the second bedroom is a nursery. The tiny box room – scarcely big enough for a bed – has been opened up to the entrance hallway through an archway, creating an impression of light and space or anone coing into te at as well as a useful place for outdoor shoes, buggies and wet coats. “We call it the mud room,” laughs Alissa.


“Previously, it had no value, but now it’s a useable space.” Having a dedicated place for all the paraphernalia of life reduces everyday stress and te at as a cal intuitie laout tat makes much more sense for a growing family. The biggest change David and Alissa made was the conversion of the loft, but this presented challenges from the start. The existing planning permission expired quickly after the sale was completed and the local planning department refused a new application. “Alissa and David’s original vision for a spacious loft master suite running the width of te at didnt eet planning reuireents. o we created a more imaginative and – crucially – ore eile plan tat et all o teir needs explains Eva. “The new loft extension consists of two dormers connected seamlessly by an eaves skylight. The larger dormer is home to a bright master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom in the smaller dormer.” “The double dormer was Eva’s work-around,” says Alissa. “It has the feel of a single large


34 www.sbhonline.co.uk


space, but structurally it’s two.” With this hurdle successfully cleared, Alissa and David were not expecting another to follow, but the delay of several months caused by the planning refusal resulted in a “drastic” rise in quotes for the building work. This Alissa attriutes to te conict in kraine altoug prices had been rising for some time following oidrelated suppl cain proles around the globe.


“Our quotes went up by £50,000 - £60,000,” sas lissa. We ad to find coproises elsewhere to save costs.” Those trade-offs included not renovating a bathroom and keeping the existing kitchen cabinetry, which fortunately remained in good condition. “That was a low point,” admits Alissa. “There was nothing tangible to see at that stage and we even considered just doing the project in two stages to see if costs would fall. In the end, we went ahead with the full project, as we felt it would be too disruptive to prolong it.” Despite the stress of decision-making, the couple were delighted to discover they were epecting a cild. a carlett arried ust three months after they moved into their newl renoated at in eceer  and Alissa spent much of her pregnancy living with er inlaws wile te at was stripped ack to the studs. With cost savings in mind, it became David


jul/aug 2024


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