room, dining room and kitchen and can be used as one large open plan area or the sitting room can be closed off to create a cosier space. “Graeme’s had a poker night in the dining room while I’ve been watching TV in the sitting room, and it worked brilliantly.” Graeme adds This eible design feature is one that Richard includes in many projects, and it works. However, I think the best feature is the way the windows disappear. The entire wall and corner of the house can be opened to the outside and disappear. It completely blurs the line between inside and outside.” Another design feature that completely alters the way the rooms are perceived are the wedges of mirrored glass which Richard specified. Fitted between the walls and the roof the mirrors make the rooms appear larger and lighter by bouncing the light around and creating the illusion of infinity. Each of the three bedrooms also has access to the garden and a window-sized vent for ventilation. “We didn’t think we needed an external door in every bedroom,” says Kim. “However, Richard said you have teenage children, and they can come and go through their own door without disturbing you – we didn’t think they’d use the doors, but they do.”


fter the initial design was finalised


Richard handed it over to his associate, Tom Hetherington who also had several tricks up his sleeve. As Kim explains: “Tom is an architect through and through, but his interior design skills are also second to none. He was instrumental


34 www.sbhonline.co.uk


After selling their flat to fund the build, the couple moved into a rental for the duration of the build. However, with the advent of Covid, the process took longer than normal


in the planning of the kitchen suggesting the larder instead of adding more kitchen units and it is fantastic.” Tom also suggested the slimline hidden cooker hood and incorporating the recycling bins into the units. “I’ve never had a property with such a generosity of space and cupboards,” explains Kim. Another of his ideas was the hidden drinks cabinet in the bookcase between the pocket doors – “it’s genius.” “When it came to the colour scheme, Tom had a vision in his head which I couldn’t comprehend,” Kim remembers. His focus was all about beech and light woods to maximise the natural light and he suggested white walls


mar/apr 2024


LOW POINT


“When Storm Arwen hit, we had just put the roof on, and it was very worrying. However, the storms are usually from the south, but Arwen came from the north, and it owed oer the roof. Our builder, Phil knew it was coming and did a brilliant job of boarding everything up before it arrived.”


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