Cawthorn

Following many years living and working in London, our clients Neil and Mark decided it was time to relocate closer to family, and enjoy a more peaceful countryside location. Having bought a somewhat run down 1970s property, on a beautiful plot overlooking Leicestershire countryside, they decided they needed some help to turn their vision for their dream house to a reality.

Having been asked to visit the site and give some advice, we were overwhelmed by the level of potential at this property. Surrounded by extensive garden space and tucked down a quiet country lane, the dwelling offered the perfect country escape-with a bit of imagination!

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Having taken sometime to get to know our clients and their requirements, we started design work. The floor plan required significant rationalisation to make the most of the existing spaces. The two existing and poorly performing conservatories were proposed to be demolished, creating scope through a replacement extension and alterations for more open plan living spaces, benefitting from a south facing aspect and the best views on offer at the site. A canopy was provided in this location to prevent too much solar gain and to provide an outdoor sitting area that could be used in all weathers. Our client was also keen to design for their future-incorporating a DDA compliant shower room and flexible spaces that could serve as a bedroom at ground floor level. Through our collaborative design process, we managed to reach a design proposal that fully achieved the client’s brief.

As part of the proposals, the client’s personalities were really given the opportunity to shine through; as keen art collectors, positioning of key pieces were considered as part of the design. Specific walls were earmarked for displaying artwork, with specialist lighting proposed in the final specification. Favoured parts of the existing building were retained and restored in the final design, including the original parquet flooring in the hallway and dining spaces. Picture windows, balconies, velux roof balconies and large sliding doors were all used to capitalise on the views, creating various vistas throughout the house rooting this home in the landscape.

Materiality was integral to breathing new life into the scheme- utilising engineering brick and zinc cladding to create an industrial aesthetic, softened with oak columns providing support to the canopy. The internal finishes were to be clean and contemporary; providing the perfect backdrop to present artwork in. We worked closely with the client to create a detailed specification for all the finishes, recommending manufacturers and products where desired.

Following a successful planning process and creation of building regulations and construction stage drawings, the project was tendered during the Covid period, which took additional time and consideration to navigate. Construction began following the end of lockdown, allowing efficiencies to be regained on the project process. We acted as Contract Administrator and Principal Designer during the construction phase to ensure the smooth and safe delivery of the project. This entailed carrying out regular site visits to answer queries, and check progress. The project was completed in Autumn 2022.

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