An Ideal Home
07/11/2023 . Homes
It always gives us a real sense of satisfaction when a client is enthusiastic about their finished house; when a client goes as far as entering one of our projects for an award that’s another level. So imagine our delight to discover that not only had our clients entered their house for Ideal Home Magazine’s House of The Year, but they’d also won.
This recognition was particularly welcome as the project has been in development for a long time. When our clients initially approached us they knew that they needed to replace a leaky and energy inefficient conservatory at the back of the Wandsworth house but they also thought there was an opportunity to really transform their home. A previous loft conversion had provided much needed bedroom space but it was poorly built and badly insulated. Adding the replacement of the dormer roof would therefore be a potential further phase of work. With two growing sons the family were also running out of space on the middle floor. If an additional bedroom could also be created then this would be of considerable benefit.
We developed a scheme that would replace the conservatory and re prioritise the kitchen and dining areas, replace the tired dormer with a full width mansard roof and extend at first floor level to provide not only a bedroom but a small shower room as well. We were acutely aware that a two storey extension could be resisted by the local authority but there were enough local precedents to persuade the client it was worth the risk. As expected the first floor component of the extension proved a sticking point with the planning department and so we brought in the excellent planning consultants Fuller Long to appeal the council’s decision. After a tense wait the Government Planning Inspector agreed with us and overturned the decision. It’s testament to our client’s patience that they stuck with our designs through a frustrating, protracted wait.
The completed house design was developed with QED structures and has been built by one of our regular collaborators, RAAW, and features a contemporary oriel window seat by Glass and Design and new energy efficient windows by Glazing House. Replacing the old sash windows allowed us to integrate a Heat Recovery Ventilation system from Total Home Environment throughout the house, providing continuous fresh air and maintaining year-round comfortable temperatures. The interiors are further transformed by custom built joinery from Bespoke Made of London.
We were also really pleased to introduce the clients to our friends at Jeremy Rye Studio. Jeremy’s designs for the garden have conjured a sumptuous oasis from what had been a well tended but poorly planned, small external space. The coordination between landscape and architecture is a high point of the whole scheme for us.