Poole remodelling project completed

The subtle remodelling project that we undertook on a house in Poole, Dorset is now complete. Our design improved the internal layout of the property and updated the external appearance of the house. The scheme converted an earlier front barn hipped roof  into a gable and centralised the upper window above a repositioned entrance door. To increase bathroom space, the hipped roof dormer was replaced with a slightly larger dormer with matching gable and cladding. Additional floor space was achieved by converting the garage. The full height band of cladding visually links the upper storey with the ground floor, whilst other alterations such as introducing an open porch and bargeboards to replace the tired flat pointed verges add depth and character to the home.

Poole remodelThe completed house in Poole.

Poole architecture beforeThe original house.

To see more about this and other great transformative remodelling projects that we have undertaken, visit our portfolio at www.spaceandstyle.co.uk .

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In My Yard

For anyone undertaking small projects, we have just come across and used a great new site that allows tradespeople, self builders or anyone carrying out bigger DIY projects to buy and sell surplus materials, machinery, tools and equipment.

All too often, excess materials end up thrown away or put into skips, simply because storing them or moving them from job to job is costly and this isn’t just down to trades people or DIYers over ordering. More often than not, heavy goods such as paving or blocks can only be bought in packs or pallets, which is often in greater quantities than is needed for smaller projects. The newly launched In My Yard website provides a platform for anyone carrying out a project to simply list their surplus or recycled materials or equipment for sale, to allow others to buy them. We love the green credentials of this simple to use site that is run by real trades people and the fact that it is just for people who undertake building or landscaping projects.
In My Yard

Still in its early days, the website has the potential to change how contractors view their surplus materials. With the average cost of hiring a 6 yard skip in the UK being in excess of £200, In My Yard could convert excess materials into money back whilst making projects a little bit greener.

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Remote design service

With the need to protect ourselves and our clients during the current Covid19 pandemic and regular enquiries for work in areas beyond our usual work area, we are fortunate in being able to offer a remote design service. The service which is conducted without the need to visit a clients home allows us to work with them to develop a  feasibility concept design, that could transform their home.

Working with photographs, sketches of floor plans and a few key dimensions, we are able to translate what is a client’s dream into a viable design solution. The extent of this service can include proposed floor plan layouts, sketches of the proposed elevations and even 3D visuals of the proposal. Clients using this service will gain access to our vast experience and knowledge in remodelling and extending properties, ideas for the exterior architectural elements as well as the interior layout.

Typical bland house before transformationTypical house in need of remodelling.

House transformation in French styleTypical 3D concept visual of the proposal.

As with our usual architectural service, we will listen to our clients ideas and objectives, evaluate the potential of their home and answer any questions. The feasibility of the project will be discussed, options explored and regulatory issues highlighted. We will consider ballpark budgets and discuss site specific issues allowing our clients to gain answers to many questions relating to the design and the build process.

The cost for this service depends on the size and scope of the project. If you have such a project in mind, please contact us to find out more about how we could help you to transform your home, remotely.

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Extension and remodelling project approved

We are pleased to announce that we have just gained planning permission to extend and remodel a 1960s estate house in Gosport.
Hampshire contemporary extension

Extending and remodelling estate houses often present problems due to their low ceilings, the need to draw light into the older parts of the house and possible opposition from neighbours who might not take to new designs being introduced in their locality.

Our solution will replace the existing older style flat roof additions with a modern flat roofed extension which will wrap around the side and rear of the house with generous 2.7m ceiling heights and large eaves overhangs. The higher ceiling height will allow the extended and enlarged areas to have better proportions as well as taller windows and doors.

Internally the extension will open up to the existing kitchen and dining room at the rear to create a spacious 44m2 kitchen and family room which will lead onto a verandah beneath the flat roof. Elsewhere a master bedroom suite with wrap around glazed doors will be added and a utility and gym will also be built. The internal arrangements will see the staircase and third bedroom relocated and a galleried glazed landing installed. Externally the house will be remodelled with timber and render to match the great new layout and the old concrete interlocking roof tiles will be replaced with a metal standing seam roof with galvanised metal guttering.

Our well thought out design and clear proposals gained the all important planning permission without any obstacles.

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Planning granted in Alverstoke

We have just gained planning permission for the extension of a 1950s house that was built to an individual design with some great Arts and Crafts design features. Our proposal which extends the property to the rear will add 80m2 of accommodation over two floors.

Arts and Crafts designOur clients who we have worked with on their previous period property were clear that the proposal could not impact on the existing Arts and Crafts style frontage of their new home.Gosport architectureThe homeowners were also keen that the work would respect the original design, but be carried out in a way that meets their family lifestyle. Whilst the existing house (shown above) features vertical tile hanging, handmade bricks, a cantilevered upper storey, a brick entrance arch, multiple gables and an eyebrow window and dormer window, the rear of the property (shown below) is quite plain by comparison.
Gosport extensionOur response was to design the extension as a group of differing height and depth gables that step out towards the northern side boundary which will also include a curved on elevation roof slope. This approach of stepping the building out along the rear allows the introduction of wrap around glazing to the extended 55m2 kitchen and family room.

The existing house which is very much in its original as built condition will benefit from a a full renovation and internal reorganisation.  The kitchen and dining room will be combined and extended as will the living room. Meanwhile the hall will be opened up to an adjacent study. On the first floor, three bedrooms will be extended with the master bedroom gaining an ensuite and vaulted ceilings.

Our well thought through design and clear drawings and proposals presented no obstacles during the course of the planning application, with the planning office at Gosport Borough Council being able to approve the plans without delay under delegated powers.

If you have a similar project in mind, visit our Contact page to start a conversation about your ideas.

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Modernist bungalows

We are just back from a trip to Palm Springs that helped us fall in love with bungalows and particularly modernist flat roofed bungalows.
Modernist homeTo make it absolutely clear, we are not talking about the plethora of dull tiled roof bungalows that were built in the UK in the 1950s, 60s and 70s that plague our suburbs and countryside. Whilst UK developers were busying themselves knocking out road upon road of uninspiring bungalows for empty nesters, Architects and designers in the USA were producing stylish single storey homes that were designed for modern living and entertaining.
Contemporary bungalowThese mid century homes were typically built with privacy to the road frontage, had large areas of glass beyond, used natural and modern materials with clean lines that have a horizontal emphasis. Internally they have open plan layouts that blur the lines between inside and outside spaces. All of which sounds very much like a typical wish list for today’s contemporary homes.

Modernist house design

We appreciate that not everyone will get this, least of all the anti flat roof brigade who believe that no home is complete without a tiled roof, or indeed the people who think that each property should resemble the property next door. Whilst the homes in Palm Springs were designed to be low profile to allow amazing views of the mountains beyond, the same benefits of a low profile home which allow views beyond would be applicable in the UK. Indeed, we successfully won an appeal against a decision by the Isle of Wight Council to refuse permission on a project where we changed the design of the house from a pitched roof to a flat roof, by among other points, arguing that the design of the flat roof opened up greater views. Can you imagine the negative impact a pitched roof would have in blocking out the view of the landscape on some of these snaps that we took on our travels?Modernist architecture

The modernist design has other benefits, flat roofs can cover any shaped floor plan and act as a simple unifying design element even when used with differing storey heights. Flat roofs are great for locating solar panels and cells out of sight or can even be constructed as a living sedum roofs for even better eco credentials. With all the rooms on one level, bedrooms can have side facing windows, which is not always permissible when bedrooms are placed on upper storeys. Space is not wasted by landings and staircases and storey heights can easily be increased in halls and major rooms of the property without repercussions to the upper level.

Modern bungalow design

If you have a bungalow that you would like us to redesign as a contemporary modernist single storey home, please give us a call or send us an email to start a discussion about your ideas.

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