allowing the two to be utilised as one large space in summer.
Downstairs is the basement area, built to the same footprint as the house and including a guest bedroom with ensuite, utility room, separate toilet, and a large family room. A large lightwell was designed in the corner, allowing Amanda and Kevin to look down into the space from the kitchen. A skylight allows natural light to reach the basement level. “We can always keep an eye on the children and it means the basement space is not pokey at all, the light and airflow works really well,” Amanda says. They debated not going ahead with the excavation, but couldn’t be more pleased they did. “It’s an expensive outlay but we’re really glad we went for it, it’s such a useful space. It’s probably the most ‘hardworking’ room in the house because it’s a family room, and the children can be down there – all the mess stays down there!” On the first floor is the family bathroom and a
bedroom, and up a small second flight of stairs is the master bedroom and another bedroom. The fifth bedroom sits on a “little mezzanine,” and another guest bedroom with ensuite is in the converted loft space.
When designing the interior spaces Amanda
says architects Matt and Tom helped them select the materials and colour palette, and offered advice on what would look good in certain areas based on the size of the space. “By and large the styling and interior design was a combined effort,” she says. “I enjoyed it!” As well as helping with decisions, the
architects also assisted with sourcing products. Amanda spent time researching in magazines and on social media, and let the architects know
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“Finding an architect who aligns with your design philosophy is so important” – Amanda
things she liked – such as terrazzo tiles which they used in the bathroom – and they would recommend companies. “In the age of social media it’s actually really easy to do research,” she says. “It was actually quite simple in terms of what we wanted. We were quite decisive because we knew the look we were going for.” Having been living in the house for over a
year, Amanda says they’re thrilled with the final result. “It’s probably even better than we envisioned,” she says. “It’s such a light space, we’ve had friends round and you can cook and entertain at the same time.” She’s also pleased with how functional it is as a family home, while still looking nice. The open plan ground floor is her favourite part of the house. “It doesn’t feel like a Victorian home, it’s such a wide expanse of space,” she explains. “They can feel a bit pokey but it doesn’t have that feeling, because of the design the architects put together – the light and air flows beautifully. It really is a product of clever design.”
AMANDA’S ADVICE
“Choose an architect who shares your design philosophy and values, because then you can trust them and give them a free hand with the design. Then even the build process becomes much easier – things like selecting materials because they know what you like. It becomes a very positive experience as opposed to constant battles – it can be very fraught if you don’t share the same vision.”
jan/feb 2022
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