A Sensitively Restored Victorian House in Hackney by Water & Wood Founder Jenna Highman

Growing up living in the grounds of a stately home, Jenna Highman has always had an appreciation for the English country house aesthetic. Free to roam throughout the 17th Century house, where her mother worked, exposed Jenna to the world of antiques. Yet it wasn’t until she and her partner renovated their own four-bedroom Victorian house in Hackney over a decade ago, that the possibility of turning her interest into a business took shape. Fast forward to 2019 and the former footwear designer quit the fashion industry to set up her own company, Water & Wood, selling refurbished hardware online. Here, she tells us about her favourite local shops, genius paint hack and finding beauty in decay.

What drew you to Hackney?
I’ve lived in London for about 30 years but my main reason for moving to Hackney was that I felt connected to the city with the benefit of having free access to parklands, canals and the river on my doorstep. I love the geography of the area, the hills around Clapton and the independent shops and Sunday food market. My grandfather grew up just down the road in Bow.

Tell us about your house renovation…
Although the previous owners had done a few funny bits of DIY, like putting a shower on the landing, the bones of the house were there. We did a huge amount of work ourselves which was slow going but allowed me to understand the space. The biggest challenge was tackling the messy jobs with a new born baby – it’s not for the fainthearted. We’ve retained the original features – cornicing, fireplaces, floors, windows – and restored sympathetically but when it comes to decorating, I’m happy to mix pieces from different centuries to create balance. I believe that for a home to feel comfortable, it’s important to buy things that make you happy. For me, that means anything with a handmade quality. In one room, for instance, we’ve got a contemporary bookcase, built by a carpenter, which houses my collection of The World of Interiors magazines.

Favourite house find?
Soon after moving to Hackney, I found a pair of tall Georgian pine doors in a salvage yard and bought them, even though I didn’t have any use for them. The house already had a basement and we’ve ended up fitting them there; they are floor to ceiling and give the illusion of extra height. Although we did most of the work over the first two years, including the kitchen where we upcycled cupboards and had the smallest of budgets, I don’t think houses are ever finished. Often, you’ve just got to wait for the right piece to come along.

What led to Water & Wood?
When I had my daughter, I really wanted a job where I could be more present. As a footwear designer I had travelled lots to Italy and gained invaluable experience working with factories. The idea of buying and selling decorative antiques was always in my mind and at the time we began renovating our home, there was a real appetite for antique brassware. I thought that being a resource in a specific area like ironmongery could work well. Also, I don’t have the space to store furniture!

What’s your design philosophy?
Sustainability is at the core of the business: everything is vintage or antique, or if it’s contemporary it’s made in the UK so has no airmiles. With antiques I decide on the most sensitive way to restore them without compromising their character. I polish a piece so it functions properly rather than because I want it to be shiny. If it has a patina or a Verdigris finish, I keep it – that’s what creates interest and adds to its appeal. Last year I introduced two capsule made-to-order collections: bronze bathroom accessories and brass taps. For the bronze pieces, I’ve linked up with a foundry that utilises age-old methods of lost wax casting and for the taps an engineer, both of whom have helped me bring the products to fruition. In general, when things claim to be manufactured in the UK, parts can be made anywhere and are then assembled here but these collections, from raw material to finished piece, haven’t left the country.

What’s your approach to sourcing and clients?
Some of my best finds have come from Gumtree but I will literally look anywhere: from antique auction sites to fairs like Ardingly or Kempton. I now have about a dozen dealers who contact me on a regular basis. If they’re at a market in France say, and they see something, they’ll send me a quick photo to see if I’m interested.

Half my customers are those doing up their own home, the rest are interior design companies. Usually, they’ll see something on the website and, if it’s been sold, get in touch to see if I can source something similar. I ask them to send a photo of their sink with measurements, or tear sheets of inspiration: the more information they can give me about what they want the better. A common mistake is that people often buy a sink or bath before the taps but often, antique taps are designed with a specific sink in mind. Most old taps are made of brass so if someone buys nickel or chrome, I can get the plating removed. There are endless possibilities but it all takes time.

What do you love most about living in Hackney?
There’s a real community vibe and everyone is so friendly – something which became even more significant during covid. I do a lot of cooking so I love that there are so many specialist shops around. On Chatsworth Road, I like London Borough of Jam and the cheese stall at the weekend market. I’m also a regular at Charles Artisans Breads on Lower Clapton Road. Architecture-wise, I’d highly recommend St Augustine’s Tower, which is open on the last Sunday of the month. People don’t seem to know about it but you can climb to the top for panoramic views.

Any renovation tips?
Get the bones of a house right first: then the rest will fall into place. When I was painting the house, I went to a shop in London which had lots of unclaimed customer orders in neutral shades. I bought them cheaply and now, when I want to paint, I just buy sample pots of saturated colour and mix them into those big tins of neutrals. Also, avoid trends. For me, simple things appeal: good colour, strong form, patina, age. I’m attracted to the beauty that comes with decay.

Who is in your interiors’ sourcebook?
There’s a wonderful foundry in Hackney called James Hoyle & Sons. It was established in the 1880s and what’s really amazing is that they still have all the original moulds for the railings and balustrades that first went on Victorian homes in the area. For our own home, we managed to find a match to a rail that was original on our street. We had some cast for railings on the front steps. The foundry can recommend blacksmiths who can install them for you too.

What makes a home feel well-designed?
A sensitive restoration, using lots of natural materials: woods, wool, marble. For me, bringing the outdoors in is also important. Our garden is very small but quite wild and I like that untamed feeling. The house is calm even though it’s in a fast-moving city.

See why buyers love E8 and E9 – check out our complete guide to buying a house in Hackney.