leaving us” – which caused another few months delay.
As well as project managing herself – “it’s not my first time and I’m quite hands-on” – Athena and Mark lived in the house, which she admits was challenging. “We just moved from room to room, we didn’t unpack anything,” she says. They had sold most of their furniture with their previous property, something Athena often does as it enables her to “start afresh”, but they “still had a lot of stuff.” They were without hot water for a long time so
were using neighbours’ and friends’ showers. “You’ve got to love it to do that,” she says, and does recommend living offsite if the budget allows. “But I wanted to be here, there’s decisions to be made every day. Builders are good at their trade but they’re not designers, and they don’t have your vision – you have to be around.”
Athena says she doesn’t recommend project managing for first timers. “The point where the architect leaves and builders join is the most dangerous,” she says. “It’s where everything can go wrong and end up spiralling.” Having overcome the setbacks, they’re hugely pleased with the finished result. “It’s a really lovely, social space,” says Athena. She says one of the biggest compliments is that their children, 24-year-old Tyler and 22-year-old Kaya, “want to come here instead of going down the pub! It’s nice to have created spaces people want to be in.”
She also regularly receives positive comments
from passers by. “The locals love what we’ve done. From the other side of the harbour you now can’t see the house so that’s a value added to the area.” The project’s ‘environment-first’ approach is something she’s very passionate about. “If it’s all about the house you feel like you’ve somehow taken a selfish path,” she says.
WARM & COSY The home’s three bathrooms have underfloor heating to keep it warm and cosy
“I’m most happy with the fact it has blended in well with the local area.” Athena credits the overall success of the
project to team she had around her. “I’m very grateful for all the support – from my father Terry who lent his building skills, Mark for his patience, the encouragement of the neighbours and Paul for all his support,” she says. “It’s always about great teamwork.
Despite the hiccups, Athena is already looking
forward to her next project. “You get the chance to explore something different,” she says. “It’s all an adventure! It’s nice to be able to create your own environment.”
CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS
ARCHITECT
Paul Cashin Architects
paulcashinarchitects.co.uk KITCHEN
Hubble Kitchens
www.hubblekitchens.co.uk
ROOFLIGHT
Staka
roofaccesshatches.co.uk INSULATION
Celotex, Rockwool
www.celotex.co.uk www.rockwool.com
MEMBRANES
DuPont Tyvek
www.dupont.co.uk
UNDERFLOOR HEATING Polypipe
www.polypipe.com
LARCH CLADDING
Russwood
www.russwood.co.uk
PAINT Farrow & Ball
www.farrow-ball.com
72
www.sbhonline.co.uk july/august 2019
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