Oak dream home

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.

Having 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.”

EX TERIOR

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’

regional architectural designers, John Williams. They came up with a barn-style design that would sit more centrally on their plot. This orientation placed their new home closer to an existing garage and would harness their views and the sunlight.

To ensure their house would provide the space they required for years to come, Derek and Elizabeth decided to build a basement for additional storage. This was approved by the planners, as it was not included in the floor area or volume limits set by the council.

With planning approved, the Sandemans sold their period property and moved into the bungalow, living there while work was completed on their new build next door.

The oak frame was prefabricated at the Oakwrights Herefordshire workshop and erected on site in just four days, along with the WrightWall and WrightRoof Natural encapsulation panels that wrap seamlessly around the frame. The encapsulation allows walls to breathe and is built with high insulation levels to retain comfortable internal room temperatures all year round.

“Because we have a highly insulated fabric in the house, we need little heating and have much lower fuel bills,” explains Elizabeth. “We’re absolutely thrilled with it and so glad we made the decision to build.”

OAK ON SHOW

The oak beams can be clearly seen in the central dining room and the main bedroom, which has a balcony. KITCHEN

The barnstyle home has a warm country feel, with a large dresser in the hall and oak flooring matching the beams on show. Oak beams can also be seen in the modern kitchen.