he children had grown up finding holiday jobs in the Salcombe area, and are extremely fond of the town, but after many years of providing relaxed holiday accommodation for the family, the bungalow was beginning to show its age and required extensive renovation. “We were heading towards retirement, and knew we’d need to invest considerable money on the wiring, windows, kitchen and bathroom,” says Anne. “We love the location, though, and our plan was to spend more time there as a couple with visiting family, but the bungalow wasn’t really suited to long-term living.” Exploring a major redevelopment led the couple to Barc Architects through a friend, who recommended the practice. “We did the sensible thing and approached several architects, but it was Caroline and her team at Barc who impressed us with their enthusiasm and ideas,” recalls Donald. Caroline Shortt is an award-winning chartered


architect and the director of Barc Architects, who specialise in the design and delivery of contemporary buildings, extensions, renovations and interiors in the south west. “For me, buildings are all about the people who occupy them, and I love getting to know my clients, learning about their lives, passions and interests, and using this knowledge to create an individual design tailored specifically for them, she says. Donald and Anne had never previously tackled


32 www.sbhonline.co.uk


a building project, and were led by Barc on the design. The property needed to be in keeping with its surroundings, taking full advantage of far-reaching views to the rear. It was important to introduce plenty of natural light, as well as much needed off-road parking and smart storage solutions throughout – providing ample space to host visiting family. “Initially, we explored the possibility of constructing a flatroofed twostorey etension, says Caroline. “However, given that Melliker is semi-detached, it was essential that the finished home would sit harmoniously alongside its neighbours. Therefore, we adapted these plans to incorporate a pitched slate roof design to accommodate two new bedrooms and a bathroom for family and guests upstairs. Internally, we retained most of the existing walls, and extended the bungalow towards the rear with a glaed, flatroofed dining area, which is open plan to the main kitchen and living space.” The former garage was transformed into an inviting entrance hall, crowned by a new skylight, and the newly created kitchen-dining area opens seamlessly onto a rear terrace, establishing a fluid connection to the outdoor space. he master bedroom and a snug were included towards the front of the house, while on the new first floor two additional bedrooms and a bathroom have been added to accommodate visiting family and friends, as the property will


LOW POINT


Covid meant site visits were restricted, and we felt guilty about our noisy building work impacting on the neighbours’ summer.


sep/oct 2024


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