities that will remain. This gives the owner a practical standard to review. An unspecified promise of smoothness can mean different things to different people, particularly where an older wall meets a recently repaired area.

Choose what to reveal, retain or cover

Shoreditch's official character records include industrial buildings as well as houses and shop terraces. That variety is a reason to inspect the actual interior rather than assume every room should expose brick or retain a distressed finish. We identify which surfaces are original, later or uncertain where the evidence allows. If the building is listed, treatment affecting its special character needs the appropriate consent consideration before stripping, covering or altering significant material.

A new decorative scheme can be contemporary without claiming to recreate a historical one. Where an earlier colour or finish has not been established, we describe the selection as a current choice. Retained features are protected through the work, and the junction between new and old is agreed. The method matters as much as the colour: an aggressive preparation technique can change a surface permanently even where the eventual coating appears modest.

Sources: Hackney: South Shoreditch conservation area · Tower Hamlets: Redchurch Street conservation character · Historic England listed-building consent

Set the scope through the room's details

We list the elements to be decorated individually, including door leaves, frames, skirting, ceilings and fitted furniture where included. Hardware removal and reinstatement are defined, along with treatment around sockets, switches and other fittings. The boundary of making good is recorded where another trade has opened a wall or altered a service. That prevents a small repair being expected to match an entire untouched room without an agreed method or extent of work.

The protection plan reflects how the room will be used during the project. We identify furniture that must move, belongings that can remain protected and routes needed by occupants. Floors and retained fittings are considered before preparation begins. Where the home remains occupied, access and ventilation arrangements are discussed as part of the sequence. The practical plan should support the agreed finish without relying on residents continually moving through an active work area.

Review a complete palette in the actual light

We compare colour and finish samples with the materials that will remain, including floors, upholstery and joinery. A room's daylight can vary strongly between a window wall and a recessed corner, so the sample position matters. The intended artificial lighting is also reviewed. A colour approved under a shop light may behave differently across a larger surface at home, and a reflective finish may draw attention to irregularities that were less visible before.

The selection includes sheen, texture and cleaning requirements. High-contact areas may need a different treatment from a lightly used ceiling, but their junctions should be deliberate. Wallpaper choices are reviewed for scale, repeat, alignment and the condition required of the wall. We examine corners, returns and edges in the room rather than assuming a pattern will finish conveniently at every opening. The agreed specification records the complete treatment, not simply a colour name.

Inspect the result and leave useful care information

Preparation is reviewed before it disappears beneath the final finish. Where a repair or sample reveals an unexpected issue, the response is agreed before the same method is repeated elsewhere. We keep track of selected products and approved changes so the completed work can be identified accurately. This is particularly useful when several similar colours or different finish types are used across adjoining spaces.

The final inspection checks coverage, edges, fittings and the appearance of junctions under normal room lighting. We confirm that doors and windows operate after decoration and that protected items have been reinstated as agreed. Product references and relevant care instructions are included in the handover information, with outstanding items identified by location. Future maintenance should begin from a clear record of the installed finish rather than an attempt to guess its colour and sheen from a photograph.

Official sources

Hackney: South Shoreditch conservation area · Tower Hamlets: Redchurch Street conservation character · Historic England listed-building consent

Sources checked on the dates recorded in the source register, most recently 5 November 2026. Maps, list entries and directions must be checked for the individual property and proposed work.