Discovering a new chapter.
2020 was a crazy year for sure, but even more hectic if you considered buying a house. The journey was intense: leaving central London, learning about our adopted region of Kent, adjusting to the pandemic’s ‘new normal’, and struggling with isolation from friends and family as we all did our part to stay safe. It was challenging. But the adventure to transform the historic Woodhams Brewery Tower into a magnificent dwelling was a true labour of love and the perfect lockdown project, not to mention the start of our new chapter as homeowners.
Mark Snyder is a project manager working in technology. His creative alter-ego, Remark, specialises in DJing, music, photography, fitness/body positivity, and digital design. To learn more, visit RemarkCentral.
Hello, Mark and Luis.
The two of us met in 2015, and one of the many things we were immediately attracted to about each other was our shared deep interest in creativity and design. This manifests equally in our personal lives: Mark with his passion for music and technology, and Luis with his expertise and artistry in theatre, stage, and costumes.
In 2018 we showcased this enthusiasm with our family and friends at our glorious wedding in Wilton’s Music Hall in London. Themed The Dandy Club, you can relive the theatrical magic of that spectacular day and learn more about our relationship by visiting our wedding archive.
Although we enjoyed renting in central London for several years and loving the metropolitan lifestyle it provided, our lease expired in 2020 so we knew it was time to consider moving. But buying in the capital wasn’t practical: the properties we wanted to achieve our design goals were simply too expensive.
We desired three bedrooms, a creative area that could be used as a live/work studio, entertainment spaces, and ideally a property that had impressive, high-quality, inspiring historic architecture.
Thankfully we looked a bit further out from central London at areas with easy transportation links to the city, and after a brisk and focused property hunt, we made our special discovery in Kent.
Luis F. Carvalho is a freelance set and costume designer who works around the world, staging events for some of the largest theaters and opera houses. To learn more, visit LFC Theatre.
We found a one-of-a-kind gem in Rochester, England.
A cathedral, a castle, and a brewery.
The two of us ventured to Medway, Kent, on a cold February morning to explore an intriguing property that we had been eyeing on our favourite real estate site. We had never been to Rochester before, but the quirky and quaint village quickly ensnared us with its charm.
Picturesque Rochester sits on the River Medway and has long been part of British history. Nearby Chatham Dockyard supplied the British Empire with ships for more than 400 years. The village is filled with cafes, bakeries, restaurants, pubs, boutiques, and independent shops; so there’s no shortage of positive commentary about Rochester’s allure and the resurgence of its cultural appeal. It’s home to one of the oldest active cathedrals in the UK and is famous for being a favourite of Charles Dickens — with a high street that is lined with a selection of Georgian and Victorian period houses. There is an excellently preserved 12th century Norman castle where concerts, open air cinemas, and festivals are hosted on the grounds throughout the year. And it has the second oldest continually running school in the world, founded in 604 AD!
Rochester is a convenient commute by train to London and enables us to stay actively connected to the city and have friends and family visit easily. And nestled within this town is another landmark: a converted brewery that met all of our property needs and certainly exceeded our excited expectations.
Tap or click on the photos above and below to view the inside of the Tower prior to us moving house. You can see the immediate appeal and what attracted us to this one-of-a-kind space.
Next up: History.
