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THE BEST-SELLING SELF-BUILD, RENOVATION & HOME-IMPROVEMENT MAGAZINE

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Embrace the great outdoors How a modular timber home frames every fabulous view

June 2020 £4.40

IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR PROJECT

— GRANDDESIGNSLIVE.COM 4-12 MAY

KEVIN MCCLOUD'S TOP VIRTUAL VISITS GARDEN DELIGHT Furniture for patio, deck and balcony

10

COURTYARD HOUSES Designed to bring the outside in

LEARNING CURVE Renovating a quirky Georgian townhouse

PLOTTING YOUR NEXT MOVE Advice to help you find the perfect site online

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Creative ways to extend your home

SAVING EVERY DROP Guide to eco-friendly taps and showers

Mix & Match Perfection

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Follow us online for more wonderful kitchen inspiration @masterclasskitchens /masterclasskitchens /masterclasskitc

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Contents

June 2020

Regulars 11 EDITOR’S LETTER 21 KEVIN McCLOUD

Our editor-at-large tours the splendour of the world’s architecture from the comfort of his armchair

144 MY GRAND IDEA Architect

Simon Astridge applies brass tactics to a renovation project

13 144

News 13 ARCHITECTURE UPDATE

New and inspiring projects 17 DESIGN MATTERS Beautiful

pieces to enhance your home 113 KITCHEN UPGRADE The latest

designs, surfaces and appliances 125 BATHROOM EDIT Stylish new

additions for the smallest room

17

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 5

CONTENTS

Homes 24 OUT OF THE WOODS This

four-bedroom contemporary house in Essex functions beautifully on split levels 36 LATERAL THINKING

Developing a magical plot took time but this single-storey home was well worth the wait 48 GEORGIAN GEM Moving the kitchen up a level was the key to an outstanding renovation 58 IN THE BLACK How one couple sought to create a calming waterside retreat

79 Projects 71 RENOVATION DIARY

Keeping a construction project going during difficult times 74 GRAND BUILD Find the ideal plot 79 GRAND GUIDE Ten terrific homes based around courtyards

48

91 SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSIONS

sets for sunseekers 116 PROJECT KITCHENS Fabulous ideas

to complete walls and floors 128 PROJECT BATHROOMS

Eco-friendly taps and showers

Imaginative ways to create more space for family life

58 6 JUNE 2020 /

105 BUYER’S GUIDE TO OUTDOOR FURNITURE Stylish seats and garden

128 MAGAZINE.COM

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EDITORIAL

GO ONLINE Find more from Kevin McCloud and our exclusive TV house tours, plus inspiring self-builds, real-life extensions, conversions and home-improvement projects.

GRANDDESIGNSLIVE.COM GRANDDESIGNSMAGAZINE.COM

EDITOR K AREN STYLIANIDES ACTING ASSOCIATE EDITOR CAROLINE RODRIGUES ART DIRECTOR TONY PETERS CHIEF SUB-EDITOR LEE GALE IMAGE RESEARCHER KERRY GARWOOD DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR HUGH METCALF DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER BECCA GREEN EDITOR-AT-LARGE KEVIN McCLOUD

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PUBLISHING MANAGING DIRECTOR RICHARD MOREY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER LEE NEWTON All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Text and picture material is sent at the owner’s risk. All prices and information correct at time of going to press. Grand Designs magazine is published by Media 10 in association with Channel 4 and Boundless. Grand Designs is a registered trademark of FremantleMedia. Based on the television programme Grand Designs, produced by Boundless (part of FremantleMedia UK) for Channel 4.

Licensed by FremantleMedia Enterprises (fremantlemedia.com). © 2020. ISSN 1742-0695

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MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 9

Turning your dreams into reality.

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M U LT I - F U E L

EDITOR’S LETTER

T PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL SPENCER ILLUSTRATION MITZMAN ARCHITECTS

he magazine that you’re reading now was 80 per cent complete when the full implications of the coronavirus crisis unfolded. At that point, the entire editorial team, along with everyone else in the company, left the office and set up at home. In the intervening two weeks, we’ve learned an awful lot about what it means to produce a magazine when the team is scattered in different parts of the country, working from the kitchen table on hastily upgraded laptops and with varying Wi-Fi capabilities.

It’s the sharing of information that’s been the most time-consuming part. Getting a magazine as close to a point of perfection as possible is a matter of back and forth between writer, photographer, editor, designer, sub-editor, and back to editor again.

Added to this regular ebb and flow of ideas and information is the need to share important bits with the marketing, production, publishing and advertising departments. There’s been a lot of switching between instant messaging, video

conferencing, email and telephone calls – sometimes during the same meeting!

As a result of the uncertainty surrounding print and distribution networks, Grand Designs is temporarily only available in digital-edition format. This was a hard decision, and I thank you for bearing with us as we negotiate a way through the challenges facing the publishing industry.

You’ll still find all the articles you’ve come to expect, including the fantastic homes, brilliant self-build and renovation ideas, expert design and build advice and, of course, Kevin McCloud’s exclusive column.

Your project may have been put on hold but you can plan ahead and gather inspiration for the future with Grand Designs.

K AREN ST YLIANIDES , EDITOR

@StylianidesK

COVER PHOTO KRISTA KELTANEN/ LIVING INSIDE

You’ll find ten terrific courtyard houses, including this one by Mitzman Architects, by turning to page 91 (mitzmanarchitects.com) MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 11

As award winning architects and designers we aspire to create extraordinary buildings and spaces for our clients, sometimes from the most difficult of design briefs. Central to our philosophy is that good design should reflect the needs of our clients and respond to the surrounding environment.

Pushing the boundaries of design we are able to achieve timeless, highly innovative and sustainable projects. We offer a complete design service from initial advice through to the completion of your project.

We complete works all over the UK and internationally with construction budgets from ÂŁ250,000.

Please email us or call with your new project enquiry for a free consultation. tye architects t: 01525 406677 e: info@tyearchitects.com w: www.tyearchitects.com

new builds

extensions

conversions

NEWS

Architecture update Original projects to inspire your own self-build or renovation

Three degrees Perched on a Scottish hillside, Torispardon by architecture practice Archer + Braun is a home in three sections. The Steading, left, including the living room and three bedrooms, is partially sunk into the ground so that it nestles in the landscape. Visiting friends and family stay in the Cottage, which can be closed off when not in use. The timber-clad Link provides access between the two wings, and contains the main entrance and kitchen. Frameless glass gives spectacular views of the Spey Valley and Cairngorm mountains. (archerandbraun.com)

Rub of the green Green is one of 2020’s most-wanted hues for interior design. Teamed with terrazzo and marble, it’s a central theme in architectural practice Gundry + Ducker’s renovation of White Rabbit House in Canonbury, London. This 1970s neo-Georgian terraced home was stripped back to bare walls and roof before the eleven-month transformation got underway. Two storeys became three, while a single-storey rear extension, clad in terrazzo and tiles, with an arched window, has given its owner a light, bright kitchen/diner. (gundryducker.com)

The Home of 2030 contest, launched by housing minister Christopher Pincher, aims to find a house design that’s agefriendly and adaptable to how our needs change as we get older. ‘This competition will harness all that technology has to offer to bring in a housing revolution – low carbon homes that deliver independent living for older generations,’ says the MP. (homeof2030.com)

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 13

NEWS

Architecture update Alpine influence Modular build specialist Baufritz has constructed a brand new show home, named Lichtblick, or light spot.

Built within the grounds of the company’s headquarters in Erkheim, Germany, its architectural style references Vorarlberg, a region in Austria that over the past 30 years has gained a reputation for mixing modernity and tradition in its building design. Lichtblick embraces this spirit with its clean lines and extensive use of timber.

Sustainability was at the heart of the concept: 85 per cent of its materials are wood, including the spruce cladding and oak floors.

The mid-May launch is postponed. (baufritz.com)

Back-garden bespoke When a couple in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, had the idea of building their own contemporary home, the solution was to construct it in their back garden and then sell their Victorian house. Careful planning by Christian Pinchin and Vejay Lal at Unit One Architects was required, and with feasibility studies complete, it was decided that parts of the original house would be reoriented to avoid overlooking its neighbour. The new-build includes a sunken living room that gives a 3m ceiling height, while its cantilevered first floor has a roof that allows 300mm of insulation.

Good levels of airtightness provide a consistent indoor temperature. In winter, the underfloor heating only needs to be used for an hour a day. (unit1architects.com)

As extraordinary properties go, the collection in 100 Houses: Nature and Nurture (£30, The Images Publishing Group) is testament to what can be achieved with the right architect. This book has it all: big, small, infill, eco, concrete, glass, Corten-clad and timber-panelled buildings. There are enticing homes with a deep appreciation of landscape, glorious buildings perched on cliffs, abstract shapes and huge open-plan interiors – all suitably breathtaking. Expect to feel a mix of excitement and jealousy on every turn of a page. (imagespublishing.com)

14 JUNE 2020 /

MAGAZINE.COM

WORDS LEE GALE PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID BARBOUR, CHARLIE BIRCHMORE, ANDREW MEREDITH

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NEWS

Design matters A selection of new products and ideas to complete your project

A twist in the tale

Go with the Flo

His steam-bent-wood lighting is instantly recognisable; now Tom Raffield has designed a collection of home accessories to match.

Slim ash shelves and coat hooks sit alongside circular mirrors that make great hallway solutions.

Luslow is a round mirror suspended from a leather strap, £295, in brown, black or tan, which looks good on its own or grouped. The six-peg Burgh coat hook, £225, uses brass pegs and a simple central turn to add interest; Twist, £325, combines three pegs with a small shelf. The circular Housel shelf, £325, can be combined with a mirror, £375, to save space in cloakrooms. (tomraffield.com)

The work of Australian textile designer Florence Broadhurst is being revived in the UK. When she died in 1977, Florence left an archive of more than 500 designs, including bold floral and geometric patterns, with influences drawn from the Far East. The collection includes wallpapers, rugs, cushions and lampshades. Green Egrets wallpaper, Florence Broadhurst, £120. (florencebroadhurst.com)

With indoor air quality being taken increasingly seriously, Ikea has introduced air-purifying curtains.

A mineral-based surface treatment allows the sheer fabric, made from recycled plastic bottles, to break down indoor pollutants by reacting with natural light.

Gunrid, 250x145cm, pair, £25. (ikea.com)

Quick and easy

Upside-down you’re turning me

A new flat-plack furniture company has made its debut. Swyft’s range is designed for speed and ease of assembly, with components that slot together without the need for tools or more than one person. Delivered in sections, the furniture is ideal if narrow doorways are an issue. Model 01 includes a boxy two-seat sofa, £895, a three-seat sofa, £995, and an armchair, £595, all with memory-foam cushions and wooden legs. (swyfthome.com)

Following the success of its large reversible vases, Block Design has brought out a mini version that’s perfect for holding a single stem.

Just 65mm in diameter and 100mm high, it will help brighten any table or windowsill. The glass vases come in pink, grey, blue and green and cost £21 each. (blockdesign.co.uk)

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 17

NEWS

Design matters Join the illuminati Designer Ilse Crawford has lent her expertise for products that enhance wellbeing to a collaboration with Swedish lighting brand Wästberg.

The w203 Ilumina reading lamp is dimmable and comes in three different finishes: brushed aluminium, eggshell white and this high-gloss copper designed to develop a patina over time. From £505. (wastberg.com)

Updating a modern classic When Isokon Plus launched its Shell moulded birch plywood chair in 2000, it only made 30. Twenty years on, the limited-edition collector’s piece is back by popular demand. Designed by Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby, it will be made in birch ply and a teal blue. Isokon is also bringing out the Shell table, by Barber & Osgerby, in a birch finish to match the chairs. It’s moulded top and legs compensate for uneven floors thanks to a flexible, though sturdy construction. Table, £3,780, chair £645. (isokonplus.com)

Naturally versatile Rocker revamp

WORDS JESSICA CARGILL THOMPSON

Sofa.com is giving the rocking chair a low, compact modern makeover. The Rocky is 68cm wide and can be upholstered to order from the company’s extensive range of fabrics including matt velvet, £640, and this brushed linen cotton in Oxford Blue, £490. (sofa.com)

Brothers David and Harry Rich of Rich Landscapes studio have produced a collection of contemporary garden furniture and planters for Habitat. Containers have simple shapes and tactile materials: galvanised metal tubs and troughs will weather to a patina, larger smooth stone pots are ideal for taller plants and grasses. Handmade and hand finished in India, the Rediad planter has ribbed detailing for textural interest. It looks great on a patio, balcony or window ledge and can be used both indoors and in the garden. Rediad galvanised metal planter, W90xH22xD20cm, £40, Habitat. (habitat.co.uk)

18 JUNE 2020 /

MAGAZINE.COM

THE ART OF STAIRCASE DESIGN We believe you should have a staircase you fall in love with a little more every time you come home.

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EXCLUSIVE COLUMN

Kevin

McCloud Our editor-at-large has been touring the globe to seek out some architectural wonders, all without leaving his home

Y

ou may have read my column last month. You may even have decided to wrench yourself away from your television or phone and get out to visit some architecture as I suggested.

OK, in the light of what is happening around the planet that was a foolish suggestion, I admit. The sentiment in the article was right and it was well meant, but let’s agree that what I wrote was for another time.

So, grabbing the architectural bull by the other horn, I thought I should offer you an alternative. Frankly, it’s a complete about turn. Last month I was exhorting the value of buildings as places you should go and experience with all your senses instead of wallowing in imagery. This month I’m suggesting you do the exact opposite: just stay at home and wallow. And to help you I’ve conducted a survey of what’s good out there to enjoy; a list of the truly wallow-worthy.

If I’d been writing this 15 years ago I’d be recommending a stack of print media for you: this magazine, of course, plus Dwell, The World of Interiors, Architectural Digest and the odd coffeetable book from Taschen, Thames & Hudson or Phaidon, all good art and architecture publishers. Those recommendations still apply. But there is a host of other media for you to plug into now, established platforms such as Dezeen (dezeen.com) for architecture and design, and Houzz (houzz.co.uk) for interior design and refurb junkies.

All well and good but the internet was created for more. It was designed to serve us in this current hour of need and if there is a coincidence in the timing of that hour it is that it comes when video streaming, broadband and the emerging 5G are just, only just for many of us, able to deliver high-quality visual media to our homes.

If I’d been writing this ten years ago I’d have struggled to find content.

In 2010 video gaming seemed clumsy and museum interactive guides were crude and hard to operate. The

‘This month I’m suggesting you just stay at home and wallow’ streaming services were basic and the choice was poor. Now, the content on YouTube (youtube.com), Netflix (netflix.com) and Instagram (instagram. com) is beginning to overlap. Some of the stuff is even watchable.

If you want to explore galleries and museums, many have interactive virtual sites which can be ‘walked around’ and operated in a very similar way to Google Earth or Google Street View (google.co.uk). Check out any museum website to see if they offer this.

Notable examples include the Vatican Museums (museivaticani.va), which

includes the Sistine Chapel, the Louvre (louvre.fr) and the British Museum (britishmuseum.org). Youvisit (youvisit. com) is a good app for Android or iOS, which specialises in this kind of cultural walk-through.

Or just begin with Google Earth, which is a fine and exciting piece of free software that allows you to spend hours ‘flying’ over cities, around the Alps or even down the Grand Canyon.

Cool. You’ll even find that cities and major pieces of architecture have been crudely computer formed and occasionally a building beautifully rendered by an architecture or design enthusiast and then geolocated into position for you to enjoy in context.

But to be frank, Google’s own renderings of major landmarks is hugely impressive – go and look at their Vatican, seen from the outside.

For architecture and archaeology, other interactive sites are available through the Boulevard app (blvrd.com).

Forbes magazine described it as ‘Netflix for the arts’, though I found the controls clunky. Not only that, there’s an uneasy and queasy problem with all the interactive museum sites which take you through buildings and that’s the distorted perspective that seems

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 21

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN

This clifftop home in Dumfries & Galloway was formerly the site of a Cold War listening station

Take flight from the comfort of your sofa and watch some seriously good travel films online

So it’s a relief to learn that there is online content out there that treats us with the same respect, holds our hands and explains the all-important geography.

Despite the wizardry of being able to fly round and through places, despite the interactivity of museum sites, I find myself drawn to the video content on sites such as YouTube. Content which is often beautifully shot, edited and thought about. You can enjoy the leisurely and beautiful Venice Walking Tour by 4K Urban Life. Or subscribe to the ProWalk Tours channel on YouTube to be guided on foot around Florence, Positano, St Peter’s Basilica, my favourite of all the ways to see The Vatican on a screen, or Pompeii. These are proper films, shot with the camera mounted on a gimbal so the movement is fluid, with no soundtrack other than the ambient recorded noises of a place.

If you want to extend your geography to a wider setting, subscribe

to the Amazing Places on Our Planet channel on YouTube, or type in Gaëtan Piolot or Bashir Abu Shakra to see their remarkable drone footage of places and mountains.

Or if you want to reduce the scale of your interest to the domestic, there is always Houzz TV and The Modern Home Show on YouTube or the magical short films made by my friend Tim Ross in Australia – Modernister.

Or you could do as the HuffPost recommended in their ‘Top 10 online box sets to watch during quarantine’ article and settle down with all four current seasons of Grand Designs: House of the Year. Or even just dig out some old dusty UK episodes of Grand Designs, Grand Designs Australia, the New Zealand series... there are hundreds of hours of prime quality viewing out there. And it all holds your hand and takes you on remarkable architectural journeys.

ARE YOU PLANNING A ?

TV’s Grand Designs is looking for exciting projects to feature on the programme. Does your build fit the bill? Please visit granddesigns.tv/apply

22 JUNE 2020 /

MAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY GAËTAN PIOLOT, DOUGLAS GIBB

to swallow you as you move through spaces. It’s another good reason to return to Google Earth, which delivers undistorted exteriors, streets and overhead views (until you ask it to snap into Google Street View).

Distortion is a significant turnoff when trying to understand space, buildings and streets. You can add it to annoying download speeds and hard-touse controls as reasons why people don’t dwell long on virtual sites. These three problems also partly explain why reallife walking tours of cities where they hand you video headsets augmented with levels of digital reality haven’t properly taken off. People prefer to look at a ruin and use their imaginations as much as they do stare into a 3D black box. 5G mobile speeds may help here; I’m betting, however, that any successful walking tour with augmentation will be a light-touch and gentle experience where additional layers of information are ghosted onto the real world seen through a pair of glasses.

I say this because the last thing any of us want is to be disoriented, either in the real world or online. We want our hands held and we want to understand the layout and the narrative of a place. When we film buildings for Grand Designs we spend huge amounts of time explaining basic geography; where we are in other words. The camera operators who really understand architecture will always make sure the vertical lines of the building stay vertical in the shot, to avoid distortion.

When we move through spaces, we push the camera along very slowly. My commentary gently explains where we are and where we’re going.

MY SIGNATURE. BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED. ALFREDO HAEBERLI, DESIGNER

VISIONARY DESIGN, SUSTAINABILITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE. The perfect synthesis of innovative design and sustainability without compromise: this visionary pair of buildings by designer Alfredo Haeberli is a brave concept for how we might live in the future. See and feel it today. www.baufritz-gd.co.uk.

Baufritz UK Ltd. enquiries@baufritz-gd.co.uk 01223 235632

IN BRIEF –

LOCATION Hockley, Essex PROPERTY Single-storey detached house BEDROOMS 4 PROJECT STARTED March 2017 PROJECT FINISHED June 2018 SIZE 159.5sqm LAND COST £300,000 BUILD COST £300,000 CURRENT VALUE £800,000

24 JUNE 2020 /

MAGAZINE.COM

HOMES ESSEX

Out of the woods Despite planning constraints and a lack of funds, one family have built a modern split-level home in a beautiful woodland setting WORDS K AREN WILSON PHOTOGR APHY FIONA WALKER-ARNOTT

A living roof is planned for the future. In preparation, the surface is covered with a rubber membrane with black aluminium capping

A

fter their second daughter was born, Carla Harris and her husband Elliot, both 43, moved from east London to Southend, where they could afford to renovate a large period house. Seven years on, they sold up and moved 20 minutes’ drive inland to Hockley.

The village’s rail connection was ideal for creative director Elliot’s commute to the city and the couple, who have five daughters, Eva, 19, Tallulah, 17, Minnie 15, Violet, eleven, and Cecily, nine, were drawn by the good schools nearby.

The family rented a new-build for a few years before resuming their property search. ‘There was a compromise on what we wanted in every house we saw,’ says Carla.

‘So, in a crazy moment, we decided to build our own home.’ They bought a 78 square metre bungalow with the intention of knocking it down and building a two-storey house, and in August 2012 the family moved in. ‘It was

a bit of a squeeze,’ admits Carla. ‘We slept in a tiny dining room off the living room, while the children slept in bunk beds and cots in the two bedrooms.’

Carla and Elliot hired architect Laurence Becker, who had just set up her own practice, to create a design. But gaining planning permission became a protracted process of back and forth, with several suggestions put forward.

Essentially, the planners were resistant to the idea of a twostorey house on a street lined with bungalows. Laurence proposed a subterranean floor but the idea was rejected.

Planning permission became a process of back and forth, with several suggestions put forward

HOMES ESSEX

BELOW White render is teamed with zinc cladding and Siberian larch, which will turn silver to blend with the woodland setting.

A garage might be built when the couple’s budget allows RIGHT Carla hired a specialist company to create the polished concrete floor and steps

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 27

HOMES ESSEX

28 JUNE 2020 /

MAGAZINE.COM

LEFT A high slot window at the front of the house gives the family privacy. The DIY dining table has been assembled from a plywood top and metal screw-on legs RIGHT Carla and Elliot chose glazed sliding doors as the pivot door they’d originally wanted cost £20,000.

They didn’t want to break up the view with bi-folding doors so picked a design with a slim 21mm frame

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 29

F L O O R PL A N S

GUEST ROOM

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

LAUNDRY BEDROOM

LIVING

KITCHEN BATHROOM DINING

BEDROOM

Next, she submitted drawings for an eight-metre rear extension that satisfied permitted development rights, which was a ploy to make Carla and Elliot’s real intentions more acceptable to the local authority. ‘Had it been built, this extension would have looked hideous, but the plans were passed,’ says Carla. ‘We then submitted an application for a new-build four-bedroom bungalow, with a slightly smaller footprint than the extension, thinking the planners couldn’t say it was too big.’

But this was turned down on the basis that the design wasn’t in keeping with the street. ‘It didn’t make sense to us, as the neighbouring bungalows were all completely different and had been added to over the years,’ says Carla.

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After years of trying and failing to make headway, a property lawyer was able to get the plans passed through the appeal process, costing the couple £4,000.

The family’s home includes an open-plan kitchenliving-dining space, four bedrooms and a separate garden room. ‘My design strategy was to split the building into two areas, one for living and the other for sleeping,’ Laurence explains. ‘The north-east facing side of the house, which gets the least amount of natural light, includes the bedrooms and has a pitched roof.

A corridor bisects the property, separating the bedrooms from the raised living area, and provides a view from the front door through to the garden.’

A book-matched marble-effect quartz worksurface with waterfall edge contrasts with the dark grey handleless kitchen units. Task lighting is provided by a graphic L-shaped strip light above

HOMES ESSEX

‘My design strategy was to split the building into two areas, one for living and the other for sleeping’

The project was tendered to three builders, with quotes coming in between £400,000 and £600,000. ‘It was double what we’d expected, on top of which we couldn’t get a self-build mortgage because Elliot was freelance,’ says Carla. ‘So I started contacting suppliers for all the different elements. A SIPs panel construction amounted to £70,000, and I worked out we could complete the entire project for £250,000 if we didn’t have a main contractor.’

To make further savings, the family moved in with Carla’s parents when the bungalow was demolished in March 2017. As the soil is heavy clay and the site is surrounded by woodland, the foundation is composed of 30 piles and a concrete ring beam to minimise future MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 31

The architect suggested matching the ridge height of the original bungalow in the central hallway, and added three skylights to create a dramatic entrance

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HOMES ESSEX

The couple made sure the walls, roof and floors were well-insulated, with a high degree of airtightness

ABOVE Long slot windows were carefully placed to make the most of the sun’s progression through the day ABOVE RIGHT Instead of standard architraves, Carla asked her carpenter to make clean-lined ply-edged box door frames. The en-suite shower gets ample natural light from roof glazing

movement. The couple took a fabric-first approach to the building, making sure the walls, roof and floors were well-insulated and have a high degree of airtightness.

A mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system (MVHR) has proved a good decision. ‘It distributes warmed fresh air in winter and during the summer it keeps things cool and we’ve never had steamy windows.’

Project managing the build while looking after the girls was stressful at times. And on occasion Carla came across a few tradespeople who only wanted to deal with the man of the house – and consequently didn’t get hired.

Nevertheless, there were surprisingly few hiccups. ‘The building inspector thought one of the piles was missing, which caused a panic, until we realised he didn’t have the most recent set of plans,’ says Carla. ‘Then the SIPs company told me we were missing a wall. That caused

a slight delay as I scrambled to get the groundworkers back on site to rectify the problem.’

Carla is quick to praise semi-retired carpenter Charlie.

‘His heart is in the house too,’ she says. But the greatest acclaim is reserved for Laurence. ‘She went above and beyond on every level and became a great friend.’

Towards the end of the project, the couple had maxedout 20 credit cards and borrowed £50,000 from family members, but once the build had been signed off they were able to secure a mortgage, particularly as Elliot had taken up a permanent role the previous year.

Although the couple are pleased with a recent valuation that suggests they’ve increased the equity in the house by £200,000, they have no plans to move. ‘This was never about making money,’ says Carla. ‘It’s about quality of life and we’ll be here for at least another ten years.’

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HOMES ESSEX

As the footprint of the new bungalow couldn’t be bigger than the original, a new garden room was essential to provide extra living space for their five daughters. It has a projector, built-in beds for sleepovers, a fridge and a WC

S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architect Laurence Becker, Atelier 73 Architects (atelier73.co.uk) Structural engineer Marks Heeley (marksheeley.co.uk) Property planning consultancy Phase 2 Planning & Development (phase2planning.co.uk) Carpenter Charles Newman (charlespatricknewman@gmail.com)

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STRUCTURE Roof Alpha Team Flat Roofing (alphateamflatroofing.co.uk) SIPs Glosford SIPS (glosfordsips.co.uk) Zinc cladding CBA Zinc Design (cbazincdesign.com) Siberian larch cladding Specialised Timber (specialisedtimber.co.uk) MVHR unit Solar Crest (solarcrest.co.uk) Render Jub (jubrenders.co.uk)

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Windows Velfac (velfac.co.uk) Roof lights Sun Square (sunsquare.co.uk) Sliding doors IQ Glass (iqglassuk.com) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Kitchen Kube Kitchens (kubekitchens.co.uk) Worksurfaces The Only Way is Granite (egkw.co.uk) Toilets Duravit (duravit.co.uk) Kitchen lighting Optelma (optelma.com)

Flooring The Concrete Flooring Contractors (theconcreteflooring.com) FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES Sofa Maisons du Monde (maisonsdumonde.com) ‘Seven’ art print King & McGaw (kingandmcgaw.com) Dining table legs Tiptoe (tiptoe.fr) Eva’s bed Made (made.com)

Untreated chestnut timber boards sourced from English Woodlands Timber clad the exterior of the house. The weathered wood helps the property blend into the landscape

Living in the wild Turning a mud pile into an idyllic home surrounded by nature was a lengthy process that led to a fantastic result WORDS REBECCA FOSTER PHOTOGR APHY GAP INTERIORS/SANDR A VAN A ALST

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HOMES HAMPSHIRE

IN BRIEF –

LOCATION Hampshire TYPE OF PROPERTY Detached single-storey house BEDROOMS 3/4 PROJECT STARTED Planning consent late 2012; construction commenced 2015 PROJECT FINISHED September 2016 SIZE 270sqm TOTAL BUILD COST Approx. £850,000

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HOMES HAMPSHIRE

A ground source heat pump powers the underfloor heating.

The set-up works so well that the wood-burning stove is rarely used

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F

rom a 100-metre distance, the house that Jane and David Johnston built is barely visible in its wooded surroundings. The single-storey home is clad in untreated chestnut boards, which do a fantastic job of camouflaging the low-level structure.

When retired legal professional David, 69, first visited the Hampshire site in 1993, after being tipped off by friends that it was for sale, he was unimpressed with what he found. ‘I drove along a narrow track to reach a small static caravan and had to put wellies on to get to the front door because it was so muddy,’ says David. But when he ventured out to explore the 50-acre plot, he had a change of heart. ‘It was magical, and I had to buy it.’

David had been looking for a renovation project for his weekends, while working full-time in London during the week. After David met Jane, 62, the couple carried on making improvements to the caravan, eventually deciding to build a home on the site for when they retired.

A few years later, David and Jane began to make plans for a complete overhaul. Architecture practice PAD Studio had been recommended to the couple by a friend, and after discussing their ideas with Wendy Perring, the firm’s

With bold rugs and bright-painted walls, the living space is light and colourful

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LEFT AND RIGHT David made the 12-seater dining table from three ash wood planks. He also crafted the linear pendant lamp from oak offcuts leftover from the deck

The plot benefited from existing planning rights permitting two residential caravans design director, the couple hired her to come up with a scheme for their new home.

Working on the project turned into a fruitful collaboration between David, Jane, Wendy and associate architect Ricky Evans. ‘It’s hard to know how many of the ideas came from us and how many came from Wendy or Ricky, because the whole process was an ongoing discussion between everyone involved,’ says David.

After a great deal of research, hiring planning consultants and having the land surveyed, the couple learned that consent for a conventional house was probably impossible. But the plot benefited from existing planning 40 JUNE 2020 /

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rights permitting two residential caravans. ‘We realised that using them to form a single home would meet our needs,’ explains David. Designing on this basis, Wendy sketched out a few proposals for the two structures. ‘She presented us with a selection of L-shaped configurations, a linear arrangement and another idea where the buildings sat opposite each other with a deck between, says David.

‘After some deliberation, this was the option we chose.’

A structural insulated panels (SIPs) construction method was chosen for its speed of assembly, the airtight quality of the build and because it could be assembled off-site. The couple found a mobile-home builder in Yorkshire they wanted to hire. But after a year of negotiations they were unable to agree terms and approached their SIPs supplier for advice. ‘He was able to recommend a joinery company based not too far away,’ David explains. ‘The panels were put together about seven miles down the road in a rented farm outbuilding.’

HOMES HAMPSHIRE

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HOMES HAMPSHIRE

Stainless steel worksurfaces contrast with the ash wood kitchen units. The couple opted for handleless cabinet doors

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F L O O R PL A N S EN SUITE SNUG/ TV ROOM

BEDROOM

WARDROBE BEDROOM

BEDROOM

COVERED ENTRANCE

DINING AREA WC WARDROBE UTILITY

KITCHEN LIVING AREA

GYM/BEDROOM BOOT ROOM

Once completed, the SIPs units were packed onto lorries and transported to site. They were then positioned on crossbeams supported by screw piles, which were laid out prior to delivery. ‘Getting the piles in place was an interesting process,’ explains David. ‘The surveyor marked out their positions, then a digger drilled each one into the ground. Within four days, we had 16 piles to support the two structures.’

The house and the deck are raised above the ground, and can be unclamped and transported to another site, if necessary. ‘By building without concrete footings there was minimal disturbance to the land,’ David adds.

The living areas are in one wing, while Jane and David’s bedroom suite is in the other. Attention was paid to every inch of space and sleek finishes used throughout. ‘I gave Ricky a copy of a Modigliani sketch as inspiration,’ says David. ‘It doesn’t have a superfluous line on it and our home is the same. The windows extend to the side walls without small returns that create unnecessary details.

Most of the doorways reach to the ceiling, because you get a cleaner finish without a lintel.’

Thanks to the expanses of glazing, the countryside that attracted them in the first place is ever present. ‘We can press a button in our bedroom to open the blinds and we’re immediately looking over the paddock and meadow, across to the pond,’ says David. ‘We sit in bed and watch deer, foxes and birds outside. We’re so delighted with it.’

EN SUITE

Keen to avoid nailing their art collection to the walls, David and Jane installed a gallery-style picture-hanging system. A rail sits in the space where the ceiling meets the wall, providing a method to hang each piece using wires MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 43

HOMES HAMPSHIRE

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HOMES HAMPSHIRE

S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architect PAD Studio (padstudio.co.uk) The upper part of the wall behind the bed is ash veneered plywood.

The lower part forms an extended headboard and is made from ash boards with machined grooves, reflecting the cladding detail outside ABOVE RIGHT As with all the glazing in the house, the windows and sliding door in David and Jane’s bedroom are triple glazed. They were supplied by Ecohaus Internorm

STRUCTURE Structural engineering and SIPs package SIPS Industries (sipsindustries.com) Piling and flatform ScrewFast Foundations (screwfast.com) Windows Ecohaus Internorm (ecohausinternorm.com) Entrance doors Klöeber (kloeber.co.uk) Roof lights Sunsquare (sunsquare.co.uk) Cladding and deck English Woodlands Timber (englishwoodlandtimber.co.uk) Plumbing, hot water generation, ground source heat pump, PV panels and UFH Aqua Plumbing & Heating Services (aquaplumbingltd.co.uk)

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery Service Vent (servicevent.co.uk) Landscaping and construction Wycliffe Landscapes (wycliffelandscapes.co.uk)

Polished plaster finishes Simon Tubb Decorators (simontubb.co.uk) Picture-hanging system Picture Display Systems (picturedisplaysystems.co.uk)

FIXTURES & FITTINGS Engineered ash flooring Wood Flooring Engineered (woodflooringengineered.co.uk) Electrical installation, lighting AV, home automation Joe Burke Lighting Design (joeburkelightingdesign.co.uk) Railings and steel table bases New Forest Metalwork (newforestmetalwork.co.uk) External steel staircases and main entrance gates Triangle (triangleltd.co.uk) Glazed link Broadview Shading Solutions (broadview.co.uk)

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES Internal fitted furniture The Joinery Barn (joinerybarn.co.uk) Blinds and curtains Solent Blind & Curtain Co (solentblinds.co.uk) Swaledale Fossil stone table and worksurfaces Brittanicus Stone (britannicus-stone.co.uk) Rug Helen Yardley (helenyardley.com) Cushions Antiform (antiformonline.co.uk) Sofa beds Furl (furl.co.uk) Corten steel planters Kinley (kinley.co.uk) Garden furniture Ocean Designs (ocean-designs.co.uk)

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The structures and the deck are raised above the ground and can be unclamped and transported to another site if necessary

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HOMES HAMPSHIRE A floating oak deck extends from the back of the house, with a glazed pergola linking the wings

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Upstairs To calm the complex geometry of the house, the walls and floor are tonally similar and the herringbone flooring has a straight plank edge with border detail LEFT The Grade II-listed property sits at the end of a crescent of terraced homes in south London

downstairs

The irregularities of this Georgian townhouse have been beautifully adapted to create a modern family home WORDS ALICE WESTGATE PHOTOGR APHY ADAM SCOTT

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HOMES LONDON

IN BRIEF –

LOCATION South London TYPE OF PROPERTY Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse BEDROOMS 4 PROJECT STARTEDJanuary 2019 PROJECT FINISHED October 2019 SIZE 280sqm BUILD COST £2,750 per sqm

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G

ood design is something of an obsession for Johanna Nilsson, and Patrick Johnson. ‘The way things look affects how we feel,’ says Patrick. Fashion designer Johanna, 39, and Patrick, 37, who works in music PR, bought their Georgian townhouse two years ago as they needed more space for their young sons, Albie, four, and Ellis, two. ‘We could tell that the building had good DNA,’ Patrick says. ‘Even though the decisions made by the previous owners weren’t ones we would have made ourselves, we absolutely loved the bare bones of the place.’

But one element was wrong: the kitchen was below stairs, on the lower ground floor, and the property’s Grade II-listed status dictated it should stay there. ‘The thought 50 JUNE 2020 /

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of having areas of the house designated for people who once served others felt wrong,’ says Patrick. ‘We wanted to celebrate the space in a way that was in tune with modern thinking.’ That involved moving the kitchen to one of the high-ceilinged, light-filled rooms on the ground floor.

Architectural practice Fraher & Findlay were already on the couple’s radar. ‘We had come across one of their inner-city renovations a few years earlier and liked that it was modern and minimal without feeling cold,’ explains Patrick. ‘We felt aesthetically aligned – it was like meeting someone at the pub who watches the same films as you and listens to the same albums.’

The couple commissioned a complete renovation using the firm’s design and build service: ‘It had cost

ABOVE Apart from the island, which is painted dark grey, the kitchen cupboards and dresser blend into walls painted a similar colour RIGHT The Esse stove in the kitchen/dining area can be used for cooking and heating

HOMES LONDON

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HOMES LONDON

The architect created the living room around two striking chairs by Danish designer Børge Mogensen. They take centre stage by the Georgian fireplace

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implications, but we knew the value of having a project manager, so it was certainly worth it,’ Patrick adds.

The practice also oversaw the application to gain listed buildings consent to relocate the kitchen. The scheme for the new room included cupboards and a dresser on legs rather than units that sat directly on the floor. ‘We argued that if the new kitchen included furniture that appeared to be freestanding, it would not interfere with the proportions of the original room and would not harm the building’s character,’ says design director Lizzie Fraher.

Some of the subsequent design decisions were linked to Johanna and Patrick’s visit to Ett Hem, the luxurious Stockholm hotel designed by Ilse Crawford. ‘Staying there is unbelievably comfortable as it was designed as MAGAZINE.COM

a home rather than a hotel,’ says Patrick. ‘There was also an amazing attention to detail – we realised the importance of the smaller elements and took that feeling away with us.’

While the couple share an enthusiasm for Swedish simplicity, Johanna, who was born in Sweden, also enjoys traditional English homes, which sparked an interesting juxtaposition for the interiors. ‘There’s a mix of cool Scandinavian and classic English styles,’ says Patrick.

‘The Scandi sense of space is combined with the elegance of the Georgian cornicing and window mouldings. It’s definitely not minimal – just pared back and simplified.’

The Nordic colour scheme recreates the ‘warmth of beautiful Scandinavian properties’ and there are no carpets or curtains. ‘The lack of fabric is something we

F L O O R PL A N S

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

SECOND FLOOR

BATHROOM

BEDROOM

EN SUITE

BEDROOM

FIRST FLOOR

SUMMER HOUSE

PLANT

LIVING ROOM MUSIC ROOM

KITCHEN / DINING

GROUND FLOOR

Some of the design decisions were linked to the couple’s visit to Ett Hem, the luxurious Stockholm hotel took quite wholeheartedly from Johanna’s influence,’ says Patrick. ‘Our use of blinds is pretty subtle, and we are slowly introducing rugs.’

The blending of styles led to the choice of block flooring throughout much of the house. ‘We like the herringbone pattern, which is traditionally given quite a dark finish but we also love pale Scandinavian wood.

STUDY UTILITY

BIKE STORAGE

PLAYROOM

SNUG

BASEMENT

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HOMES LONDON LEFT There is a simple palette of warm neutral colours in Patrick and Johanna’s bedroom.

The upholstered bed is from Hypnos BELOW White Carrara marble was chosen for the floors and the basin unit in the couple’s en-suite bathroom RIGHT A former bedroom was converted into a luxurious bathroom with a freestanding tub that sits on a tiled limestone inset. The lower parts of the walls are painted in Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball

In the end we took half of each – the layout is English and the tone is Swedish.’

Designing and fitting the floor was tricky because the house is part of a crescent, with curved front and rear elevations. Its wedge-shaped footprint means that none of the rooms have a regular shape.

‘The odd angles throw your eye in a million different directions,’ says Lizzie. ‘So the new flooring has a straight plank edge and a border detail that effectively draws a line around each room, with the central herringbone pattern acting like a rug in the centre. This made the irregular building feel calm and comfortable instead of chaotic.’

The new rooms also needed to include several important pieces of furniture. ‘Patrick and Johanna had some design classics including two armchairs by the acclaimed Danish designer Børge Mogensen and a modular Vitsœ shelving unit,’ says Lizzie. ‘These were in our minds right from the start and we curated the rooms around them.’

Looking back, the build was an exciting time. ‘We said at the start that we were willing to devote one year to sorting out every last detail so we could then just get on with our lives and enjoy the house,’ says Patrick.

‘Now, when I look at all the tiny elements of the design and the precision with which they have been executed, it fills me with happiness.’

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HOMES LONDON

S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architects and contractor Fraher & Findlay (fraherandfindlay.com) Structural engineer Constant Structural Design (constantsd.com)

Family bathroom tiles BluePrint Ceramics (blueprintceramics.com) Paint Farrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com) Wallpaper Svenskt Tenn (svenskttenn.se)

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES Vintage dining chairs The Peanut Vendor (thepeanutvendor.co.uk) Rugs Rose Uniacke (roseuniacke.com) Børge Mogensen Spanish Chairs and Charlotte Perriand hallway wall lights Twentytwentyone (twentytwentyone.com) Shelving unit Vitsœ (vitsoe.com) Kitchen/dining area lighting DeVol (devolkitchens.co.uk); Holloways of FIXTURES & FITTINGS Ludlow (hollowaysofludlow.com) Cabinetry and joinery Light switches Dowsing & Reynolds Shape London (shapelondon.co) (dowsingandreynolds.com) Wooden floors Havwoods Bed Hypnos (hypnos.com) (havwoods.co.uk) Living-room lighting Crystal Palace Fire surrounds Chesneys (chesneys.co.uk) Antiques (crystalpalaceantiques.com) Kitchen stove Esse (esse.com) Hallway pendant Original BTC Sanitaryware and taps Aston Matthews (originalbtc.com) (astonmatthews.co.uk) Lissoni sofa (living room) En-suite bathroom tiles Floors of Stone Fritz Hansen (fritzhansen.com) (floorsofstone.com) William sofa (cinema room) Guest bathroom tiles Mandarin Stone The Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk) (mandarinstone.com) STRUCTURE Heating control Nest (nest.com) Glass partitioning Fabco (fabcosanctuary.com) Doors and windows Solarlux (solarlux.co.uk); Oriel Bespoke Windows and Doors (orielbespoke.co.uk)

ABOVE The neutral walls in the stairway are punctuated by gold light switches from Dowsing & Reynolds and Applique à Volet wall lights by Charlotte Perriand RIGHT A Nordic influence even extends to the wallpaper in Ellis’s room. This is Paradiset

by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn FAR RIGHT In the garden, the existing summerhouse was refurbished and a pergola with festoon lighting setting the scene for outdoor dining

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‘We said at the start that we were willing to devote one year to sorting out every last detail so we could then just get on with our lives and enjoy the house’

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HOMES FINLAND

A natural attraction With a home overlooking a stunning archipelago, one couple have built their dream retreat WORDS JULIET BENNING PHOTOGR APHY KRISTA KELTANEN/ LIVING INSIDE

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Large double doors in the living area bring the outside in. The terrace wraps around three sides of the building LEFT Positioned on a terrace above a rockery, the cabin enjoys spectacular views of an archipelago

IN BRIEF –

LOCATION Turku, Finland TYPE OF PROPERTY Detached single-storey house BEDROOMS 2 PROJECT STARTED November 2016 PROJECT FINISHED August 2017 SIZE 125sqm BUILD COST Approx. £392,000

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P

etra and Timo Palmula knew as soon as they saw the secluded waterside site in Turku, a city in south-west Finland, that they had found a unique spot to build a home. At the time it was occupied by a decaying cabin but it came with beautiful views out over the Turku archipelago.

‘The plot is surrounded by large trees making it very leafy, with a steep bank that drops to another flat section of land with the shore and a jetty,’ says Petra, 51, a speech therapist.

‘We looked at many different plots but this one had everything on our list, from the jetty to road access and scope to install running water,’ adds Timo, 61, a consultant and professional board member. Having grown up near Turku, he later moved to Helsinki, and with friends and family close by, was eager to re-establish his roots in the area.

The 3,000 square metre site came with designs for a new house.

These had been drawn up by architect Merja Nummelin-Kasen for the previous owners, but were never built. Rather than construct their home from scratch though, Petra and Timo decided to go down the modular route, buying a modern Scandinavian log house from Finnish manufacturer Pluspuu, and commissioning Merja to

Floor-to-ceiling windows give the casual living area a dramatic leafy backdrop 60 JUNE 2020 /

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HOMES FINLAND

The three-sided fireplace separates the cosy snug from the loftier main living-dining area

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HOMES FINLAND

The hob is on the island beside the dining table so that whoever is cooking can enjoy the views

Petra and Timo love entertaining friends in the open-plan space

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modify the design, advise on interior decoration and take care of obtaining planning permission.

‘We wanted to build a Nordic summerhouse with large windows,’ says Petra. Their new home, modified from Pluspuu’s Kustavi 125 model, has a black-painted log wall construction topped with a monopitch sheet metal roof and insulated with Ekovilla cellulose fibre. The 124.5 square metre floor plan, including outdoor patios, is arranged around an airy glazed living room/kitchen with wings either side for the bedrooms and the bathroom and sauna. The whole water-facing side of the house opens onto covered decks, with two sheltered patios tucked under the eaves.

Petra and Timo oriented their home to face the sea, the roof angled upwards to embrace the views across the archipelago. Internally, Merja pushed the kitchen to the rear of the house, where the ceiling is lower, with the hob in an island beside the dining table so that whoever is cooking can enjoy the views. Seating areas are grouped to the left and right of the main space and a freestanding fireplace warms the room on all sides.

The bedroom wing includes a guest room and main bedroom, while the sauna and bathroom are tucked behind the snug. Slatted white wood cladding on the walls and ceiling bring a coastal feel.

An old structure closer to the shoreline, previously used as a sauna, was retained for use by guests and has a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

Once the original cabin, which dated from the 19th century, had been demolished, the Pluspuu build team took nine months to erect the new house, with a foreman from the company overseeing the tradesmen. ‘The build went smoothly and there was really only one

Architect Merja adapted Pluspuu’s off-the-peg floor plan to double the size of the kitchen

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HOMES FINLAND A monochrome scheme emphasises the house’s clean lines and pared-back style RIGHT Although the sauna is at the rear of the house, the picture window faces the shore and offers views out over the archipelago BOTTOM RIGHT Easy-to-clean tiles are a practical solution for the wet room

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F L O O R PL A N

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

LIVING AREA KITCHEN

DINING AREA

SNUG SHOWER ROOM

SAUNA HOT TUB

minor problem, which was when the builders laid an interior panel incorrectly, but they swiftly fixed it,’ says Merja.

One of the innovations used in the house’s structure is the ‘nonsettling log’. Modules are precut and laid at the site, and unlike traditional log building, won’t move after construction. Each log has weatherproof seals and is stacked on dowels. ‘The advantage of these pine or spruce logs is that no allowance needs to be made for settling and there is no need for post-construction adjustment,’ says Markku Miettinen, Pluspuu’s owner and founder.

Keen to install an eco-friendly heating system, the couple invested in a geothermal pump. This warms the house gently through the underfloor heating and can be reversed in summer to cool the house.

‘Although the set-up cost is high, within a few years the investment will be made back by saving on our heating bills,’ says Timo.

Petra and Timo are thrilled with their holiday home, which is a two-hour drive from their house in Helsinki. ‘Towards the end of the building process we would come in the evenings and sit with a glass of wine looking at the view and sigh with happiness,’ says Petra. ‘On the day the house was finished, we had moved all of our furniture in by 1pm – we were very eager.’

The couple share their retreat with their grown-up children and make the most of being able to entertain friends, cook outdoors in summer, swimming or taking their small boat out on the water.

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HOMES FINLAND

The holiday home is wrapped in black-stained glue-laminated timber

S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architect Merja Nummelin-Kasen, PLM Solution Design (plmsolutiondesign.fi) Contractor Markku Miettinen, Pluspuu (pluspuu.fi) STRUCTURE Doors and windows Pihla Windows (pihla.fi) Internal wood cladding Siparila (siparila.fi)

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Floor tiles Casa Ceramica (casaceramica.co.uk) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Rüegg RIII fireplace Rüegg Cheminée (ruegg-cheminee.com) Kitchen Domus Helsinki (+358 20 710 0200) Bathroom Hansgrohe (hansgrohe.co.uk) Hot tub Pro patio (propatio.fi)

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES Octo 4240 pendant light Secto Design (sectodesign.fi) Millennium dining table Bontempi Casa (bontempi.it) Vesta sofa Furninova (furninova.com) Aina sofa bed Finsoffat (finsoffat.fi) Leather butterfly chair Cuero Design (cuerodesign.com)

A covered terrace provides a shelter from the sun for alfresco dining and using the hot tub

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Bohemia House in Guernsey,

by DLM Architects, is a bungalow conversion with a great connection between the home and garden. For more courtyard houses, go to page 81 (dlm.gg)

PHOTOGRAPHY PETER LANDERS

PROJECTS

Renovation diary: part eleven

Guide to finding the right plot

Ten courtyard houses

Build a single-storey extension

Outdoor furniture ideas

71

74

81

93

107

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 69

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PROJECTS RENOVATION DIARY

Reena has been spending time tweaking ideas for the project’s interior design scheme

Managing our project during the coronavirus Although work continues, progress stalls as suppliers close down and new rules are set Reena Simon, 37, interior stylist and blogger (hyggeforhome.com), lives in Cardiff with her husband, Matt, 41, and their three young daughters. Follow the family’s progress each month as they convert a 1960s bungalow into a two-storey home

I was due to share details of the delivery and installation of our steel staircase with you this month but everything has been thrown up in the air. What a surreal and overwhelming few weeks it has been. Matt and I are trying to get to grips with the enormity of the coronavirus situation; the impact it is having globally as well as closer to home. Of all of the things that

might delay a build project, from funding issues to sourcing materials, no one could ever have anticipated this turn of events!

Just a short while ago, Matt and I felt we were on the home stretch and just weeks away from moving in. The house is watertight and the first fix is done. As more of the build stages were finished and with fewer jobs left to do, we had started to MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 71

PROJECTS RENOVATION DIARY

notice that there were fewer members of the construction team on site each day.

As I write, the Government is allowing construction work to continue and so our build has carried on, although we are aware that this may have to cease at any moment. For now, we have put the recommended safety measures in place to protect ourselves, our family and our build team.

Our main contractor Mike Cousins has made sure that the advised social-distancing measures are being respected. Matt and I have cancelled face-to-face site visits but are in touch regularly over the phone to catch up on the project’s progress and we take it in turns to visit the site at the end of each day when everyone else has left. On our visits we review what’s been achieved to make sure nothing has been missed, noting down any questions we have.

So far, Mike has been able to buy materials from local builders

merchants rather than from the bigger suppliers he would normally use as some of these firms have closed. But if local companies should follow suit, the build will run out of materials and all progress will halt.

The bulk of the work that has been able to continue consists of boarding the walls and plastering. The timber frame on the first floor is boarded and it’s the first time that the internal spaces look more like rooms. Matt and I have decided what we want to have on the walls, floors and ceilings but now we need to work on the interior design details and joinery.

A major milestone for the project would have been the delivery and installation of our staircase, which is a key feature of the open-plan living room, but the workshop had to close.

The manufacturer is just a few miles away, so it’s frustrating knowing that it is so close but, in any case, it could not have been installed safely while adhering to the two-metre distancing rules. The same goes for our

The REG Construction team, photographed before the two-metre safe distancing rule was adopted

LEFT Timber samples for the internal walls and floors, all from Waxed Floors, form part of Reena’s design mood board (waxedfloors.co.uk) ABOVE The internal walls have now been boarded and plastered, and the first fix has been completed. It’s the first time that Matt and Reena have been able to get a good idea of how the rooms will look 72 JUNE 2020 /

MAGAZINE.COM

RENOVATION PROJECT PLANNING GUIDE

1

FINDING A PLOT OR RUN-DOWN PROPERTY Search via land and property websites, contact local estate agents and get on the mailing lists for upcoming property auctions.

2

SEEK PLANNING PERMISSION It’s required before you start any work, apart from changes completed under permitted development rules.

3

PHOTOGRAPHY MARIE PALBOM PHOTOGRAPHY

SET A BUDGET AND HIRE YOUR TEAM Work out a budget and then secure funds as a priority. Seek recommendations for architects and builders. Visit their completed projects.

made-to-order kitchen, which has also been put on hold. Like so many people whose project has been affected in a similar way, all we can do is look forward to the day when the regulations can be safely relaxed.

Matt and I have been responsible for sourcing and ordering supplies f or the internal finishes, including the wood flooring for the bedrooms, the timber treads for the staircase and the wood cladding for some of the walls. This manufacturer is in Germany and although the factory has not been shut down, it is working with reduced capacity, which has led to delays. We’re in contact with the firm to keep up to date with progress.

A similar situation applies to our ceramic floor tiles for the bathrooms, which were due to arrive from Spain next month. I hope that our builders can lay the underfloor heating in the family and en-suite bathrooms, with temporary boarding on top until the tiles arrive. As yet, we have not been given a revised date for delivery of any missing materials.

REENA’S RENOVATION TIP Access to contingency funds and budget management are really important. We are now renting and running two mortgages for a lot longer than we had planned for.

Home schooling our three daughters is now an essential part of our daily routine so it’s not been possible to spend as much time on project managing the renovation.

Before the childrens’ schools shut, I had about 20 child-free hours a week to split between work and taking care of the build but that time is now mostly devoted to the girls. Fortunately, Matt and I can both work from home and share childcare, which allows each of us to have a couple of hours to work or make calls relating to the project. Evenings are a chance to adjust the budget spreadsheet.

Our challenges seem minor when we reflect on the scale of what is happening across the UK and around the world. We’ve accepted that the build timeline is out of our control and that it’s not yet possible to set a new completion date.

But we do now have time to reflect on, and make tweaks to, the interior design and longer to save up for the landscaping work.

4

MANAGE THE PROJECT Give your team a clear brief for the build. Set a schedule of works and make sure that the legally binding construction contract is ready.

5

MAKE REGULAR INSPECTIONS Visit the site to ensure that everything is in order and the work is progressing as planned. Address any issues as they arise.

6

SIGN-OFF THE PROJECT Take a tour of the finished work with your build team and note down any snags that need to be corrected before signing off on the renovation project.

For more on finding the right plot, see page 74

● Next month: The budget gets a re-think MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 73

This family home was built on three acres of land on the edge of the South Downs National Park, which was advertised on an estate agent’s website

Sourcing the ideal site Securing the right plot is vital for a successful self-build project, so make sure you explore all the avenues

Since more people than ever want to build their own home, good sites are hard to come by but if you’re patient and prepared to compromise, for example by taking on a sloping site, you’ll increase your chances.

Once you have a realistic idea of your budget, the search can begin. Bringing an architect on board when you find something promising can be helpful as they’ll assess the land for its suitability to 74 JUNE 2020 /

be built on and uncover any potential pitfalls.

Development boundaries A high percentage of land can’t be developed on due to protection imposed by the Government. Constructing a new house in an area that hasn’t been built on before, such as designated greenfield land, can be difficult. Homebuilding plots tend to be on

MAGAZINE.COM

If you’re patient and prepared to compromise, for example by taking on a sloping site, you’ll increase your chances brownfield sites – land that has been developed in the past. If you spot a piece of land that appears to have potential and want to find out more about

it, the local authority’s landuse development-plan maps will indicate the ground’s classification, ie: what it can be used for. And you can check its ownership via the Land Registry (gov.uk/ government/organisations/ land-registry). This should provide the title register and plan of the plot, which will set out who owns it and should show details of anyone else who has a right to the land.

PROJECTS GRAND BUILD

on many factors including its classification, location, size and the potential end value of what can be built on it.

Unfortunately for self-builders, individual plots or bigger development sites are the most expensive.

Agricultural land sells for less, but sometimes plots are misleadingly advertised as available with planning permission. A site that appears to be a bargain may be inexpensive for a reason, so be cautious because it could leave you out of pocket in the end.

Can you build on it?

Avoid buying a plot without planning permission in place.

You don’t want to end up with a strip of land with no development potential. If you’re

The local planning authority keeps records of all planning applications made regarding the plot. Any past applications will also show its ownership at the time, as the forms ask who the owner is and that they are notified – even when an application is by someone else.

At the right price If you find a plot and are haggling, bear in mind that the price will be dependent

determined that this is the site for you, make an offer subject to achieving satisfactory consents. If the landowner is serious about selling, they will realise the benefits of waiting until permission is granted.

There are two types of planning consent – outline planning permission (OPP) and detailed planning permission (DPP). OPP means that the local council has agreed the basic principle of the proposed development.

It’s an outline of the scheme; for example, to erect a twostorey, three-bedroom home with attached garage. It’s subject to the condition that full planning details will be submitted in advance of building work commencing.

OPP is valid for a period of five

years, although you will need to submit an application for DPP before starting work.

This must be done within three years of the granting of outline permission.

Don’t dismiss a plot because you don’t like the permitted design. You can submit a new application, even if DPP exists for a different design, without invalidating the existing permission that the site had when you bought the land.

Be wary of plots that have planning permission close to expiry – six months can be too short – as planning departments can take up to 12 weeks in considering applications. If preparatory work or investigations are needed this could substantially delay the process.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing provides panoramic views of this leafy plot in West Sussex, which was spotted while browsing an estate agent’s window

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 75

PROJECTS GRAND BUILD

After seven years of negotiations with the Crown Estate, the purchase of a strip of beach and this lifeboat station was permitted. It was then converted into a home

Use a variety of plot-searching options to improve your chances, such as these: Internet Established websites such as Plotfinder and Buildstore PlotSearch advertise thousands of land listings.

It’s also useful to check out the property portals, such as Zoopla and Rightmove.

Right to Build register Register your interest with the councils in the areas where you’d like to build.

Local authorities have to give planning permission for plots to match the number of people 76 JUNE 2020 /

Sign up to estate agents in the area you want to build, as they’ll be the first to know about any sites for sale who have registered an interest in building a home.

Estate and land agents Sign up to the estate agents in the area you want to build, as they’ll be the first to know about any sites for sale.

Local experts Speak to local architects and surveyors as they’re likely to find out about

MAGAZINE.COM

new plots early. They may know of a site that’s not right for them, but perfect for you.

Auction Sites suitable for single houses are often sold at auction, either as renovation projects or demolition and rebuilds.

Send letters Write an enquiry letter including your contact details and post to all the houses in or close to your ideal area.

Someone might be keen to sell their property or some of their garden, or know of someone else looking to sell.

Google Earth Get a bird’s-eye view of potential land.

First-hand research Scour

the streets for potential sites.

Direct approach Contact the planning department to see if an application has been submitted or contact the owners through the Land Registry.

ESSENTIAL CONTACTS Buildstore PlotSearch (plotsearch.buildstore.co.uk) National Community Land Trust Network (communitylandtrusts.org.uk) PlotBrowser (plotbrowser.com) Plotfinder (plotfinder.net) Right to Build (selfbuildportal.org.uk) Rightmove (rightmove.co.uk) The Land Bank Partnership (thelandbankpartnership.co.uk) Zoopla (zoopla.co.uk)

PHOTOGRAPHY MATT CHISNALL, DARREN CHUNG, CHRIS TUBBS

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10 These outdoor areas harness natural light and provide an extra room in warmer months

courtyard houses From Brazil to Bristol, courtyard houses offer a distinctive approach to integrating outdoor space into a home. Thoughtful material choices combined with innovative design allow courtyards to function as an active space within the building.

They provide clever solutions for the trickiest urban plots and open up generous countryside villas with lush planting that echoes the surrounding landscape.

These living spaces offer diverse inspiration for anyone who believes that privacy, greenery and natural light are as desirable for a happy home as plenty of bedrooms.

WORDS ANNA WINSTON

1

TREE-PRESERVATION PROJECT Overcoming both the challenges of building in a conservation area and a West Sussex site populated with mature trees that needed to be retained, architect Morton Scarr was tasked with creating a five-bedroom family home that featured both indoor and connected outdoor spaces. Its solution was to design the house around a series of courtyards, with the main outside area positioned around an existing copper beech tree. After discussion with the planners, the shape and orientation of the house changed and this courtyard ended up on the opposite side of the layout, but the tree remains intact. The 475 square metre home is sheltered by a large, natural-stone wall that shelters the entrance. Other partially enclosed outdoor spaces encompass various features, including a swimming pool.

A similar project would cost around ÂŁ2,500 per square metre. (mortonscarr.com) MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 79

2

RURAL INFLUENCE Built for an artist, Long House pays homage to its

countryside location near Cirencester in the Cotswolds in its design and material choices. Taking a pair of chicken sheds as a starting point, architect Bureau de Change created two large, staggered barn-like wings, giving a 500 square metre home with an art studio and four bedrooms. In the middle of the area where the two structures are joined, the architect has included an outdoor space, using this as a focal point for the internal layout. The courtyard contains a single tree and provides long views through the house. (b-de-c.com)

80 JUNE 2020 /

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PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE

3

SLOPING SITE It took Studio Okami two years to convince the local authority

to allow them to build a house that didn’t comply with the strict rules usually applied to rural sites in Mont-de-l’Enclus, Belgium. The regulations required a sloping roof and specific window sizes, neither of which feature in this contemporary brick home. The owners wanted a design that would maximise their views of the surrounding nature, with room to host their two grown-up children for visits. In the end, the officials were convinced by the two-bedroom single-storey design, which is tucked into a slope and has a flat, green roof that makes it almost invisible from the rear. A potential pitfall of building into the ground is the lack of light at the back of the house, but the 273 square metre single-storey home features a central courtyard that helps air and light penetrate throughout and gives every space a green view. (studiookami.com)

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 81

4

PREFABRICATED HOUSE Mitzman Architects took on the task of replacing a dilapidated post-war house on a tricky site in Islington, London, with a brief to preserve the building’s spacious garden and its large trees while creating a contemporary and sustainable five-bedroom home that was more sympathetic to the local conservation area and adjacent listed building.

A central courtyard is surrounded by glazing to bring light into the middle of the house and prevent any of the spaces from feeling closed in, despite the unusual, irregular shape of the building. Sliding doors can be opened up in summer, playing a key part in the natural cooling strategy. Most of the heavily insulated and airtight home was prefabricated, which allowed the timber structure, walls, floor slabs and roof to be assembled on-site in just two weeks. Brick was selected for the cladding, with the idea that it would be low-maintenance and age naturally over time to echo the surrounding buildings. (mitzmanarchitects.com)

82 JUNE 2020 /

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PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE

5

GENEROUS EXTENSION Invited to extend a three-storey Victorian house in

Peckham, London, to create a home for a photographer and her family, Hugh Strange Architects completely transformed the lower levels, adding an inner courtyard that draws sunshine down into the new spaces. To make the most of the ÂŁ380,000 budget the architect chose to use a light touch on the upper levels of the four-bedroom house and focused most of its attention on the upper and lower ground floors. Using an exposed steel frame to support the new structure and the house above, they extended out and down to increase the ceiling heights and create a deeper connection between the property and the garden. The rear section of the upper ground floor has been cut away to make space for a double-height kitchen. The adjacent dining area opens onto a new, paved courtyard with glazed doors that concertina open, further enhancing the connection to the outdoors. (hughstrange.com)

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 83

PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE

6

TRIANGULAR PLOT With just 82.3 square metres of floor space, this compact two-bedroom courtyard house on an unusual end-of-terrace plot in Bristol was granted permission because the owner’s daughter had bought the house next door, freeing the site of planning restrictions that had previously prevented it from being developed. Instead of filling the triangular space entirely, Barefoot Architects decided to retain a historic brick wall and create an entrance courtyard that helps define the angular shape of the house. The timber-frame structure is clad in Corten steel, with rusty volumes peeking up above the wall. Sitting on a large slab to help make it flood-resistant, the ground floor contains all the living spaces, arranged around the brick-lined courtyard for maximum daylight.

The small upper level provides a guest bedroom, bathroom and roof terrace. The construction took seven months and cost just under ÂŁ250,000. (barefootarchitects.co.uk)

84 JUNE 2020 /

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7

OPEN DESIGN To create the tiny garden at the heart of this home in Sydney,

Australia, Breakspear Architects inverted the design of a classic Australian veranda-wrapped house, responding to the request for a retreat for a young family by creating a small secluded slice of urban bushland surrounded by generous, five-metre-high living spaces. Asked to imagine a garden as additional rooms of the house, the architect envisaged the 195 square metre home as a grid of double-height courts. Four bedrooms and studies occupy the corners. The kitchen, dining room, living room and entrance all lead directly off the outdoor space so that no corridors were needed. At ground-floor level, glazed panels slide open to give uninterrupted access between the living areas. Above this, tall walls of cedar planking enclose the courtyard, adding to the sense of privacy and framing the sky. Perforated steel and cement panels help screen the outside of the ÂŁ750,000 house from the street and the neighbours. (brkspr.com)

8

AROUND THE CENTRE When Bernardo Richter and his family decided to build a house for themselves, the Brazilian architect knew it would be inspired by not just any courtyard, but the one at the heart of Muuratsalo, the experimental home built in 1954 by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. Richter’s 250 square metre three-bedroom home in Curitiba, Brazil, is filled with references to Alvar’s work, from the choice of brick for the main structure to the internal layout, arranged around a stone-paved central courtyard with a firepit at its centre. ‘My main premise was that by the time you entered the house you could practically understand the whole project,’ Bernardo explains. ‘The whole idea works around the courtyard.’ Completed for £122,000, the single-storey building has no windows on the front, instead using roof glazing and sliding panels of glass along the private decks that flank the house and around the courtyard to fill the home with daylight. (arquea.com.br)

10

STRAW BALE AND SALVAGE

With a budget of £150,000 and land gifted by her parents, Jan Whitlock self-built her sustainable home in the West Sussex village where she grew up.

Employing Ecotecture Ecological Design (01444 416 745; ecotecture. co.uk) resulted in a circular timber-frame construction using straw bales for insulation and lime render for the external finish, with a floating roof. A local carpenter built the frame, using timber from his own woods to construct the cross braces and hazel spikes that hold the bales in place. Inside, the living room flooring was salvaged from a village hall; a Glastonbury art installation makes up part of the kitchen; scaffold planks were used for window sills, and bathroom fittings were rescued from a local skip. A rainwater harvesting system

86 JUNE 2020 /

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PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE

9

BUNGALOW REBUILD Having fallen in love with the location and the mature garden, the young couple

who own Bohemia House in St Peter Port, Guernsey, wanted to transform the bungalow on the site into a home that would adapt as their lives changed. DLM Architects stripped the structure back to its bones and then extended it around a courtyard, enlarging it to 250 square metres of floor space with new connections to the garden. The budget for the four-bedroom house was ÂŁ700,000. It is broken into a series of volumes, three with pitched roofs, which are arranged to maximise the amount of sunlight that reaches the outdoor areas. This positioning also blocks views from the neighbouring properties, so there is no need for blinds to cover the full-height windows that look out to the courtyard and the garden. (dlm.gg)

PHOTOGRAPHY FEDERICO CAIROLI, RICHARD CHIVERS, ANTHONY COLEMAN, FILIP DUJARDIN, TOM FERGUSON, JAMES FRENCH, DAVID GRANDORGE, PETER LANDERS, GILBERT McCARRAGHER,

10

SMALL-SPACE SOLUTION

A sunken garden and an internal courtyard create connections through the interior of this maisonette, occupying the lower two levels of a four-storey Victorian house in Victoria Park, London. ZCD Architects replaced an extension to squeeze out space for a third bedroom at ground level and expanded living space at basement level, excavating the garden. White-stained larch clads the walls to help bounce light down into the basement and pale gravel reflects the light upwards. The softness of the wood is contrasted with the board-marked concrete also used in the garden, which includes small areas of planting.

A wall of folding doors framed in black open up in warmer weather. (zcdarchitects.co.uk) MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 87

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PROJECTS SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSIONS

TO STAY AT ZAMANI, CONTACT UNIQUE HOMESTAYS (UNIQUEHOMESTAYS.COM)

Gain more floor space Build outwards to the rear of your house and you might not need to apply for planning permission WORDS CAROLINE RODRIGUES

Extending into the garden is one of the best ways to add more room. For smaller properties, an extension can simply push out at the back or the side return can be filled in, and for larger ones, an L-shaped wraparound makes use of the rear and side. ‘Adding an extension not only increases the footprint but also allows for creative

solutions to improve the flow inside a house,’ says Hugh McEwen, founding partner at architectural practice Office S&M (officesandm.com). ‘It’s also a good opportunity to rethink the downstairs layout, such as by providing access to the garden from the dining area or getting direct sunlight into a bathroom.’

Since this property in Gloucestershire sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the owners were delighted to find their extension application sailed through planning unaltered.

The chimney breast that breaks up the expanse of glass was intended for a wood burner, but as the room has underfloor heating this wasn’t needed.

The cost was £200,000

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 91

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PROJECTS SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSIONS An addition to a 1968 modernist four-bedroom house in Surrey has added 86sqm of living space. The two-bedroom extension

by TDO Architecture provides separate rooms for the owners’ daughter and grandson. It pitches up at an angle, mirroring the house, and is clad in large, gloss white tiles above a base of dark engineering brick, with a new glass link between the new and old.

It cost £200,000 (tdoarchitecture.com)

Thinking ahead Make a checklist of how you would like to use the extra room before briefing an architect or designer. ‘Consideration of what you need will avoid empty, unusable or wasted spaces,’ says Joanna Coleman, director at Mustard Architects (mustardarchitects.com). As well as

Make a checklist of how you would like to use the extra room before briefing an architect or designer dealing with the practical aspects, an architect will come up with visual solutions.

‘Long views to the garden are a great way to make even the smallest of spaces feel bigger,’ says Joanna.

If the extension is for a kitchen, the simplest layouts are convenient to work in. Larger additions can take an L-shaped or U-shaped format, with an island unit which automatically zones the room into kitchen and dining areas.

By building replacement side and rear extensions totalling 69.5sqm for this end-of-terrace Edwardian home, Mulroy Architects was able to reconfigure the ground-floor plan and improve the living space, incorporating a streamlined kitchen, open-plan dining area and bright sunroom (mulroyarchitects.com) MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 93

PROJECTS SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSIONS

Seeking approval Many extensions can be carried out under permitted development (PD) rules. Read up on the legislation on allowable sizes for various types of house on the Planning Portal (planningportal.co.uk). You can apply for PD if your proposed design, including previous extensions and other buildings, such as sheds, will cover less than

Many extensions can be carried out under permitted development (PD) rules 50 per cent of the land around the house. But you will need planning permission if your home is in a conservation area or is listed.

A party wall agreement will be needed if the work affects the boundary with neighbouring properties. In all cases, extensions are subject to building regulations.

ABOVE AND RIGHT The unusual angle of this side extension for a seafront Edwardian house in Deal, Kent, provides a generous L-shaped family room and helps to shelter the south-facing garden.

Architect practice Tate Harmer (tateharmer.com) came up with a 25sqm design, cladding the super-insulated timber frame in robust recycled composite plastic cladding. Glazing is by Velfac (velfac.co.uk).

The cost was ÂŁ150,000

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MAGAZINE.COM

CARBON REDUCTION Aim for a low-impact build, says Adam Knibb of Adam Knibb Architects (adamknibbarchitects.com) ● Zero carbon refers to both

embodied energy, which is used in the manufacture of the building materials, and operational energy, which is used to heat, cool and power an extension. ● If the entire building isn’t

being upgraded, then even if you deliver a zero-carbon extension the overall house will still have the same carbon footprint. In theory, the extension could be below zero, generating energy sufficient to power the house, but I haven’t heard of anything like this being done before. ● Concrete is still the industry

standard for foundations but it has high embodied energy. You can reduce the embodied CO2 of foundations through different cement mixes or use of limecrete, but not offset it completely. One of our new timber-frame houses is set on a compacted gravel trench foundation, using aggregate from the previous demolished house with mechanically compacted layers, topped with limecrete to bind it all together. ● Build using timber frame,

Design choices Building in masonry is a tried and trusted method but there are modern alternatives worth considering. Timber frame and SIPs (structurally insulated panels) offer faster build times. Cladding options include brick, render, wood, metal and more unusual materials.

Check before you commit whether your council stipulates that the material must match the orignal house since some may require an identical finish.

‘You can make a building more legible by using a different type of cladding, particularly one that speaks of sustainability and low carbon construction,’ says Jerry Tate, partner at architect Tate Harmer (tateharmer.com).

ABOVE AND RIGHT Simon Whitehead Architects (simonwhitehead.com) came up with a unique solution for this five-bedroom detached Victorian house in south-east London, designing two extensions totalling 40.6sqm to enclose a 20sqm outdoor space. Existing floor levels were lowered by 540mm and the outdoor seating area by 820mm.

The space includes a kitchen and utility by Roundhouse (roundhousedesign.com), plus a boot room/toilet/pantry and an open-plan seating area

which has low embodied energy; all buildings ideally need to be constructed this way to minimise the environmental damage. Modern solutions such as SIPs (structural insulated panels) and CLT (cross-laminated timber) are best for reducing the carbon footprint. ● Cob or straw bale could be

used but it’s important to think holistically about the building.

They don’t lend themselves to airtightness so additional membranes to reduce leakage will be needed. ● Follow the energy hierarchy: Be Lean – select the highest standards for materials.

Be Clean – keep emissions low.

Be Green – include renewables. ● Design your extension with

good insulation, airtightness and building orientation in mind, then go for renewables such as air source heat pumps. The house will become more sustainable, with a lower carbon footprint, over time.

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 95

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PROJECTS SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSIONS

Good glazing

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN BRAILEY, DARREN CHUNG/ROUNDHOUSE, DAVID CURRAN, DAN GLASSER, MALGOSIA LONSDALE PHOTOGRAPHY, KILIAN O’SULLIVAN

Achieving a decent level of daylight is a priority.

Strategically positioned roof lights will brighten the centre of the house, structural glazing can make an impressive statement for a contemporary extension and traditional raised lanterns add detailing to a classic build. Bi-fold doors are the default option for opening up the house to the garden, but sliding doors are unparalleled for maximising views due to wide expanses of glass and slim frames.

Bi-fold doors are the default option for opening up the house to the garden, but sliding doors are unparalleled for maximising views Works timeline Allow around seven weeks to consult with an architect or designer about your plans, sort out the budget and fee proposal and agree preliminary and then detailed drawings.

If your project requires planning consent, the application will be submitted to the local council for the eight-week consultation process, after which you can put the project out to tender. From then on, work can start on site and will usually take between three and six months. ● Turn to p98 to read the case study of a new extension

ABOVE AND TOP Architecture for London extended a north-London Victorian property to include a new dining room with full-height glazing, a landscaped terrace and a separate ‘glass-box’ room. GGBS (ground granulated blast-furnace slag), made from iron-industry waste product, was used to reduce the embodied carbon content of the structural concrete and the glazing has a solar control coating with a U-value of 1 W/m2K. The cost was £2,250 per sqm (architectureforlondon.com)

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 97

The new extension, built under permitted development, makes the most of limited room, allowing keen gardener Fleur to retain outdoor space

P R O J EC T PROFILE –

LOCATION East London TYPE OF PROPERTY Mid-terrace Victorian house DURATION OF PROJECT 8 months SIZE 10sqm COST £150,000-£200,000 (inc cost of kitchen)

Slim fitting Once a modest extension was added, everything clicked into place for the owners of this terraced house WORDS CAROLINE RODRIGUES PHOTOGR APHY TIM CROCKER

In a home just a touch wider than four metres, Nick Warren and Fleur Young, both in their early 40s, knew that creating the extra space they needed would be no easy task. Having bought the two-bedroom former railway worker’s mid-terrace house in east London in 2015 with the intention of updating it, Nick, a management consultant, and Fleur, a lawyer, lived in it for a while before deciding to extend at the back, yet keep the front living room separate. ‘We need quiet areas when we’re working from home but also wanted a space for relaxing and entertaining when the laptop closes,’ says Nick.

The house had a small dark kitchen in the middle, with the bathroom tacked onto the back in an old extension.

‘The kitchen just had one gloomy window above the sink, 98 JUNE 2020 /

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and if we had friends over for dinner, we would need to shuffle around the table to reach the oven, fridge or bathroom,’ says Nick.

The couple settled on local practice Mustard Architects (mustardarchitects.com), having seen pictures of a previous project. ‘Joanna Coleman of Mustard was approachable and direct,’ says Nick. ‘The stages of the process and the costs were outlined to us early on and we didn’t feel like we were getting in over our heads.’

Joanna relocated the bathroom to the centre of the ground-floor plan, allowing for a kitchen with a dining area that directly overlooks the garden. There wasn’t much opportunity for a large net gain of floor area since the couple wanted to retain a garden big enough for meals

PROJECTS CASE STUDY

LEFT Although there wasn’t room for a farmhouse-style kitchen, the new space includes painted panelling and oak worksurfaces ABOVE Every possible opportunity was taken to add storage, including a glazed cabinet for glassware

by Barnaby Reynolds (barnabyreynolds.com) RIGHT Nick and Fleur were keen that the project should be in keeping with the age of the house so so the material palette is rich in colour and texture

outside with friends. ‘We used the maximum height at the eaves under permitted development and proposed a steeply pitched roof to gain as much height as possible internally to make the space feel far more generous,’ says Joanna. A large roof light takes up one of the roof slopes, so that the room is flooded with sunshine. Construction of the extension is brick and block, with GRP on the roof.

The planning and design took approximately 18 months, including the first six months of the conception stage and four months of tender process.

The build ran over by two months.

‘We found this really frustrating at the time because it seems we were well ahead of the schedule at first but

‘We need quiet areas when we’re working from home but also wanted a space for relaxing and entertaining’

the builders found it hard to work within the very cramped site,’ says Nick.

Mustard Architects planned the kitchen and put forward designer Barnaby Reynolds (barnabyreynolds. com) to fine-tune it. ‘He was a real wood nerd, creating beautiful finishes and building a huge triangular larder and glass display cabinet,’ says Nick.

The couple asked Mustard Architects to make the most of the south-facing aspect and introduce an indoor-outdoor flow to their home. ‘The results permit us to enjoy this and do much more. The extension is everything we hoped for,’ says Nick. ‘We sometimes have to pinch ourselves when having a cup of tea outside,’ adds Fleur.

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 99

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PROJECTS BUYER’S GUIDE

FOCUS ON

Outdoor furniture Your choice will be influenced by whether you want a durable all-year-round set or something that must be stored in winter WORDS ANDREA MANLEY

This armchair duo and coffee table set is ideal for a small patio. The armchair arms and backrest are woven from black polyrope.

The table is teak.

Luccombe armchair set, £1,000, The Garden Trading Company (gardentrading.co.uk)

There’s been a proliferation of garden sofa, lounger, table and chair designs, all aiming to tempt you with a promise of comfortable outdoor living. Timber, metal and rattan are common material options, and now there’s also fibrestone, a lightweight concrete-effect material to consider.

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DESIRABLE DIMENSIONS Just as when buying a sofa, armchair or table for inside your home, measure up carefully to make sure you have sufficient space for your new outdoor pieces, including the route you’ll use to get them to the garden on delivery. And if you are likely to move the furniture around – to different parts of the garden, for storage or to bring it inside – find out the weight so that you can judge how easily manoeuvrable it is.

Will you need to store the furniture over winter? Even materials that can be left outside all year round will look better and last longer when sheltered away from the worst of the cold weather. If you have limited space, folding chairs and tables take up less room when not in use, as do stackable designs and sofas that can be partly dismantled.

RIGHT The brass crossbars on this table are a design feature and provide stability. Outdoor Table Two, £2,155, Outdoor Bench Two, £1,025, Another Country (anothercountry.com)

A CLASSIC CHOICE

Ideal for patio and decking areas, this teak and powder-coated aluminium-framed corner sofa, H80xW171xD80cm, comes with two built-in side tables, a central coffee table and shower-resistant neutral-grey cushions. Amberley sofa set, £2,000, The Garden Trading Company (gardentrading.co.uk) 106 JUNE 2020 /

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Timber’s natural good looks makes it the material of choice for many when it comes to garden furniture, whether as traditional park-style benches and steamer chairs or contemporary, sleek dining tables. Selecting FSC-certified wood from responsibly managed sources or genuine reclaimed timber will ensure peace of mind when it comes to sustainability.

Teak, cedar, oak, eucalyptus and the less expensive acacia wood are varieties most often used for outdoor designs. They are all naturally rotresistant, hardy enough to withstand the British weather and, if needs be, can stay outside throughout the year.

Nevertheless, all woods benefit from being overwintered inside to prevent cracking and warping. Teak has a high oil content, making it the most weather-resistant option and much less likely to warp or crack over time.

Left outside and untreated, most woods develop a silver-grey patina.

If you want to preserve the original colour, regularly apply a protective oil treatment. Softwood furniture, such as pine or spruce, is less durable and must be treated every one or two years with a protective stain or paint.

PROJECTS BUYER’S GUIDE

INTO THE WEAVE Much rattan furniture is made from synthetic materials, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or PVC. HDPE rattan replicates the real thing effectively without looking plasticky and has a more natural look than the PVC or polyurethane versions.

Synthetics such as these have the benefit of being both waterproof and UV-resistant.

Look for designs where the rattan has been wrapped around a strong aluminium frame rather than being secured with nails that are liable to rust.

Lightweight and easy to rearrange or store away, this furniture is low maintenance and can be left

outside all winter if covered to protect the surface from dirt and moss. Cleaning is a simple matter of brushing off any loose grime and washing with soapy water then rinsing off and leaving to dry.

Natural rattan furniture is not as durable for outdoor use as synthetic as it isn’t waterproof or UV-resistant, and should be taken inside during winter. The cane used is fast-growing and when responsibly harvested it is an eco-friendly choice.

It needs checking often, so any dirt can be brushed away before it becomes stuck in the weave. Look for designs on a sturdy wooden or metal frame.

WOOD FOR GOOD These tips from Louise Golden, gardening expert at Dobbies Garden Centres (dobbies.com), will extend the life of timber furniture ● Avoid oiling or sealing new

oak as oils tend to make the wood go black and pick up dirt, and sealants sit on the surface, changing the texture of the wood so that it will need frequent maintenance. ● After hardwood furniture

has been left outside for a number of years, the surface grain will have opened up and it will have lost its surface tannins. Replenishing with a suitable furniture oil will help to regain lustre. ● If the furniture has been

neglected and acquired a covering of moss, lichen or algae, scrape it off or use a stiff brush along the grain of the wood and sand down to reveal new timber. Don’t clean with a pressure washer as it’ll strip away some of the wood along with the dirt. ● Softwood must be

treated to protect it from the elements and requires frequent maintenance.

Hand-woven from resin fibres made to look like natural rattan, and with an aluminium frame, the Willow six-seater set includes six cushioned chairs, a rectangular glass-topped table and parasol with base. £1,499, Dobbies Garden Centres (dobbies.com)

MODERN COMPOSITE Planters made with fibrestone are commonplace, but this concreteeffect, lightweight material is also being used for garden furniture.

It’s a durable composite made from polyester resin, ground stone and fibreglass. The surface can be textured or smooth and looks heavy, like concrete, but it’s relatively lightweight.

Suitable for outdoor use in good weather, fibrestone furniture needs to be stored under cover during heavy downpours and throughout the winter.

● Clean outdoor furniture

before winter. Dirty wooden pieces hold far more moisture than clean wooden furniture. ● When storing over the

winter or during bad weather, use good-quality, breathable covers and leave a gap at the bottom so air can circulate.

This lessens the chances of mildew and fungi growing.

Secure with weights or ties to prevent them blowing off in strong winds. ● Standing furniture on

a hard surface such as paving, decking or gravel minimises the chance of the legs rotting. Stand pieces at a tilt in winter to stop water pooling on surfaces and causing damage.

This fibrestone design with clean, angular lines is available in grey or ecru. Variations in the material make each piece unique. Eightseater Tico dining set with table and two benches, £1,395, Habitat (habitat.co.uk) MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 107

PROJECTS BUYER’S GUIDE

UPHOLSTERED COMFORT High-performance outdoor fabrics made from tough and long-lasting acrylic are completely eee waterproof so cushions can be left outside all season. Weatherproof cushions aren’t waterproof but can shrug off a light summer shower and then dry out in the sunshine. Do bring them inside during heavy rain to prevent the inner becoming saturated and mouldy.

Check fabrics are stain and fade-resistant and also consider sofas and chairs that have removable washable covers.

The low slung, modular Saparella sofa, a re-released 1965 design, brings luxurious comfort to an outdoor space. Made from high-performance foam with removable waterproof covers, the convex shape of the seat allows water to run off naturally.

Sofa from £3,870, footstool from £613, Ligne Roset (ligne-roset.com)

THE STRONG STUFF Metal furniture comes in a wide range of styles, from ornate Victoriana to minimalistic modernity.

Aluminium is corrosion-resistant, lightweight and available in powder-coated colours. Although aluminium tables and chairs can be quite slimline, they are deceptively robust and can be left outside in all weathers. Easy to move around, pieces can be cleaned with soapy water and a soft cloth, and waxed occasionally to protect the surface and give it a shine. To extend the furniture’s longevity, cover during winter.

Steel falls between aluminium and wrought iron in terms of weight, and as steel furniture is susceptible to rust it’s given a powder coating to protect the metal. Designs can be galvanised – dipped in molten zinc – which creates a resilient coating and is maintenance-free.

Furniture described as wrought iron is now more commonly made from mild steel. It is used for the most elaborately decorative designs, and its weight makes it best suited to tables and benches that don’t need to be moved.

Designed by brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Hay, Palissade outdoor furniture is made from hot galvanised steel, making it durable and maintenance-free. Table £839, dining armchair, £469, stool, £265, Nest (nest.co.uk) 108 JUNE 2020 /

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BATHROOMS

KITCHENS &

Large-format floor tiles emphasise the grand sense of scale in this open-plan space.

Dakota dark grey porcelain tiles, 600x600mm, £29.99 per sqm, Tile Mountain (tilemountain.co.uk)

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KITCHEN UPGRADE Miami thrice The latest update of the Tinkisso kitchen mixer tap from Dowsing & Reynolds takes its cue from Florida’s Art Deco architecture and comes in a choice of three colours: Miami Pink, Neo Mint or White. The smooth, matte-finish taps cost £99.99. (dowsingandreynolds.com)

Pare it back Wickes has extended its made-to-order kitchens with eight new designs.

Chester is the brand’s first narrow-frame Shaker-style unit. There’s a choice of handles and accessories, or select the Chester Intelliga handle-free design which has a discreet integrated aluminium grip rail for a streamlined finish.

Available in Grey or Midnight. £POA. (wickes.co.uk)

A starring role Premium solid-surface brand Staron has introduced seven new colours. New additions to the Supreme range include the raw, industrial Ash Concrete and subtly washed-effect Concerto, pictured, while the popular Sanded collection now includes the more vibrant shades of Mint and IceBlue. The material is made from thermoset natural minerals and acrylic, for a durable, hygienic finish. From £350 per sqm. (staron.com)

Shining example To celebrate its 40th anniversary Everhot, the maker of the energy-efficient heat storage cooker, has launched chrome and stainless steel versions. All six models in the collection run off a standard 13-amp plug and are ideally suited for use with renewable energy sources. The eco control function allows the range to be dropped to a lower temperature, saving on electricity. The 60 (60cm width) costs £5,350; the 110 stainless steel, above, is £10,230. (everhot.co.uk)

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KITCHEN UPGR ADE Planet-friendly thinking

Beautifully simple Founded in 2012 by designer Lotte Fynboe, Oyoy Living Design has launched its first UK online store.

Citing colour, natural materials and graphic elements as inspiration, all products are rooted in traditional and simple Scandinavian design.

The Inka milk jug, available in Rose, Caramel and Offwhite, costs £33.99. (oyoylivingdesign.co.uk)

Kent-based company Koivu only uses farmed Finnish birch plywood for its Scandinavian-inspired kitchens. The eco brand also strives for its furniture to have the lowest volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions on the market. And to counter its use of timber, Koivu makes regular donations to the Woodland Trust. Cobden kitchen, £22,000. (koivu.co.uk)

Circular economy Kitchen company British Standard has joined forces with ethical brand Elvis & Kresse to launch a collection of unique handstamped handles that are made from rescued fire-hose material. ‘I have long admired the work that Elvis & Kresse have undertaken in transforming the humble fire hose into a product with the texture of luxury leather,’ says Merlin Wright, design director at British Standard and Plain English. Loop handles, £37, medium handles, £39, large handles, £40. (britishstandardcupboards.co.uk)

Fisher & Paykel’s new touchscreen oven teams seamless styling with guided cooking that promises great results every time. It features three main modes, Cook by Function, Cook by Food Type and Cook by Recipe, which provide recipes including the method, ingredients and even shelf position. For those who don’t want the touchscreen, the oven is also available with a dial. It costs £1,299 in stainless steel and £1,399 in black. (fisherpaykel.com)

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WORDS PAULA WOODS

Screen time

PROJECTS KITCHENS

Wall and floor design ideas A guide to selecting the right material with the perfect finish and getting it installed correctly WORDS PAUL A WOODS

This scratch-resistant 93 per cent natural quartz composite should prove more durable than most stone. Turbine Grey 6313, from ÂŁ550 per sqm, Caesarstone (caesarstone.co.uk)

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PROJECTS KITCHENS WALLS

Whether you’re planning a new room or updating your current scheme, the wall and floor surfaces you choose will have a big influence on the success of the space – in terms of both the style and the practicalities. Hardwearing and easy-clean materials will ensure that the beautiful finish you choose stays in great condition for many years.

A good foundation Careful preparation of the base on which the new surface will be laid is important to ensure a durable and professional-quality finish.

Whether you’re thinking of tackling the job yourself or getting a professional in, basic preparation methods must be followed. New concrete or screed subfloors and plastered walls must be completely moisture-free. And problems with damp or damage in older homes will need to be rectified. Prior to laying new flooring, any movement in the subfloor will need to be stabilised, and a concrete base must be completely level. Use a degreasing agent, such as sugar soap, to clean up painted walls ready for a fresh coat or before applying adhesive for cladding or tiles.

Many suppliers keep a list of recommended installers and you can also find qualified and experienced tradespeople through organisations such as The Tile Association (tiles.org.uk) and the National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (nicfltd.org.uk).

Cool composites If you’re looking for a sleek finish that’s robust, non porous, and low maintenance, quartz and resin-based composites such as Silestone and Caesarstone are a versatile solution, but these luxury surfaces are pricey.

You can expect to pay between £300 and £500 per square metre. Similar in appearance, sintered stone is formed under extreme heat and pressure, which bonds mineral and stone particles together. As a result, it’s resistant to chemicals, scratches, knocks and heat damage. Products such as Neolith and Ceralsio cost from around £300.

The wall and floor surfaces you choose will have a big influence on the success of the space, in terms of both the style and the practicalities BELOW Eco-friendly Italian slaked lime polished plaster by Surfina (surfina.co.uk) is teamed with an engineered stone upstand for added protection in this Urbo Hague Blue matt lacquer and wenge kitchen.

Bespoke kitchens, from £35,000, Roundhouse (roundhousedesign.com).

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Natural timber Wood and plywood cladding has a tactile finish and the boards or panels can be used to disguise less than perfect walls. Prices start at £10 per square metre for softwood tongue and groove, rising to £300 for exotic timber such as walnut. Whichever timber you choose, the surface will need to be sealed to prevent marks and water damage. Ensure it’s FSC-certified.

You can also find cladding boards and panels made from bamboo and reclaimed timber. And The English Panelling Company (theenglishpanelling company.co.uk) offers easy-fit, MDF panelling kits.

This wallpaper splashback by Dutch designer Puck B is made from water and heat-resistant vinyl and finished with a UV-resistant print. Flower and Marble splashback, £190 per roll, Lime Lace (limelace.co.uk

Tile style

This collaboration between House of Grey (houseofgrey.co.uk) and Naked Kitchens (naked kitchens.com) sees Samphire painted cabinets set against a walnut-clad wall. Cladding, from £300 per sqm, Norfolk Oak (norfolkoak.com), Ladbroke kitchen, from £8,000, Naked Kitchens

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A classic choice with a timeless appeal, stone tiles or slabs can last a lifetime when professionally fitted. ‘Natural stone is porous and will require sealing during the installation process,’ explains Daniel Morris, product support manager at Mandarin Stone (mandarinstone.com). Prices vary enormously, ranging from £20 up to £700 per square metre, depending on the type and the quality of stone.

For ease of installation consider ceramic and porcelain tiles that can convincingly replicate natural or more expensive materials, and also come in inviting colourful and patterned designs, from as little as £10 per square metre.

Handmade cement encaustic tiles can be used across all surfaces; natural variations in colour and finish offer a softer look. Grey Herringbone tiles,300x50mm, £152 per sqm (min 5sqm),.

Otto Tiles & Design (ottotiles.co.uk)

PROJECTS KITCHENS WALLS

Plaster perfection Tadelakt and Venetian lime-based plaster create seamlessly smooth walls with a depth of colour and texture. Professional application starts at £150 per square metre but the finish can be attempted by a DIYer with plastering skills. ‘We can supply the materials along with full instructions,’ says Valentin Tatanov, managing director at Tadelakt London (tadelakt.com).

BELOW Part of a substantial renovation

by Chamber Furniture, a distinctive brass splashback and matching worksurface has been used to contrast with matt lacquered and chevron veneer cabinets in this 1930s family home.

Bespoke kitchen, from £40,000 (chamber furniture.co.uk)

Metal and paint Stainless steel, copper and brass sheet is ideal for an industrial-style effect. Expect to pay around £100 per square metre for standard, cut-to-order pieces and considerably more for bespoke finishes from the likes of Naked Kitchens (nakedkitchens.com).

Good-quality paint will stand up well to the heat and humidity of the kitchen. And modern, washable emulsions are largely impervious to grease and stains. Eco-friendly options include Earthborn’s Eco Lifestyle range (earthbornpaints.co.uk) and Smart Emulsion from Francesca’s Paints (francescaspaint.com).

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 119

Walk on wood

On the tiles

Sustainable timber starts from around £50 per square metre. However it does require maintenance, and ‘it is a good idea to apply a protective sealant each year,’ advises Peter Keane, director at The Natural Wood Floor Company (naturalwoodfloor.co.uk).

There are also options for rooms subject to humidity, where solid timber may not be the best option. ‘Engineered flooring is made from layers of solid wood bonded together to enhance the plank’s strength and resilience, and will reduce a wood’s tendency to expand and contract,’ says Robert Walsh, founder of Ted Todd (tedtodd.co.uk).

Engineered planks are also ideal for use with underfloor heating and easy to install thanks to floating click systems.

Tough materials that withstand heavy traffic and regular cleaning are the best option for busy kitchens. Non porous porcelain and ceramic tiles offer a maintenance-free solution suitable for using with underfloor heating (UFH).

Expect to pay from £20 per square metre.

Decorative cement or clay-based Moroccan and Victorian-inspired encaustic tiles can be used on walls and floors but need to be sealed to prevent staining. As they are handmade, prices start at £130 per square metre.

The textured finishes of flagstones makes them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms as they are slip-resistant. They cost from £35 per square metre and are UFH-friendly but must be sealed against grime and water damage.

ABOVE These striking hexagonal tiles are in Norwegian larvikite, a natural monzonite stone that needs no sealing.

Lundhs Blue real stone, from £680 per sqm, Lundhs (lundhs realstone.com)

PHOTOGRAPHY NICK KANE, JIM STEPHENSON

LEFT This rustic grade timber floor has an easy-fit click system and is compatible with underflooor heating. Levana Herringbone LV414 engineered oak with matt lacquered finish, from £72.98 per sqm, Kersaint Cobb (kersaintcobb.co.uk)

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PROJECTS KITCHENS FLOORS

TOUGH CHOICES Consider the pros and cons of resin and concrete, says Alex Dennis, owner and CEO of Sphere 8 (sphere8.com) ● Poured concrete, resin

and terrazzo floors, which cost from £250 to £450 per square metre, offer a unique and seamless finish perfectly suited to new builds or extensive renovation projects

RIGHT Harvey Maria’s Northmore collection reinterprets Victorian designs to create a luxury vinyl tile that is compatible with underfloor heating. Northmore Soapstone, £47.35 per sqm (harveymaria.com) BELOW Sphere8’s BrecciaSphere is a resin floor that contains quartz, marble and stone aggregate, which replicates concrete terrazzo and has the elastic qualities of poured resin. £250 per sqm (sphere8.com)

● As poured floors have

Vinyl collection Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) cost from around £40 to £70 per square metre and are ideal for spill-prone spaces as they’re water-resistant and easy to clean.

Comfortable and warm to walk on barefoot, they are easy to install and replicate both natural materials and encaustics. Try Amtico (amtico.com) or Moduleo (moduleo.co.uk) for extensive ranges.

no joins for dirt to collect in, they are easy to keep clean and shouldn’t suffer from mould or shrinkage. But both resin and cement will need to be sealed. ● Resin formulas based

on a plant-oil biopolymer from the castor bean are resistant to cracking and yellowing. ● Resin floors tend to

be more expensive than cement versions but they are also more durable and last longer – around 25 years if cared for properly. ● Micro-cement is a resin

and cement blend that can be used on floors and walls to give a trowelled look and a hard surface. ● Polished screeds look

like concrete, and there are eco-friendly versions available, such as MineralSphere, which is a cement-free formula of recycled glass and fly ash. ● All poured floors need

to be applied to a good, solid and level substrate.

The quality of the subfloor is even more important than when tiling or fitting timber floors. ● Take advice on the

best type of underfloor heating to use with your chosen floor. ● Turn to p122 to read the case study on a new kitchen scheme

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 121

Ready for anything Pale timber-clad walls and a sleek concrete floor bring understated style to this multipurpose room WORDS PAUL A WOODS PHOTOGR APHY 82mm

P R O J EC T PROFILE –

LOCATION North London STYLE OF PROPERTY Victorian townhouse DURATION OF BUILD 8 months SIZE 90sqm COST kitchen £45,000, entire project £160,000

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When interior designer and founder of House of Grey (houseofgrey.co.uk) Louisa Grey, age 44, moved into her four-bedroom London home with photographer husband Carl Bartram they planned to strip everything out and start again.

The three-storey house had been converted into flats and the couple wanted to turn it into a family home for themselves and son, Huxley.

With the help of architect George Evennett (evennett.net), the first phase of works saw the entire lower ground floor extended by three metres to create an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space, with a separate pantry and utility room. The work involved installing supporting steels and a wall of glazed doors to provide access to the garden.

Designer Jamie Blake of Blakes London (blakeslondon.com) teamed up with Louisa to

MAGAZINE.COM

create the plan for the multipurpose space.

‘Louisa wanted a pared-back Scandinavian look,’ says Jamie. He suggested the kitchen should be in the centre of the floor plan with a seating area towards the front of the house and a dining area at the back.

Ample storage was included. Base units with distinctive Douglas fir slab doors are supplemented by a walk-in pantry concealed behind a pivoting wall. This hardworking area is where foodstuffs and appliances are hidden from the rest of the space. Meanwhile, a versatile, two metre long island can be moved around on its castors. ‘The kitchen can be rearranged when we are entertaining or when Huxley has friends to play,’ says Louisa.

The wall above the base units is also clad in Douglas fir boards to match the cabinet doors,

PROJECTS CASE STUDY

LEFT Decorated in pale shades, this clutter-free kitchen by Blakes London combines hidden storage with the subtle texture and warm tones of 300mm wide Douglas fir board wall cladding (blakeslondon.com) RIGHT The dining table was made in the same timber as the cladding.

It sits beneath the overhead glazing and in view of the garden.

BELOW The main run of units extends for 6.3m, and has Corian worksurfaces in Gray (corian.co.uk)

As the kitchen has direct access to the garden, the couple chose polished concrete for the floor for its hardwearing and easy to clean surface – and because it contrasts well with the timber cladding

and the surface was treated with a soap finish traditionally used in Scandinavian countries.

It enhances the grain while lightening the wood.

‘I really liked the idea of the cabinets blending into the space, rather than standing out against a plain wall,’ explains Louisa.

As the kitchen has direct access to the garden, the couple chose polished concrete for the floor for its hardwearing and easy to clean surface – and because it contrasts well with the timber cladding. ‘Beneath it is a four-zoned underfloor heating system that allows us to control individual sections, depending on how cold each area is,’ says Louisa.

A Douglas fir dining table continues the Scandinavian design influence. ‘I love how the warm tones and texture of the wood contrast with the grey concrete,’ she says.

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 123

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B AT H R O O M E D I T

A perfect match RAK-Feeling is the first collection of shower trays, enclosures, basins, sanitaryware and brassware to offer a completely colour co-ordinated scheme. The range includes Matt White, Matt Greige, Matt Cappuccino, Matt Grey and Matt Black. RAK-Feeling wallhung rimless WC, £499, wall-hung bidet; £399, and non-slip shower tray, £818, all in Matt Grey, RAK Ceramics UK (rakceramics.com)

Fluid lines Formed from a single piece of recycleable Lucite acrylic, the new Drift freestanding bath from the i-Line collection by Water Baths of Ashbourne has an eye-catching curved shape and an invitingly tactile glossy surface. It measures L1,600x W800xH630-560mm and costs £1,795. (watersbaths.co.uk)

Draw attention Bring in an element of black to enhance a sophisticated scheme. Taps and showers in the Valencia range by German company Jörger have knurled handles inlaid with a disc of black faceted crystal glass. The brassware is available in 15 colours and in polished, brushed and matt finishes. Basin mixer in chrome, £603, CP Hart. (cphart.co.uk)

The future’s bright This illuminated mirror’s brightness and light temperature can be adjusted via a Bluetooth-enabled wall switch. Made by German firm Hewi, which specialises in accessible design, the IP44-rated mirror is wireless and battery-free.

You can select from warm white to cold white light, and the mirror can also be tilted to a maximum 28° for use while standing or sitting.

It measures 600x540mm and is shatterproof. 801 LED Plus mirror, £696. (hewi.com)

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B AT H R O OM E D I T

Simply practical Suii is a new range of accessories from Zone Denmark. The work of design trio Tilde Nygaard, Hugo Dines Schmidt and Morten Lauritzen, the pared-back acrylic bathroom essentials are available in black, white or taupe and include two soap dispensers, a soap dish, toothbrush mug, pedal bin and loo brush, all of which have a non-slip silicone base.

Prices for the Suii series start from around £12. (zonedenmark.net)

Wild at heart Embrace the exotic with Otto Tiles & Design tropical tiles. The range features cheetahs, flamingos and birds of paradise set against leafy palms and foliage.

Each design is digitally printed onto handmade ceramic tiles by Turkish craftspeople and have a waterproof, scratch-proof and fade-resistant finish.

Amazonia printed ceramic tiles, £180 per sqm. (ottotiles.co.uk)

Riveting news Bathroom specialist Aston Matthews has introduced products to co-ordinate with its best-selling cast-iron Brunel bath.

There’s a new loo, basin and wall mirror, as well as light fittings and accessories.

Each piece has the same rivet detailing as on the Brunel tub. The 750x500mm basin with stand, finished in Machine Grey, costs £1,494. (astonmatthews.co.uk)

Harvey Maria has added a new design to its Signature collection of luxury vinyl floor tiles. Pattern, by artist and designer Dee Hardwicke, has a geometric flower motif adapted from a ceramic illustration and comes in four colourways, including this Larkspur version. The durable, slip-resistant luxury vinyl tiles cost £47.35 per sqm. (harveymaria.com) 126 JUNE 2020 /

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WORDS PAULA WOODS

Tread softly

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Milano Overton white modern oval double-ended freestanding bath, 1,830x710mm, £699.99, Milano Mirage modern freestanding bath shower mixer tap with hand shower in chrome, £219.99, Milano Linley grey 900mm wall-hung vanity unit with basin, £374.99, Milano Tagus LED bathroom mirror with sweep sensor and demister, 500x700mm, £121.99, Milano Mirage modern wall-mounted round basin mixer tap in chrome, £79.99 BELOW. Milano Henley antique white 840mm traditional vanity unit with round countertop basin, £359.99

A BOLD APPROACH Explore the options for statement design at Big Bathroom Shop There’s no better way to upgrade a home to boutique-hotel luxury than with a striking bathroom scheme. Whether you’re renovating or starting from scratch, online retailer Big Bathroom Shop has all the fittings you need to give your home a statement look.

To create an inspirational focal point consider including a freestanding bath. Select an oval double-ended shape for a dramatic impression or set the scene for a classic scheme with a traditional roll-top with decorative feet. Made from durable, premium-quality acrylic the baths come in dramatic silver or stone grey as well as white.

If you’re updating a shower room or have space for a walk-in shower in the bathroom, a sophisticated grid shower panel is the latest way to make a splash. Black taps and shower fittings, available in co-ordinated

bundles for easy ordering, will highlight the black framing of the panel.

At Big Bathroom Shop you’ll find bathroom suites to revamp busy family homes and smaller apartments. The collections include innovative solutions for en-suites, cloakrooms and larger bathrooms so that the place you start and end your day is tailored to your needs.

Storage is a big issue in bathrooms but with the right solutions, it’s easy to keep everything in order. Look out for streamlined cabinets and vanity units with smart integrated LED options, selecting soft grey hues or warm oak finishes.

Wall-hung vanity units are a contemporary choice. For compact spaces, a combination of a vanity unit and WC will feel uncluttered.

Visit the Big Bathroom Shop website to explore the inspirational ranges and find out more from the company’s experts.

● For more information, call 0345 122 7569 or visit BIGBATHROOMSHOP.CO.UK

MAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 127

PROJECTS BATHROOMS

Washing well How eco-friendly taps and showers save water and energy without compromising on performance or style WORDS PAUL A WOODS

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Crosswater‘s sleek MPRO collection is WRAS-certified.

Brushed Brass 300mm showerhead, £299, thermostatic shower valve with two-way diverter and handset, £699 (crosswater.co.uk)

Sustainable Dutch brand Cocoon’s collection with designer Piet Boon includes taps with a water-saving aerator and hand showers fitted with a flow regulator. Piet Boon x Cocoon thermostatic bath mixer, from £1,460, CP Hart

Most manufacturers offer brassware ranges designed to reduce water and energy use, which is good news for anyone updating their bathroom. If you’re on a meter, using less water will reduce your bill. It will also bring down your energy use, along with your fuel costs, and lower your water company’s CO2 emissions because less energy will be needed to pump and treat your supply.

Self-builders will need to ensure that new-build installations comply with the water-efficiency regulations, as set out in Part G of the building code – see the Planning Portal (planningportal.co.uk) – which can be achieved by using the latest eco-aware tap and shower fittings.

‘If the entire adult population of England and Wales remembered to turn the tap off when brushing teeth, 180,000,000 litres of water a day could be saved’ WATERWISE

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PROJECTS BATHROOMS

The Smart Shower has customisable settings covering duration, maximum temperature and flow rates. Controlled via an LCD display and touch-sensitive controls or remotely from an app, it can be pre-set for up to three users. ÂŁ2,712, Roca (roca.com)

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Cutting consumption When shopping for new taps or shower fittings, there are schemes that help identify a product’s water consumption and energyefficiency performance. Look out for the European Water label (europeanwaterlabel.eu). You can also search the organisation’s product database online. Similarly, the Waterwise Recommended Checkmark (waterwise.org.uk) highlights water-efficient products and services. And designs certified by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) (wras.co.uk) are guaranteed to conform to British regulation standards.

An infrared, touchless tap dispenses water only when the sensor is activated by a hand movement.

Wall-mounted Sensor tap by Vola, £1,321, West One Bathrooms (west onebathrooms.com)

Flow limiters restrict water use to a specific number of litres per minute, and aerators mix air and water to produce a rain-soft spray Tap tactics

The Atrio basin mixer from Grohe features water-saving EcoJoy technology that limits flow rate to 5.7L per minute and cuts water usage by 50 per cent. It costs £458.10 (grohe.co.uk)

Inbuilt tap technology makes every drop go further. Flow limiters restrict water use to a specific number of litres per minute, and aerators mix air and water to produce a gentle spray. Both options are designed to reduce consumption without there being any noticeable loss of performance. German manufacturer Hansgrohe’s EcoSmart flow limiter (hansgrohe. co.uk) is fitted across all its new basin mixers.

Taking things a step further, a number of Roca’s brassware collections (roca.com) feature a Cold Start function that ensures hot-water systems are only fired up when necessary to conserve energy.

Hi-tech advances have recently brought motion control to our bathrooms. ‘Infrared sensor-activated taps dispense water when hand movements prompt the sensor into action,’ says Paul Bailey, senior category manager at Grohe UK (grohe.co.uk). Both Grohe’s Bau Cosmopolitan E tap and Bristan’s Infrared range (bristan.com) are at the forefront of this technology. ‘Digital features are being used by manufacturers to encourage a heightened awareness of water and energy use,’ adds Paul.

The Grohe Plus range includes both infrared activation and LED temperature displays, and the handles of Duravit’s new D.1e tap (duravit.co.uk) includes a colour-changing light strip, from blue to orange to red, which indicates when the temperature is increasing or decreasing.

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Shower solutions In general, power showers, which have a pump, use more water than standard thermostatic systems which simply mix hot and cold water from your regular water supply.

Electric showers have their own heating element and use only the cold supply. ‘Some thermostatic designs have eco buttons which can reduce water use by as much as 50 per cent,’ says Paul Bailey. Digital showers, such as the Mira Mode (mirashowers.co.uk), offer even greater levels of control, allowing pre-programmed temperature and flow settings so that no heat is wasted.

Aerated showers, such as Hansgrohe’s Raindance EcoSmart and Grohe’s Rain O2, mix air and water to produce an efficient yet enjoyable spray. The savings can be considerable with consumption falling from an average of around 12 to 15 litres per minute to eight or nine litres. The air gives a sensation of increased water volume, which feels great on the skin.

Just as with taps, limiters can also be used to reduce the flow and showers with timer functions ensure the water can never be left running indefinitely.

The Rainshower 310 Mono head shower set by Grohe includes the company’s EcoJoy technology, which limits the flow to 9.5L per minute. £439.75 (grohe.co.uk)

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This minimalist shower has eco-friendly features built-in. Origin Rain showerhead in Copper, £191, universal 90° connection pipe, £125, hand shower unit, £209, built-in, water-saving shower mixer, £105, Vitra (vitra.co.uk)

PROJECTS BATHROOMS

ABOVE The Oas shower reduces water and energy use by up to 90 per cent and 80 per cent respectively thanks to a system that recycles water in a closed loop. £3,995, Orbital Systems (orbital-systems.com)

Reuse, recycle, recover Recycling technology takes conservation a step further.

Orbital Systems’ digital shower (orbital-systems.com) recirculates, purifies and heats water for savings that can be tracked by app. Zypho’s retrofit shower drain heat-recovery system (zypho.eu), although not water-saving, can help reduce energy consumption by recapturing wasted heat. Water-management systems such as Grohe’s digital Sense Guard allow users to monitor and control water supplies from their phone, for instant notification of leaks.

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Vitra’s brassware can be set to limit the amount of water released, saving up to 60 per cent. The Suit L tall basin mixer features an aerator, £261. (vitra.co.uk)

Sustainable sources The use of eco-friendly materials is worth taking into consideration to minimise your renovation or new-build’s carbon footprint. ‘Solid brass or stainless-steel taps do not contain plastic components, making them fully recycleable,’ says Howard Birch, managing director at Aston Matthews (astonmatthews.co.uk).

Choosing styles that will stand the test of time and are designed to have a long lifespan will prolong the period where you are happy to carry on using them, before buying a replacement. And purchasing from suppliers who are committed to sustainable manufacturing and production, such as Laufen (laufen.co.uk), Duravit, Roca and Vitra (vitra.com), will further limit the embodied carbon of your project.

‘Solid brass or stainless-steel taps do not contain plastic components, making them fully recycleable’

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PROJECTS BATHROOMS

RIGHT The Axis deck-mounted basin mixer in scuffed brass with crosshead controls has no plastic components and is fully recycleable. It costs £416.71, Aston Matthews (aston matthews.co.uk) BELOW Vitra’s Origin tall basin mixer, in brushed nickel, is suitable for a low-pressure system. It costs £379 (vitra.co.uk)

LET IT RAIN Lisa Farnsworth, managing director at Stormsaver (stormsaver.com), on what is involved when you install a rainwater-harvesting system ● A rainwater-harvesting

system can be used to supply washing machines, loos and garden irrigation.

Water is taken from the roof and stored in an underground tank before being used. ● The size of tank will

be determined by the space available and what the water is to be used for. Stormsaver tanks are shallow so no heavy equipment or complex groundworks should be needed. But it is simpler to fit systems during a new-build or large-scale renovation due to the dual pipework required. ● It’s possible for mains-water consumption to be reduced by around 50 per cent. ● Rainwater is soft, so when it’s used for laundry there is reduced limescale build-up and less detergent is needed. ● Harvesting rainwater

should not be confused with grey-water recycling.

This involves recirculating wastewater collected from sinks, showers, baths, basins and laundry, filtering and treating it before it’s used again in the WC, laundry and garden. ● A good quality rainwater

harvesting system will cost around £2,750 for a 1500L tank. Larger properties with sprinkler systems and more toilets may be looking at a 7500L tank, which will be around £4,800.

VISIT

GRANDDESIGNSMAGAZINE.COM is an essential online resource for anyone embarking on a self-build, renovation or home-improvement project.

As well as ideas from Kevin McCloud and the inside scoop on the Grand Designs TV houses, we’ve gathered together all the tools you’ll need to ensure your project is a great success. You’ll find a wealth of design inspiration, expert advice and practical guidance to help you navigate your way through every stage of the process.

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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PROFILE

MY GRAND IDEA –

Architect Simon Astridge on taking brass fixtures and finishes to new lengths in this whole-house renovation

RIGHT The metalsheet surface of the steps into the kitchen are brushed to make sure they are slip-resistant BELOW The Bulthaup B3 kitchen was fitted by Kitchen Architecture in clay, kaolin and a brass finish with a walnut bar (kitchen architecture.co.uk)

— How practical are brass stairs? Aren’t they slippery?

‘Those are questions the owners asked as well. They are timber stairs wrapped in a two to three millimetre folded metal sheet.

The surface of the steps are brushed to make sure they have grip.’

— Does the theme carry through the house?

‘The main en-suite bathroom has brass taps and shower fittings, as well as cream tiles with a brasscoloured flower pattern. At the top of the stairs there’s a brass balustrade, and above the stairwell we’ve installed a roof light with a strip of brass around it that the light bounces off.’

— Can you have too much of a good thing?

‘The couple loved the idea so much that we had to pull them back. They wanted to use it in every bathroom, but I felt it should be limited to key places. I wanted to include different

zones, so we used other colour themes in the kids’ bedrooms and bathroom, and the basement nanny flat. Now, when the family are in their en suite or the kitchen it feels special.’

— Is there anywhere that the material would not be suitable?

‘Kitchen worksurfaces. It’s like stainless steel – it scratches a lot.’

— Is it difficult to keep it clean?

‘You just need a damp cloth. The kitchen was sealed with a lacquer so it’s like any other surface.’

Szczepaniak Astridge (szc-ast.com)

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WORDS JESSICA CARGILL THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY NICHOLAS WORLEY

TOP RIGHT Brass is a theme in the main bedroom’s en suite on the top floor

Who were the clients?

‘A family with three young sons in Hammersmith, London. They wanted a whole-house refurb with kitchen extension and new basement.

Something that would be adaptable as the boys grew up.’

— Why brass?

‘The couple love the material. They also have a penchant for cooking.

So we needed a material that would make the kitchen really special.

I worked with Kitchen Architecture (kitchenarchitecture.co.uk), who fitted and assembled the units then took some of the doors and panels away to be sprayed in liquid brass.’

— But you didn’t stop there…

‘There are brass taps, sockets and dimmer switches, and a trim to the white cabinets. A honey-coloured banquette and antique mirror with brass flecks continue the theme.

We even went as far as getting our metalworker to use brass for the steps into the kitchen.’

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