CONTACTS/


SUPPLIERS ARCHITECT Leaf Architecture and Design leaf-architecture.co.uk


STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Blackwell Structural Consultants


blackwellconsultants.co.uk


BUILDER Charnwood Country Homes charnwoodcountryhomes.co.uk


WINDOWS AND DOORS Cherwell


cherwellwindows.co.uk


JOINERY Charnwood charnwoodkitchens.co.uk


KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS Cole Roberts coleroberts.co.uk


MVHR Blauberg UK blauberg.co.uk


LIFT Axess 2 axcess2.co.uk


STAIRCASE Central Joinery centraljoinerygroup.co.uk


nov/dec 2024


they visit, so we extended upstairs by around 30 m2


and revised the layout to create four spacious ensuite bedrooms. Thinking ahead, we also installed a lift, so that we can remain living in the house in the future even if our mobility is reduced.”


The addition of a projecting gable to the


front elevation has visually balanced the overall appearance of the house, breaking up the long expanse of walling to form an exciting double- height entrance atrium with glass from floor to ceiling. Decorative stonework complements the render and echoes the new rear extension. “Granite and slate are popular building materials in this area, because we’re close to several quarries, so we liked the idea of using natural stone for our plinth and on the single storey etension which has a flat roof with a parapet around the top,” says Jayne. Planning consent was also achieved for a new double garage and carport on the plot. “Richard took time to work through all the details of the house with us, both inside and out, until we came up with a design we liked,” says Jim. “Then he submitted the plans on our behalf, using 3D graphics to support the application. The planning process went surprisingly smoothly, with no alterations requested, and we were so glad that we chose to work with a professional rather than trying to manage by ourselves.” Not long after purchasing the house, Jim had begun work to convert their two double garages into temporary living accommodation – installing insulation and central heating, as well as a bathroom and part of the old kitchen from the main house. e finished the work in early January 2023, and it was like moving into a cosy holiday apartment,” says Jim, who has since


returned the outbuildings to garages. Their builder son, Tom, took on the role of main contractor, and constructed the new garage using structural steelwork and rendered blockwork. This was then used to store furniture during the project.


One unexpected expense involved the need


to replace every original drain, due to leaks, and discovering that all the soakaways were blocked, which meant that water was collecting beneath the house. “We built the retaining wall for the patio first says im. his then served as a barrier, which prevented most of the garden from being wrecked during the project.” Demolition work on the house commenced, with much of the rear wall removed, together with internal walls and floors. e needed to add a huge amount of steelwork, and the foundations were also underpinned in many areas, which was all fairly costly,” recalls Jim. The majority of structural work occurred on


the ground floor with the addition of the new extension and a two storey element which enlarges the first floor main bedroom. wo and a half metre deep foundations were needed for this section, due to the proximity of mature trees. “We didn’t want to be able to see any evidence of the steelwork inside, so all the beams needed to be concealed between joists, which made the build quite complicated,” says Jim. “Our open plan kitchen space has nine steels, two of which are massive. To lift one of these took 12 men, with hydraulic equipment needed to raise them into place.” he eisting floors were also dug out and underfloor heating installed on both levels which involved replacing suspended timber


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