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New dream oak home Derek and Elizabeth Sandeman haven't regretted their decision to replace a tired bungalow with a new oak-framed country cottage.
H
aving lived in their period property in a pretty New Forest village for nearly 20 years, Derek and Elizabeth Sandeman began considering the possibility of downsizing. “Our children were leaving home, so we decided to move somewhere smaller,” explains Elizabeth. “As we love the village, we didn’t want to go too far.” The couple’s search was largely unsuccessful until one day they noticed a listing for a bungalow on a large plot and immediately made an appointment to view it. “It was in the right location but the ugly bungalow was in a dark corner,” Elizabeth recalls. “We bought it with a plan to replace it with a house in a more central position.”
EXTERIOR The new home is more centrally located on the plot than the former bungalow to take advantage of the bucolic country views. The oak frame is clad in timber to blend in with the surroundings.
“Because we have a highly insulated fabric in the house, we need little heating and have much lower fuel bills.” Derek and Elizabeth hadn’t previously considered a new build but they could see the plot’s potential and began contemplating building a house bursting with character and charm. They could picture living in a home that worked in harmony with the natural surroundings they loved. Following research, they found Oakwrights and saw a photograph of its Herefordshire show home, The Woodhouse. “It was perfect, with lots of beams and a warm atmosphere,” says Elizabeth. “We went to stay at the show home and loved it so much, I didn’t want to leave.” Derek and Elizabeth knew they wanted to build an oakframe home, and began working with one of Oakwrights’
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BUILDING WITH TIMBER / selfbuildanddesign.com
