through the letterbox of @thehappybuild

We love exploring new homes, and our Through the Letterbox feature does just that. This month we have the huge pleasure of peeking through the Letterbox of the gorgeous self-build of Laura Emmerson and her family. Based in Nottingham, the stunning 5 bed, 6 bath, family home may just be the most exciting, beautifully designed property we have come across.

‘I would say our home styling is in keeping with the contemporary design of the house. Lots of bright white spaces and a mix of high street furniture and design classics. We like to bring colour into our home with different artwork and soft furnishings. ‘

So how did Laura and her husband Jon have the amazing opportunity to build the house of their dreams?

'Before we had children, we looked at a house with a large garden that was in an auction. The property had a legal issue and was unlikely to sell. We took a chance, bought the property and worked hard to get the legal issue resolved. We then got planning permission to build five houses in the garden and renovated the existing house. We sold those and bought a derelict site next door and built our dream home. Since then we have bought three more sites nearby, which we will be starting on shortly and then who knows in the future!’

Laura has only recently started to share her home on social media after being encouraged by her friends and family. With just over 6,000 followers on Instagram, thehappybuild account documents the design and build.

‘I have enjoyed following many inspiring accounts and wanted to become more involved in the community by starting my own. We were lucky enough to be able to help design and build our own house, which ended up being a life changing experience for us. I wanted to share our story so others can learn from it and of course our mistakes too.’

There is no denying that building your own home is the ultimate dream for many of us. But as we all know from Grand Designs and shows alike, self builds pose their own problems with the possibility of complications, as well as unexpected expenditure and delays. What was the hardest part for Laura and Jon during their self-build?

‘Bearing in mind the complex nature of the build, the whole process was relatively smooth for us. We had bumps along the way including almost flooding the whole site by cutting through a water main and we lost two months of the build due to the “Beast from the East” winter in 2018. Living next door during the build definitely helped us with quick onsite decisions and pushing the project forward. We had previously developed five houses in the garden of our old house and the experience of providing houses for others gave us the inspiration to design and build something for ourselves that was out of the ordinary and which was both a very contemporary design but also provided a family home for us and our three young children.’

Building your own dream home may seem out of reach, but it is achievable if planned and executed correctly. What would Laura advise to those who are thinking of designing and building their own home?

‘The key to a successful building project has to be to get the right team on board from the beginning. From the architect, the contractor and the tradesmen, you have to be comfortable with them and they with you. Honesty, trust and communication within your team are essential for a smooth process. We were very lucky in that the team that we worked with were exceptional and we trusted their advice, after all they are the experts! Whilst your team are the experts, only you know how you and your family live or want to live. You need to decide from the onset what you want out of the space and make sure your architect understands how you want to watch tv, relax, entertain, eat etc. Then make sure you mentally walk through the floor plans, think about the flow and how you will utilise all areas. It is an expensive mistake to make if it doesn’t work for your family.’

Every design has its limitations, with compromises along the way. Did Laura and Jon have to change any of their design?

‘We wanted a more custom-made interior design, including bespoke cupboards and an interesting plywood finish to some of the walls that the architect specified. However, my impatience to move into a finished home as quickly as possible along with an everexpanding budget meant that, like most projects, we had to compromise.’ Despite some compromises, Laura and Jon seem to have created a perfectly flowing family home. The gracious balance of colour, design, styling and carefully planned living spaces have created a space that is unique to their everyday living.

‘We absolutely love our large kitchen, which opens up on to the courtyard and garden. This is the main feature of the house and everything was designed around it. We spent a long time thinking about and working out how to provide the structural opening, which resulted in the glass sliding doors having no column supports and sliding into hidden pockets in the walls. The effect was that when the doors are open, the kitchen flows seamlessly in to the courtyard becoming one space. ‘

Laura and Jon have created a home bursting with on-trend design and interior ideas. What’s their favorite trend that they have incorporated into their home?

‘I love the trend for lush green plant walls. Whilst we have seen them for a while in hotel bars and commercial spaces, they are becoming much more common in the home. We knew we wanted a green wall and the courtyard was the perfect space for one to really bring the outside in all year round. We explored lots of options and as quotes for maintained living walls were coming in at over £20,000 we knew we would have to find an alternative. There are lots of companies that provide artificial green walls but if they are going outside it is important that they aren’t affected by UV light, ours was actually from QVC and we put the panels together ourselves and mounted on the cladding fixings. It was really easy but is so effective. ‘

Shopping for the perfect pieces of any home is a carefully devised task in itself. Finding furniture pieces that work with your space, and the overall style of your home can be difficult. Where does Laura tend to shop for her home pieces?

‘I’m a big fan of seeking out and supporting independent brands. However, lockdown has made me realise how much I miss Ikea! Since my first trip when I was 14 and the Nottingham store opened I have always admired the way the store shows individual room inspiration and offers accessible and affordable interior design styles. Ikea also fulfills my houseplant addiction!’

When it comes to making the perfect home, there are lots of things to consider. From colour palettes, perfectly selected furniture pieces, balanced styling and comforting soft furnishings. What does Laura believe is essential in every home?

‘I honestly think lighting is key in every home and I know for me bright natural light makes me happy. If you’re able, make sure you have as much natural light as possible and then spend time considering your lighting plan also. I think there is a tendency for electricians to come in and put hundreds of spotlights everywhere and I often hear people say they don’t even turn them on or regret being stuck with harsh overhead lights. We have used the Philips Hue system throughout our home, which is excellent at providing different levels of light and zones for every mood and is also voice and mobile app controlled. We also love our open plan space and having a large family area is crucial to us. However, a quiet space where you can escape is equally important. We have a family kitchen/diner/lounge but also a snug for grown ups, where the children are not allowed! ‘

We believe no home is truly finished, with tweaks and changes happening as life continues. So what have Laura and Jon planned for their home in the coming months?

‘We have a few more jobs around the house but we will mainly be concentrating on the garden. Good landscaping is a key factor in the design of a house and garden and will help us to get the maximum enjoymentfrom our home.

We are also startingthree new builds in the next two months. One is a contemporary four bed detached house behind our own house and the other two are five bed, detached Victorian style villas.’

Laura and Jon have created a truly stunning family home. It reflects how great design can provide a combination of spaces that blend into one when suited. The attention to detail and consideration on how the flow of the entire space proves that with careful planning, a property can be more than just a few walls and spaces to spend an evening. If you want to enjoy more of Laura and Jons home, follow Laura on Instagram today.

Follow @thehappybuild on Instagram today.