James had never intended to buy a listed period property to restore, but then he fell in love with a leafy, architecturally homogenous square full of Georgian properties. Totally smitten, he chanced his luck posting requests to buy through several front doors. James smiles as he explains how fortune smiled on him when the housekeeper of one of the houses in the leafy square opened the front door. She took pity on him and put in a good word to the elderly owners, who already had it in mind to sell The big house spread over six floors was ideal for the family because the interiors were spacious and tired, in need of a 21st-century update.