Edwardian villa, Moseley

Ben (39, software engineer) and Aisha (37, GP) spent a year restoring their Edwardian villa's plasterwork before touching the windows — they wanted the margin lights back, not an approximation of them. Ten Edwardian margin sashes in hardwood, two-colour (anthracite out, white in), replaced 1980s aluminium units that had never suited the house. At the back, a 3000mm bifold door set opened the kitchen to the garden — deliberately modern, matched to the sashes' exterior anthracite so old and new speak the same language. Their builder ran both installations together; the margin lights line through with the originals next door to the millimetre.