The owners of this house, on the edge of Bath, set about transforming it as soon as they got the keys! The house was in a fantastic location, with views over the countryside surrounding Bath, but had a dated interior layout and decoration, and was uninspiring externally. The house is on a sloping site, creating a one storey layout at one end, and a two storey layout at the other (the basement being used as a garage and storage space). The owners wanted to create a small extension, internal layout modifications and to give the property a very different look externally. We turned these ideas into a design and sought planning permission for the work, which was granted, and work began on site the very next day!
I was invited back last week to take a look at the (almost) completed work, and the transformation is really something. The whole exterior has been rendered in crisp, white render, the roof tiles replaced with grey slates, and the windows have been replaced with grey frames, giving the exterior a very contemporary look. The garage and storage space has been converted, to create a spacious entrance hall, study and utility/gym. The original entrance was replaced with a large window, and the basement entrance hall now opens up into a light and bright double height stair well, giving access to the main living accommodation.
The original kitchen and dining room have been knocked together and a sleek and understated white handle-less kitchen has helped create an open plan kitchen/diner space. The living room has internal bi-folding doors to the kitchen/diner which allows the family the flexibility of two separate spaces, or one, large open space (ideal for parties and larger gatherings!). A large, raised, decking area has been added in an L shape around the corner of the property, so that the main living spaces can open up to garden, from which the views of the surrounding areas can be fully enjoyed. A glass balustrade is soon to be installed.
Internally, the layout remains very similar, but by the addition or removal of several doorways, and a modest extension to the end, the house has become a 4 double bedroom, 2 ensuite, 1 bathroom property, with well proportioned rooms throughout.
The owners have decorated in a sophisticated and understated palette of greys and whites, and have used a clever mixture of new and older furniture to create an interior with a lot of personality, and the soon to be installed glass balustrade will create a really beautiful outside space to compliment the interior. Overall, the result is fantastic, predominantly using existing floor space and making modest adaptions to existing layouts and arrangements, to update what was a tired house, to modern family life.
Alexandra Cork - Architectural Technician, Extensions and Planning Permission on Bristol, Bath and beyond 