ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

With a tricky list of requirements and a tight budget, the clients needed an extension that would work hard for them on the smallest possible footprint. We knocked down the old draughty conservatory and replaced it with a modern ground floor extension that serves as dining room, TV room, utility room and downstairs loo!

A manhole close to the house meant that we couldn't extend across the full width of the property. Instead, to achieve the internal space the family needed, I specified a large oriel window which is cantilevered out over the area where we couldn't dig foundations. This luxury window seat acts as a cosy sofa for TV watching and adds a sense of light and space to an otherwise small room. The bifold doors and 25m2 of decking allows the whole space to be opened up for large gatherings.

Like many Victorian-era properties, this house just didn't suit how we use our homes today. The kitchen was a dark box in the middle of the plan, the house had poor circulation space, almost no storage, and the existing loft was not safe to act as the fourth bedroom that the homeowners desperately needed. With a large family of kids, pets, and musical instruments, this house required a clever redesign to ensure there was enough space for everyone and their things.

The new rear dormer doubled the usable space in the loft and brought in much-needed daylight to the bedroom and stairwell. The rebated design and zinc cladding ensured it blended sympathetically with the roofscape and satisfied the tricky Conservation Area requirements of this heritage property. On the ground floor, by working with the existing structure and only removing one wall, we were able to reconfigure the plan and transform the family's living space. The new design gave them the second bathroom they needed, a much more functional utility room, and an open plan kitchen-diner with a great connection to the garden for lots of indoor-outdoor play! Clever solutions such as a laundry drying cupboard, soft-close pocket doors, and lots of additional storage space all make the design incredibly practical for family life.

This abandoned farmhouse needed a lot of love and attention to bring it back to life. After moving from London, the new owner wanted to prioritise a sense of space and light, as well as a close connection to nature. The design needed to create a peaceful oasis where the owner could comfortably age in place, and a multi-generational hub where family could gather.

Set on a 13-acre property, everything about this design was done on a large scale and oriented around the best views of the grounds. The front entrance was moved to create a more logical approach to the house. The existing bungalow became the central hallway, study, main bath and guest bedrooms. A large side extension doubled the footprint of the property and allowed for a generous open plan kitchen-diner-living space, along with a separate utility and boot room for dealing with muddy dogs and wellies!

A further extension to the rear of the property created a new master suite, complete with luxury freestanding bath, separate ensuite and a dressing room. Both extensions connect through floor-to-ceiling glazed doors and a patio area to ensure that, no matter where you are in the property, the outdoors are only steps away!