SIMON & LAUREN’S TOP TIPS


* Be very clear to your builders about your


expectations.


* Design-wise, don’t be afraid to push the boundaries.


* You don’t have to build a rectangular box. Play


with things!


CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS


ARCHITECTS OEB www.oebarchitects.co.uk


TILES Grestec www.grestec.co.uk


LIGHT SWITCHES Vintage Electrical www.vintage-electrical.com


the garden.


nce again, imon and Lauren chose simple, low-tech materials for the construction such as plaster, brick and red-oxide steel beams. nside, the roof is exposed, proudly showcasing softwood timbers and grey fi breboard. he fl oors are poured concrete in a natural, undyed colour. Lauren said  want it to loo lie a car par, says imon. Yet this home is far from drab, with the bold approach to construction refl ected in the interiors. An orange Formica worktop is a brilliant foil against the brushed steel of the ebab shop itchen cabinetry. t is a colour the couple used again in the downstairs WC. Upstairs, ravishing ocean-blue tiles cover the bespoke dual, curved shower walls. “We have two showers next to each other, as


Lauren was fed up waiting for me to get out of the shower each morning, laughs imon. he interior style  from the raw fi nishes to the metal balustrade hand-made by a local metal fabricating fi rm  came from imon and Lauren. imon also specifi ed the radiators in standard copper piping. These, like the bath taps made from ‘uncoated brass’ are turning dark green. The couple even got hands-on with their huge, shared desk. At 4.5m long, it was made entirely from scaffolding poles and boards. alvage is a signifi cant part of the dcor, and imon enoyed reusing items found onsite, such as the fl uted glass doors, originally from the sitting room. They are now upstairs, installed in the master bedroom.


Salvage is a signifi cant part of the décor


“Glass doors have their drawbacks in a


bedroom, says imon. But m proud we saved them.


Most of the lighting was also rescued from a ussian factory. here are even fully operational traffi c lights from ew or. e didnt want any reproduction vintage, says imon. e lie the authenticity of it. We were inspired by the pubs and clubs of East London, which have been refurbished in this way.


The couple moved in a little while ago, so is there anything they wish they had done differently? e chose only to replace half the old roof, says imon.  wish that we had done it all, as the other half is starting to fail. The new extension, however, has been transformative for this couple, who moved here from a dark period home.


 love the light, especially in winter, and its


warm, says imon. pace, light and fl exibility are the three reasons why we love our extension with its integral kitchen and ‘snug’ area. The multiple windows generate natural light that continually changes during the day, connecting us with the outside world.


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