BELOW The kitchen during the build
“We had basically stripped the whole house back when Covid hit – all the walls were gone”
However, she says “it was quite different to the last project we did, where we felt like we were fighting the builder a lot of the time. On this build, “Every time we had a worry, within five minutes they completely put our minds at rest,” she says, such as when a large crevice was uncovered in the structure, causing her concerns about how stable it was.
COPING WITH COVID Having to be in the property was however a major frustration, particularly with the pressures of the pandemic. Laura recalls one day in particular when she was attempting to homeschool two of their children while the builders were installing a two tonne piece of steel above their heads. “It was the only place we could sit and do work,” she explains. They also had to cope with the tired and somewhat dilapidated appliances. “They left the kitchen standing until the very last point, but it was crumbling beneath us. The sink fell out at one point, and the hob was at a 45 degree angle by the end,” she explains. The other major impact of Covid was a shortage of materials, including windows and
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plaster. They were so desperate for the latter that Ian drove three and a half hours to Plymouth to pick up just five bags, Laura explains; “enough to do one bathroom!”
DESIGN & LAYOUT When it came to the house’s design, Laura and Ian wanted to respect the era it was built, but admits this wasn’t necessarily easy, being their “ least favourite era for houses!” They resisted the urge to go for things that wouldn’t suit the house however. “We could have had really beautiful Crittall windows but it would be working against the house,” explains Laura. It was also important to them to have an open plan, family-friendly living area. The couple wanted to be as environmentally friendly as they could be, so had all of the insulation replaced with the highest spec offered by their supplier. They replumbed the entire house and installed a Megaflo system to supply hot water including underfloor heating. “You can have quite a lot of power but it’s more
sep/oct 2021
HIGH POINT
“We’re so proud of what we’ve done, the high point is watching people’s faces when they come round and they just love it.” –Laura Hardie-Gleed
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