Our clients had bought a bungalow in a very sought after area of Woburn Sands. They had carefully assessed what they wished to achieve with the alterations to the bungalow, in brief, this consisted of creating an open plan downstairs where they could eat and entertain guests, and creating a first-floor bedroom in the loft space. On analysis, it was clear that not much of the roof structure could be kept, so they vacated the whole house for a few months to allow the roof to be removed, and a new taller roof structure was created. It was all quite a major overhaul of what was a very tired and outdated house.
We also suggested that given the radical nature of these changes, consideration should be given to improving the entrance area. As clients go, these were a joy to work with and we found out early on that as a design team (I believe that the client is also a part of the design team), we could all introduce ideas into the scheme knowing they would all be given open and full consideration. Many ideas were introduced into the design even from the earliest discussions, and the eventual final design managed to effortlessly accommodate nearly everything the clients had wanted and more.
The resulting chalet now has a fabulous bedroom suite overlooking the most beautiful canopy of trees rising up from the valley below. The interior has been modified and slightly extended to create a collection of spaces which achieve what is required of individual spaces, but they also connect together so that you can pass from space to space in an easy, uncomplicated way whilst taking in the interior and exterior views.
Externally, the building was given more of a facelift. The raised roof structure was treated to a new slate roof, which together with sprocketed eaves always looks majestic. The walls were clad in render and cedar, which enabled us to introduce more insulation underneath, and together with the limited use of metal on parts of the roof, the house now has a modern, fresh and contemporary look.
Obviously, our clients have invested heavily in this project, but the resulting house is perfect and very special. From our point of view, we’re proud to have been a part of this project and would thank our clients for the commission, which incidentally has already resulted in two more commissions from admiring neighbours.