After seeing an estate agent’s advert for a three-bedroom 1930s Arts and Crafts-style detached dormer bungalow in need of some general updating, Dave Rawlinson and Lucy Wesson went to see it and felt confident it could be ‘next door’.
The couple were particularly attracted to the size and private aspect of the plot in the leafy suburb of Wrenmoor in Sheffield, but there were practical problems to solve.
“The house was designed normally but had oddly shaped rooms,” says Dave. “The upper floor was disjointed and unusable due to the layout with sloping ceilings and features such as chimneys and built-in wardrobes. Although the lower floor was of good size, Small kitchen which felt dark and isolated from the rest of the room.”
Article continues below
Project details
- location Renmoor, South Yorkshire
- Property costs £724,000
- Build costs £1,900 sq m
- Extension size 60 square meters
- project 1930s detached house extension
- Architect HEM Architects
Image 1 No 3
Help at hand
After purchasing the property, the couple enlisted the help of Alan McDonald at HEM Architects expands that
“The house was in a great neighborhood on a beautiful plot but it was definitely the ‘ugly duck’ on the street,” says Dave. “There wasn’t much of a back garden so you couldn’t extend to the back, whereas an extension to the front certainly wouldn’t suit the character of the house.”
An important part of HEM Architects’ design strategy was to highlight the home’s original details, including the front door surrounds, decorative roof eaves and original rosemary tiles.
Plans were made to enhance the appeal of the cottage while contrasting it with two contemporaries Furnished with wood Extensions on both sides, taking cues from the Arts and Crafts style. The design utilizes two existing footprints.
The master bedroom will be built over the existing garage structure, with large floor-to-ceiling windows to break up the appearance of great height and make it look less ‘boxy’.
A new light and airy Open plan kitchen The diner will be built where the old conservatory stood, with large sliding doors connecting the interior space to the substantial garden. Above that, the first floor will have a generous bedroom, suite and balcony.
Image 1 No 1
Planning challenges
Constrained by the national lockdown, meetings with council planners were relegated to Zoom calls and the design met with little resistance. The planners were of the opinion that the house development – with its Siberian larch timber cladding, steel structures and glazed ‘links’ – would have a negative impact on the conservation area.
They also argued that most of the houses in the neighborhood were mainly made of stone and slate and that the proposed house would not suit the area. Heritage consultant Andrew Whitham put forward the case that the house was set back on the plot and was not particularly visible from the road.
After tense three-way discussions, HEM Architects secured planning approval at the first attempt with very few compromises.
Image 1 No 4
Moving ‘up and down’
The couple lived in the entire house renovation And both extensions were built together.
“Everything was phased to suit the timeline,” says Dave. Project managed The build “required major processes, such as installing windows, to be done in one hit, so there was a lot of preparation and planning to fit everything at the same time.”
After the upstairs was finished during the winter of 2021, the couple moved upstairs as the downstairs was stripped for its brickwork. That winter was a particularly trying time for him, as Dave recalls.
“The old boiler had to be taken out and we had no heating at all. It was so frustrating that all our cast-iron radiators were plumbed upstairs but the heating wasn’t connected so we couldn’t use them!”
One of the advantages of living in the house during their renovation was the good communication of ideas with various craftsmen. “Often we drew designs on the back of the envelope with the joiner, and it was a case of trial and error as we aimed to get things done,” says Dave.
Although Dave and Lucy are keen to point out that they are “by no means students of the Arts and Crafts movement”, the architects encouraged them to use some of its details, including the need for individual craftsmanship throughout the build, inside and out.
The result was a home with improved usable space and a perfect balance of old and new. “HEM Architects’ well-considered plans have given the house a new lease of life, as well as giving us the extra space we needed for ourselves and our children, Poppy and Oliver,” says Lucy.
Image 1 No 2
thoughtful exterior
When approaching the house you can appreciate the ‘authentic’ homage to the property’s exterior features, which have been carefully restored in keeping with its former character.
For example, when replaced with pebble-dashing renderDave’s instructions were for as much texture as possible to avoid a simple, modern look. Reed green painted roof edges and red rosemary clay roof tiles are examples of getting the exterior aesthetic right.
Dave went through nearby homes with the joiner for inspiration on the decorative wood details for the holders. Although it was cheaper to replace the original rosemary tiles with a modern alternative, it was important to keep them as they were felt to be an important part of the character of the house.
As Dave explains: “Cleaning each of the existing rosemary tiles by hand was labor intensive, but an important part of preserving our home’s cottage charm.”
Image 1 No 3
Eco Achievements
The house now takes pride of place Solar PV With battery storage, while a Air source heat pump Provides heating. Triple-glazed windows, external wall insulation and Airtightness Building rugs over and above ensure that the house is always easy to heat.
The use of smart apps/tariffs ensures that energy will be used when the grid is greenest. The house keeps heat really well and the couple’s heating bill averages £150 a month, including charging two electric cars.
The biggest factor in keeping the house warm is the triple-glazed windows fitted by 21 degrees. While the couple considered their eco-choice their best build decision, landscaping the garden was the best.
“Unfortunately, we’ve neglected the original mature garden, with excavation and demolition taking place around the site,” says Lucy. “Employing a landscape gardener has ensured that we now enjoy a fabulous garden Cottage garden With color and interest throughout the season and beautiful views from the house. It really completes our house, plus we have somewhere to install Dave’s self-made steel pergola!”
If you enjoyed this journey and want to get even more inspired, explore this Modern self-build in Berkshire which produces more electricity than it uses. Or, step inside this A family home that was reimagined with a smart, low-waste extension.
