“I was stacking kitchen cabinets while they were still putting the kitchen in!”


it wasn’t ready for us, it really wasn’t ready,” reects Lianne.  was stacking kitchen cabinets while they were still putting the kitchen in!”


GOING THE ‘NO ARCHITECT’ ROUTE With James’ experience in civils coupled with their “shoestring” budget, they decided not to employ an architect, apart from to review their plans at various stages for their self-build mortgage, costing them a mere £200 a time. However, James explains that one issue that


arose from relying solely on his civil engineering expertise, was a significant error they made in the roof design during planning. It arose from a miscalculation during planning. Originally, the plan was to position the stairs leading up to the top oor directly above the stair below. Unfortunately, during construction there was a sudden realisation that there was insufficient headroom to meet Building Regulations. This meant a last-minute adjustment, relocating the upper stairs to a position on the other side of the hallway.


CREATING COSY


Lianne admits that creating a cosy feel was initally a challenge as the spaces felt “vast”


may/jun 2024


eecting on this hurdle, ames admits they would have done things differently: “I think £12,000 could have been spent on an architect as there would have been fewer stress and problems.” Lianne echoes this, advising other self-builders to “get an architect!”


A HOME RUN Despite lacking architectural expertise while navigating a tight budget, Lianne and James have crafted an elegant three-storey home to be proud of. The home maximises its terrain to create distinct spaces across different levels which cater to the needs of their growing family. Stepping through the front door onto the middle level, guests are greeted by a bright hallway with stairs branching off to the upper level and descending stairs on the left to the basement. Adjacent to the hall lies a small living area and bathroom. This leads to an expansive open-plan space housing a modern kitchen and living area, complemented by a generous balcony giving striking views over the nearby woodland.


Moving to the upper oor unveils three


generously sized bedrooms. “I wanted equal-sized bedrooms for the kids because I’m not arguing with them when they’re older,” jokes Lianne.


Lianne and James’ master bedroom features a


large gable window, a standalone wall creating zones for sleeping and changing, and an ensuite. “We wanted to have our grown-up bathroom which the kids can’t ruin!” explains Lianne. Meanwhile, the children’s bedrooms and bathroom on this level boast bright colours and


www.sbhonline.co.uk 59


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