years to obtain. The issue was several protected trees on the site which had deterred interested buyers. “We decided to ask Richard to have a look and he didn’t see a problem,” Graeme remembers. After Richard had drawn up a sketch, he and Kim went for a pre-planning meeting with the council to confirm whether or not it was a viable application. “We took a risk buying the plot when we wanted to completely alter the original plans, but our design was roughly the same footprint and was located in the corner of the plot away from the trees.” With the previous owners still living next door, the couple were also worried that their new design may cause offence. However, as Kim remembers: “They really appreciate modern architecture, and were very supportive of the new plan.”


fter selling their at to fund the build the couple moved into a rental for the duration. However, with the advent of Covid, the process took longer than normal. “We viewed it in March 2019 and purchased it in November,” says Graeme. “It obviously took a long time to get things moving during the pandemic because people weren’t at work.” The couple were also keen to get a handle on the costs as they didn’t hae an infinite budget and didnt want to start if they couldnt finish. The builders finally arried on site in the summer of 2021, and we moved in September 2022. It was watertight and warm; we had a functioning kitchen and bedroom, but there was still a lot of work to do.” Although it took a while to get started, the


32 www.sbhonline.co.uk


actual design was more or less agreed upon from the day that Richard first saw the plot as Kim recalls: “We once asked Richard that if you ask for a ‘Richard Murphy house’ do you have any say whatsoever – and he said no!” Graeme continues: “The only thing he asked was how many bedrooms did we need? Our answer was three – one for us, one for guests and one which we use as an office. fter drawing up the plans, Graeme and Kim realised the plans didn’t include a garage. “We have several bikes which we needed storage for, so Richard extended the building marginally to add a bike store at the rear.” Like a narrow garage attached to the house, the bike store has gravel at the entrance, an external hose and a charging point inside. “Essentially, our brief was really three bedrooms and a space for the bikes. However, pretty much from when we showed Richard the plot, he already knew how it was going to come together.” Located on one single storey, one enters a small hallway leading into the open plan kitchen/ diner. Adjacent to this and accessed by pocket doors is the sitting room. On the other side a corridor leads through to the three bedrooms (one with ensuite and dressing room), utility room, and main bathroom. The entire house ows really well says im.


“From the bike store, the entrance is through the utility room and all the muddy clothes can go straight into the washing machine – it’s little details such as these which make it so easy to live here.”


The main living space incorporates a sitting mar/apr 2024


HIGH POINT


“I’d say the real high point was when we had our housewarming party in June,” says Kim. “The landscaping had ust been finished the garden was starting to take shape; we had all the doors fully open, and we were delighted at how well the house worked in ‘party’ mode. It was lovely to invite all our friends round to finally see it in the esh eryone was full of praise, and it was great fun showing it off to them all!”


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