of its clean and simple contemporary design. Bob asserts how timber was used to reect the alues of building an eco home. As you come in through the front door, where


there used to be a small WC is now a compact shower room. To the left is a functional space featuring a bench where the family can take their shoes on and off, as well as a decent amount of storage. “It’s very small, but it just about copes with the clutter that a small family can create, says Bob.


Continuing past this area, the dining area is on the left, owing seamlessly into the central kitchen. A corridor then brings you to the modestly sized liing room at the rear of the home. “It’s a very simple, open plan layout, with dining at the front, kitchen in the middle, and then relaing at the back, asserts Bob. oing up to the first oor, there remain similarly-sized bedrooms at the rear of the house, maintaining the original proportions. But in the middle of this oor is now the family bathroom, while a generously sized bedroom sits at the front. Ascending stairs to the second oor, there is a compact fourth bedroom nestled within the attic space. Part of the home’s charm lies in its raw elements, with exposed joists replacing ceilings on the ground oor. ot only does this gie you a feeling of a bit more space above your head, says Bob, but it also allowed us to do some of the airtightness measures oweer, one of the most important parts of the home for Bob is how natural light ows


jul/aug 2023


through the ground oor space. Bob makes the most of this working on a bespoke timber desk here when working from home. This desk cleverly doubles as a cupboard, opening up during the day and neatly folding away its doors at night. ts such a nice place to work, claims Bob.


ndertaking a phased retrofit proect has


presented both advantages and disadvantages for Bob and his family. One of the main benefits, as Bob points out, is the eibility of not requiring all the funds upfront. However, he also acknowledges that completing the project all at once under a single contract would likely be more cost-effective.


nother benefit has been how splitting the


project into phases has allowed them ample time to carefully consider each decision, avoiding rushed choices that can lead to mistakes, which he has seen with his clients. The etended period gae us a chance to see how the project is unfolding, giving us the opportunity to make better decisions. oweer, liing in an unfinished home for an extended period has been stressful, as Bob admits. The constant reminder of incompleteness has kept them on edge during the journey.


Despite the challenges, Bob and his family have found great satisfaction in the results achieed. Bob confidently admits that his home now surpasses the comfort level he once admired in his client’s home all those years ago! s it now nerPit certified officially - yes it is.


www.sbhonline.co.uk 59


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