Selfbuild & Design July 2022

NEW BUILDS EXTENSIONS CONVERSIONS RENOVATIONS REMODELS SELF BUILDSelfbuildanddesign.com 8July 2022 £4.99 07 & DESIGN 9 771471 107093 kitchen essentials A HOME FOR + GREAT KITCHEN HEALTHY LIVING STORAGE IDEAS COURTYARD DESIGN FOR DOMESTIC ACTIVE EXTENDED FAMILY HEATING SAVE MONEY The electric ON HOUSE alternatives to FOUNDATIONS heat pumps CHOOSING BRICKS & BLOCKS HARD OPINION FLOORING Tackling our urgent timber WE EXPLORE THE CHOICES shortage 3projects to challenge your NEW BUILD Interview concept of a dream home EXTENSION CONVERSION CREATING JOYFUL SPACES Innovative The dramatic A timber-frame addition to transformation of home with an Award-winning Victorian terrace architect Nimi an old cowshed international feel Attanayake



EDITOR’S WELCOME Editorial 39 Welcome Editor Ross Stokes June 15 sees the introduction The FMB warned that the [email protected] of changes to the Building changes were complex for and how these less sexy Deputy Editor Louise Parkin Regulations aimed at reducing small, time-poor builders to components can impact on the carbon output of new take on, especially without the look of your new home [email protected] homes by 30 per cent. good communication from Assistant Editors Lucy government (see page 5). And regular contributor They are an interim Peter Eade calls on Keech, Sue Stelfox measure ahead of the Future Meanwhile, the government his extensive building Consulting Editor Gerald Cole Homes and Building Standards is promoting heat pumps experience to offer advice Contributing Editor Debbie Jeffery set for 2025. The changes as the preferred domestic on foundations along with Creative Director Jonathan Lee relate to Parts L (Fuel and heating option to replace some money-saving tips. Power), F (Ventilation) and O gas and oil boilers. Yet, even Art Editor Paul Limbert (Overheating). The latter is a with a £5,000 subsidy, heat And then there are [email protected] new approved document. pumps are an expensive this month’s projects, a investment compared with selection of grand and more Advertising These changes are gas or electric boilers. modest dream homes, each considered vital if we are to inspiring in their own way. Advertising and Exhibition meet net zero carbon targets, In his Topping Out column, Sales Manager yet the government has been Gerald Cole analyses the Not least our cover story, Rachael Grignon slow in providing guidance to routes to an all-electric heated about a fabulous build by a those at the sharp end of the home. He offers some serious couple looking to spend more [email protected] changes, namely builders. food for thought, especially for time with their extended Tel: 01283 742964 those looking at renovation, family around a central Last month the Federation rather than new build. courtyard swimming pool. Account Managers of Master Builders called David Olver for urgent action, saying This month we explore over half of its members some other practical aspects [email protected] were not prepared or of a self-build project, Tel: 01283 742952 aware of the changes. such as bricks and mortar, Andy Robinson [email protected] Tel: 01283 742979 Advertising Production Sam Furniss [email protected] Tel: 01283 742974 Advertising Design Jo Ward Sales & marketing Marketing Manager Sarah Moss Marketing Assistants Holly Chafer, Alice Evans Reader Services Kay Tunnicliffe, Suzanne Phillips Tel: 01283 742970 Fax: 01283 742957 [email protected] Publisher Peter Johns Editorial Address: SelfBuild & Design Magazine, 151 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1BG Tel: 01283 742950 Fax: 01283 742957 www.selfbuildanddesign.com PlotBrowser Tel: 01283 742972 Fax: 01283 742957 [email protected] SelfBuild & Design is published by WW Magazines, 151 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1BG. Printed in England by Warners (Midlands) plc, Bourne and London. Distributed by Marketforce. Tel: 020 3787 9001 Subscriptions UK subscription price for one year (12 issues) is £36, Europe/ROW Surface mail £69.80, ROW Airmail £89.85. Phone 01283 742970 to subscribe. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations Every effort is made to ensure that the material published in SelfBuild & Design is accurate and reliable. However, the publishers can accept no responsibility for claims made by advertisers, manufacturers or contributors. Readers are advised to check out any claims themselves before using them as the basis for any building project. Contributions are welcome but the safe return of unsolicited text or photographs cannot be guaranteed. Copyright for the contents of SelfBuild & Design rests with the publishers and no part of the contents can be reproduced without written permission to do so.  facebook.com/ instagram.com/ twitter.com/ sbdmagazine selfbuildanddesign SelfBuildDesign shop.selfbuildanddesign.com/ subscriptions/sb Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 1

CONTENTS 56 54 Case studies Contents 28 OUT OF AFRICA 28 First-time selfbuilder Sue Wardell recalls 64 Interview how she built a new timber-frame home on an idyllic Dorset plot, influenced 22 CREATING JOYFUL SPACES by her time in Africa and Asia. We chat to architect Nimi Attanayake 39 OUT OF THE ORDINARY who is also a qualified garden and landscape designer. With its oriel window, glazed roof and large pivot door, the extension to this Expert advice Victorian terrace is far from ordinary. 75 DRIVEWAYS 46 HEALTHY HABITAT 79 FOUNDATIONS 80 BRICKS AND BLOCKS First-time selfbuilders Kath and Max 83 LEGAL ADVICE Gowland have replaced their small 84 BUYING A NEW HOME annexe with a stunning family home, arranged around a sun trap courtyard and designed with health in mind. 54 A VISIONARY DESIGN A former cowshed has been brought to life with a zinc-clad addition which appears to grow out of the stone walls. Sp. ecial features 10 KITCHEN ESSENTIALS Our showcase of kitchens and kitchen storage for the home. 64 HARD FLOORING We look at the popular options for hard-working flooring. 72 OPINION Tackling our urgent timber shortage. 2 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

Substcoribe 46 12 39 20 SELF&BUDEISLIGDN PAGE 16 Regulars 5 NEWS 6 DIARY PLANNER 8 ON TREND 17 DESIGN 71 DOORS & WINDOWS 76 BUILDING MATTERS 85 FINANCE 86 PICK OF THE PLOTS 96 TOPPING OUT Gerald Cole explores the route to the all-electric-heated home. Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 3

For over 50 years, Potton has designed and built high-quality homes for thousands of self builders just like you. www.potton.co.uk

SELF BUILD NEWS Ground rent Nuclear and wind power key to UK energy strategy charges banned The government has launched Offshore wind The government will also look Ground rent charges on its British Energy Security Plans to produce up to 50GW to increase the UK’s current 14GW new residential leases will be Strategy, setting out how it will by 2030 – enough to power of solar capacity which could banned at the end of June. accelerate the deployment every home in the UK – of which grow up to five times by 2035, of wind, new nuclear, solar 5GW would come from floating consulting on the rules for solar The new law will also apply and hydrogen, which could offshore wind in deeper seas. projects, particularly on domestic to retirement homes, when see 95 per cent of electricity New planning reforms will cut and commercial rooftops. the ban will be extended in being low carbon by 2030. approval times for new offshore April 2023. The government wind farms from four years to one. In addition, the government said ground rents, which can The strategy will aim for a Oil and gas aims to double to 10GW low- run into hundreds of pounds a significant acceleration of nuclear Licensing for new North Sea carbon hydrogen production year, provide no clear service in power, with up to 24GW by 2050, oil and gas projects planned to capacity by 2030, with at least return and can be set to escalate which would represent up to launch in autumn, with a new half coming from green hydrogen, regularly, with a significant around 25 per cent of projected task force providing bespoke and utilising excess offshore wind financial burden for leaseholders. electricity demand. Small modular support to new developments. power to bring down costs. reactors will form a key part of Onshore wind The Leasehold Reform the nuclear project pipeline. Developing partnerships (Ground Rent) Act is the first with a limited number of of a two-part programme A new government body, supportive communities who of legislation to reform Great British Nuclear, will be wish to host new onshore wind the leasehold system. set up to bring forward new infrastructure in return for projects, backed by substantial guaranteed lower energy bills. Future measures include a funding, including a £120m Heat pumps new right for leaseholders to Future Nuclear Enabling Fund. A Heat Pump Investment extend their leases to 990 years Up to eight reactors, including Accelerator Competition at zero ground rent and an online the Wylfa site in Anglesey, are worth up to £30m to make calculator to help find out how planned for this decade. British heat pumps. much it would cost to buy their freehold or extend their lease. Other plans in the strategy include: 120,000 new homes on hold Urgent guidance required on Building Regs changes Up to 120,000 new homes Builders need urgent clear small, time-poor builders to quarterly, is the only survey of have been delayed because guidance to help them understand take on, especially without its kind to track the experience of nutrient neutrality rules in changes to the Building Regulations good communication of SME construction firms. 74 local authority areas. which come into force on June from government.   15, according to the Federation In other survey findings: Last month, 42 local authorities of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB survey also indicated • 45 per cent of builders in England were notified they that prices are impacting on are struggling to hire must ensure that new homes The changes to Part L (Fuel bottom lines, with 98 per cent carpenters/joiners, up two do not add damaging nitrates or and Power), Part F (Ventilation) of builders having had material per cent on last quarter. phosphates to river catchments and Part O (Overheating) are costs increase and 83 per cent • 40 per cent of members and protected areas including aimed at improving the energy passing on these to customers. are finding it difficult to hire the Eden Valley in Cumbria, the efficiency of new homes by 30 bricklayers, down one per River Camel in Cornwall and the per cent and are interim measures Material shortages and a lack cent on last quarter. Norfolk Broads. In these areas ahead of the Future Homes and of skilled labour have caused • Nearly all FMB members – close to protected sites such Building Standards set for 2025. job delays for most FMB (98 per cent) reported an as special areas of conservation members. Nearly three-quarters increase in material costs in – planning authorities are unable In a recent State of Trade of builders have delayed jobs the first quarter of 2022. to permit new applications Survey from the FMB, 52 per cent due a lack of materials and • 95 per cent of respondents for any kind of home until of builders said they are not yet around half are delaying work expect material costs to increase. developers prove they are not prepared or aware of the changes. owing to a lack of labour. • 83 per cent of builders adding to nutrient pollution. have put up their prices. The FMB warned that the The FMB State of Trade 1,000 homes to be changes were complex for Survey, which is released built in South West Average UK house price now worth £282,753 The government will fund a multimillion-pound package Average UK house prices rose the rises despite the prospect real earnings, and the difficulty to build 1,000 new homes again in March for the ninth of increasing pressure on for policymakers in needing across Dorset, Hampshire month in a row, according to households’ finances. to support the economy yet and Somerset over the next the latest figures from Halifax. contain inflation is now even five years. The money comes “Although there is some more acute because of the from the Levelling Up Home The increase of 1.4 per recent evidence of more homes impact of the war in Ukraine. Building Fund and HSBC UK. cent, or £3,860 in cash coming onto the market, the terms, was the biggest jump fundamental issue remains “Buyers are therefore Homes England and HSBC UK since last September. that too many buyers are dealing with the prospect will partner to provide funding to chasing too few properties. of higher interest rates enable Wyatt Homes, based in The new record price of and a higher cost of living. Poole, to accelerate the delivery £282,753 is up £28,113 on a “However, in the long term With affordability metrics of more than 1,000 family homes. year ago, and compares with we know the performance of already extremely stretched, average UK earnings over the the housing market remains these factors should lead Around 30 per cent are same period of £28,860. inextricably linked to the health to a slowdown in house set to be affordable. of the wider economy. price inflation over the next Halifax MD Russell Galley year,” Mr Galley said. said limited supply and strong “There is no doubt that demand were the reasons for households face a squeeze on Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 5

PSDElLaiFn&aBUDnrEISLyIeGDNr Courses Brighton Permaculture Trust To publicise a course or event, send the details to For a full round-up of Building with Straw Bales [email protected] upcoming diary dates, go to selfbuildanddesign.com/events Brighton Shows & open days July 8-10, £175-£340 Centre for Alternative Technology This intensive three-day straw-bale building Oakwrights course is designed to inspire you and give you the Renewables for Households: basic skills required for straw bale construction. Visit an Oakwrights Home Solar Hot Water The course covers building walls with straw bales and basic carpentry. The use of power Herefordshire June 17-18 Machynlleth, Wales tools will be avoided and people of all abilities Warwickshire July 22-23 June 4, £70 are welcome. (brightonpermaculture.org.uk) Oak frame supplier Oakwrights are inviting visitors Learn how to use solar water heating systems to their Herefordshire open day, which includes a (solar thermal) to directly heat water. The course Ty-Mawr tour of a contemporary cottage-style home hosted will cover the different solar water systems by the owners and the Oakwrights team. A tour of available, how they work, and how to assess Introduction to Thatching the Oakwrights workshops is also included as part which is best for your needs. (cat.org.uk) of the Herefordshire event. (oakwrights.co.uk) Powys Weald & Downland Museum July 13, £250 plus VAT Passivhaus Open Days 2022 This practical, hands-on introduction to the craft How to Repair Traditional of thatching is suitable for homeowners and Worldwide Timber Walls and Roofs builders who want to understand more about the June 24-26 thatch on their building or enthusiasts who just Every year, Passivhaus buildings across the globe Nr Chichester want to have a go. Starting with an illustrated talk generously open their doors to visitors. Whether you June 8, £120 on the history and styles of thatching, the day then are a selfbuilder, a built environment professional or an A one-day workshop offering an introduction to focuses on practical hands-on work on a purpose individual interested in learning more about Passivhaus a variety of tried-and-tested approaches to the built display. It will cover what is and isn’t repairable design, this event offers an invaluable opportunity to repair of timber-framed buildings and roofs. Starting and selection of materials. All work is done at experience the comfort and quality of a Passivhaus. with the theory of timber decay and a review of ground level. Suitable for homeowners, builders, Meet and talk to the owners or professionals involved conservation philosophy, the workshop then moves architects and other enthusiasts. (lime.org.uk) to find out more first-hand. (passivhaustrust.org.uk) on to look at a range of materials and techniques used in repairing structural timberworks. (wealddown.co.uk) KLC School of Design Homebuilding & Renovating Show Surrey John Cullen Lighting Experience Interior Design Sandown Park, Surrey Garden Lighting Masterclass Chelsea Harbour, London June 25-26 July 14, £190 Self-build specialists, renovation experts and London This day provides the a concise introduction to the leading brands are all under one roof at the Surrey June 14, free of charge world of interior design. Despite the prevalence Homebuilding & Renovating Show. Discover the This masterclass provides an in-depth of design in today’s media, confusion surrounds latest products, understand how to maximise your opportunity to discover clever lighting tips that even some of the most basic principles. To budget or seek an architect’s opinion. From small enhance the planting, trees, hard landscaping gain a better appreciation for interior projects, plots to big builds, this show is the place to pick and features in any garden and looks at the or as a basis for further study, this practical up tools and tips from the brightest and best in energy-efficient lighting options now available. day provides a compelling, comprehensive the business. (surrey.homebuildingshow.co.uk) The masterclass includes a presentation and enjoyable introduction. (klc.co.uk) of John Cullen projects, bringing design POTTON SELF BUILD ACADEMY schemes and fittings to life and showing how National Self Build & Renovation Centre they work in situ. (johncullenlighting.com) Timber-frame housebuilder Potton Guide to Self Build Projects has launched its new series of KLC School of Design events at its St Neots show centre. NSBRC, Swindon Experience Garden Design July 23, £396 The Design Process Explained – June 4 Covering 11 topics in total, this informal A half-day course, aimed at explaining the design Chelsea Harbour, London workshop, held over three days, makes use of process step by step. This seminar will explain how July 1, £190 the superb practical exhibits available in the Potton go about working with selfbuilders to design This course is perfect for anyone who wishes to Centre to provide attendees with a level of a new home from start to finish, beginning with gain a good understanding of the principles of knowledge which guarantees their projects establishing a budget, understanding lifestyle and design, practical planning, how to choose a style, will go more smoothly. (nsbrc.co.uk) creating a design brief, right through to preparing fundamentals of successful planting, and the a design ready for submission to planning. first steps to creating a masterplan. (klc.co.uk) Centre for Alternative Technology Granted Planning Permission – July 8 Once the hurdle of planning permission is National Self Build & Renovation Centre A Way of Building: Using overcome, Potton explains what comes next. Locally Sourced Materials Managing your Build – July 15 Guide to Renovation Projects This course focuses on managing your build – it’s a Machynlleth, Wales lot to take on and a lot to arrange, and this course can NSBRC, Swindon July 29 - August 1, £480 including demonstrate the major steps as well as the finer details. July 2, £165 full-board accommodation (potton.co.uk) This course is delivered by NSBRC Helpdesk Building structures from locally sourced materials Expert, David Hilton. David is an authority in is the ultimate way to ensure a structure is low 6 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com sustainable building and energy efficiency, impact and ecologically sound. This course with extensive knowledge in building fabrics explores ways to use earth, green timber, straw and heating systems. As part of the course, and stone amongst others to build beautiful, David will also guide you through the NSBRC’s functional and strong structures. (cat.org.uk) own Renovation House where you can watch the theory come to life. (nsbrc.co.uk) National Self Build & Renovation Centre Brighton Permaculture Trust Guide to Project Management Building with Hemp Lime NSBRC, Swindon July 30, £165 Brighton This course covers project management July 8-10, £155-£275 basics, budgeting, trades and materials, site An introduction to the theory and practice preparation and set-up. The course is delivered of building with hemp lime, also known by experienced project manager Charlie as hempcrete, including how to use it in Laing who is Director at CLPM Ltd, a specialist the repair and upgrading of old buildings. project management business. (nsbrc.co.uk) (brightonpermaculture.org.uk)

LLEATN’SDTSACLAKPING INDIAN SANDSTONE COMPOSITE DECKING FSOEARRICNHSPJIERWATSIOONNALNADNGDRSECAATPPIRNICGES

On trend Pop of pink Available in 21 colours and seven sizes, from the two-door Everhot 60 to the five-door Everhot 150, these range cookers can be simply unplugged and moved if necessary. The most energy- efficient heat storage range cooker on the market, the Everhot uses less than half of the energy of comparable products. The eye-catching new Fandango Pink colourway will inject a boost of vibrancy into the kitchen. The 120i model displayed here is priced at £10,800. (everhot.co.uk) Light and drama Moulded to perfection Statement stove Inspired by the cymbals of a The facades and worktop of this modern kitchen island drum kit, the Acustica range of were created in solid HIMACS, resulting in a seamless Available in wall-hung and lighting has been extended with curved design with an integrated sink and hob, three free-standing versions, the a wall-mounted version. The drawer units, cupboard and an open space for towels and Scan 87 large heat output decorative lamp has a shell made a dishwasher. Offering numerous possibilities in a range of stove features an elegantly from recycled PET, with a black colours, this material is thermo-formable and non-porous designed lifting door with a anodised aluminium structure and with no visible seams. Price on application. (himacs.eu) 160º view of the flames. an opal PMMA diffuser. Available in a number of colours and in Boasting a nominal heat diameters of 60cm and 90cm, the output of 11.5kW and an wall-mounted lamp is theatrical, A+ energy rating, the free- with the light diverged from the standing model of this centre like an eclipse. Price on Ecodesign-compliant stove application. (fabbian.com) measures 188cm x 69cm x 63cm. The Scan 87 has again won a Red Dot Design Award, bestowed for exceptional design quality. Price on application. (scan-stoves.co.uk) 8 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

On trend Minty fresh Monochrome shades Mint green has been added to the DuraOcean collection A new collection of grey and black fireclay sinks, ideal for modern of chairs, made from recycled maritime ropes and interiors and monochrome schemes, has been launched by Shaws of nets, which to date have helped to recycle over 240 Darwen. Shown here in the Shaker 600 (grey) and Shaker 800 (black) tonnes of ocean plastic. Mint green makes a statement, models, these thinner-walled models add drama to a contemporary adding a pop of colour and freshness to the garden kitchen. Handmade and luxurious, they are extremely durable with an this summer. Fully recyclable at the end of its lifestyle, anti-bacterial glaze finish. Price on application. (shawsofdarwen.com) the DuraOcean costs £299 for a two-seater bistro set which includes a table topped with the same recyclable material. Four- and six-seater sets are also available priced from £499. (lifestylegarden.co.uk) TAPPING IN Huddle up The Tubist T single-lever tap comes with an ergonomic 60cm pull-out spray to The Huddle collection of print pleated lampshades uses an reach the corners of the largest of sinks. It has a weighted hose to aid retraction, impressive portfolio of vivid hand-block-printed fabrics a cool touch spray head for added safety and aerated nozzle for improved from Jaipur, with each shade handcrafted in a variety of efficiency and reduced splashing. The monobloc design comes in Brushed sizes, including 15cm, 30cm, 40cm and 45cm. Prices range Nickel, Matt Black and Chrome, and is priced from £449. (abodedesigns.co.uk) from £45 for a 15cm shade to £120 for a 45cm shade. (huddlecollection.com) Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 9

1 The basics ESSENTIALS 4 FOR PLANNING What’s really important right from the start is the basic design, which should take into 8A NEW KITCHEN account how you use your kitchen, what you really need within it and how many people It is easy to get carried away with the finishes, will be using the kitchen at any one time. textures and shiny accessories when planning your kitchen. Looeeze Grossman offers some 2 Electric and water feeds practical advice to help you stay focused. They may not be the glamorous side of 13 kitchen design but without them you’ll have a dazzling island that’s completely unusable without power, or a sink located where you have your back to your guests rather than facing them while rinsing the salad. Future-proof your electrical needs by wiring additional sockets, even if you don’t see the immediate need. It is much easier and cheaper to do this now than retrofitting, which may require replastering and retiling. 3 Lighting Ensure each bank of lighting has its own switch. The facility to zone off your kitchen space will help you create different moods. No one wants every light on, especially in a large kitchen/dining area but pendants illuminating the island, or undercounter or unit lighting can provide just enough ambience. 4 Create a blueprint Label everything on your plan such as where every socket will be, where the water comes in and the location of your appliances. Also, add what type of bulb is needed or what light fittings you have so you can keep spares. 5 Ergonomics 6 Using the space The golden triangle is the single most Are you a seasoned chef who will want important factor when planning the dynamics easy access to a host of herbs and spices? of your kitchen. It’s the distance between Are you a messy cook who wants to be the hob, sink and fridge. This triangle, able to hide everything away ready to deal without question, will be the most used with the next morning? Or are you more area and the route to the three key items of the ‘we only use our kitchen to make shouldn’t be at odd angles or far apart. coffee and entertain’ kind? It’s worth This applies to all kitchens, big and small. keeping this in mind, especially if planning 2 PICTURES 1: Ex-display designer Italian kitchen. 2&3: Bespoke recycled painted kitchen. 4: Used Charles Rennie Mackintosh kitchen. 5: Ex-display kitchen with worktops and appliances. 6: Roundel kitchen with worktop and appliances. 10 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

Interiors 5 6 to add a large wrap-around extension or the island or built-in banquette where the purpose-built space just for the kitchen. kids can do their homework. Take your time, ask questions, do a paper plan and hone 7 Visual aids in on what you really want. Then go for it! For some, a huge space works wonderfully, Looeeze Grossman for others it can feel daunting. If this kind of founded The Used area is new to you, go down the paper plan Kitchen Company route. Create the layout from newspaper and in 2005, when used lay it out in the area the new space will fill. and ex-display This is such a simple thing, but it will give you kitchens were often a real feel for how it will work. An island may ending up on landfill. look amazing, but is it actually a barrier for She realised this was a you to move around, and would a peninsular worrying misuse of resources. or full-height bank of units and separate TUKC sells for over 1,000 showrooms pantry for prep actually work better? and last year introduced the Kitchen Passport which asks owners to list their 8 Think long-term kitchen’s materials, detail how to recycle them and, above all, utilise the digital Unlike paint or wallpaper, a kitchen is not capacity to pass a kitchen on, when they likely to be changed every few years. It is a no longer want it, transferring the digital sizable investment and spending time getting passport on in the new owner’s name. it right will mean you’re left with a space (theusedkitchencompany.com) you’ll enjoy for years – not to tolerate and regret not adding that wine fridge or sink to Selfbuildanddesign.com /JULY 2022 11

LEFT: This Dakar kitchen from Wood Works Brighton has a Japandi vibe, with all cabinetry handmade from birch ply with a natural food- safe oil. Olive green forgo was used on the doors, with fluted oak as a special feature. The handmade oak handles work well on the tall doors, which offer ample storage space. Price on application. (woodworksbrighton.co.uk) Hidden treasures As shown in this Drew Forsyth bespoke kitchen, even the finest details can maximise space. Here, chopping boards have their own home in a narrow open cupboard, so they won’t clutter the workspace. Prices start at around £30,000 for a complete kitchen. (drewforsyth.co.uk) Available from the Midsomer oak Shaker collection, this tailor-made pantry is shown in an eye-catching RIGHT: This lavender, adding a striking colour pop to the kitchen design. It features a natural oak silk lacquer with Shaker kitchen premium solid oak drawers and a range of combinations including spice pull-outs, wine and plate from Olive & Barr racks, door storage and soft-close drawers. Prices start from £3,405. (crown-imperial.co.uk) is painted in Little Greene Hicks 12 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com Blue and Pall Mall. Features include a kitchen island with drawers and shelves for underneath open storage and a lengthy shelf above the hob for placing items that may not be used everyday. Additional pieces from Olive & Barr include this large drinks storage cabinet. Kitchens start from £10,000. (oliveandbarr.com)

Kitchen Storage LEFT AND BELOW: Pantries from Schüller fit seamlessly into any space, with room for large appliances such as slow cookers and mixers. Storage solutions can be mixed and matched, combining open shelving and pull-out cabinetry for functional space. Completely customisable, wood dividers offer ample wine storage while oak pull-out crates give a natural look, making clever use of every nook and cranny for a clutter-free kitchen. Price on application. (schueller.de/en) ABOVE: The award-winning Seaside Kitchen storage, wine rack and glass store, hanging rail cupboard, which houses larger items like the from H. Miller Bros includes this bespoke larder and signature solid oak bread box. Also part toaster and coffee machine. Kitchens from H. cupboard with cold shelf worktop, in-door of the bespoke design is a pull-out breakfast Miller Bros start from £35,000. (hmillerbros.co.uk) Selfbuildanddesign.com /JULY 2022 13

Kitchen Storage RIGHT & BELOW: This industrial- styled kitchen from Eggersmann incorporates a wealth of clever storage options, from the overhead rack for utensils and condiments to the impressive drinks cabinet. The tower spans all three islands with an extraction unit and storage built in. Wall units rotate to reveal storage behind, and smaller items like crockery, pots and pans and even plants can all be stored in the food preparation areas for ease of access. (eggersmann.co.uk) PICTURE: PAUL CRAIG RIGHT: Bespoke Ideal for coffee lovers, this bespoke kitchen design from kitchens from Brayer The Myers Touch includes a custom-made curved wall unit Design make good for elegantly storing coffee pods and mugs. Prices for a use of space with complete kitchen start at £35,000. (themyerstouch.co.uk) full-height storage. The Battersea dark Tailored open Shaker kitchen shelving is shown pantry comprises here in a country- shelving, drawers style kitchen in and a small work chalk white, ideal surface for essential for storing bigger items. It has a warm items or displaying oak interior with decorative pieces. under-cabinet Price on application. lighting, burnished (wrenkitchens.com) brass handles and a matt charcoal cabinet exterior painted in Sinner low eggshell sheen paint by Mylands of London. Also displayed here is a modern breakfast pantry with coffee station and room for small appliances. It has a charcoal oak interior and Calacatta marble- effect worktop. Price on application. (brayerdesign.co.uk) 14 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com



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Design Architectural art Budget solution for family home extension for proud owners Charity is one of seven private issues relating to the physically connecting it to Selfbuilders can commission houses built in a secluded uninsulated building fabric. the existing dwelling with a the ultimate artwork of their location along the spectacular contemporary glazed link. new dream home from Chisel & headlands high above Robin The tired accommodation Mouse, which creates made-to- Hood’s Bay, in the North also required reconfiguration The older part of the measure architectural models.  York Moors National Park. and updating as a modern house is used as a living and contemporary and social space, while The artwork is created from plaster, The property was originally home for extended the upgraded outbuilding cement, 3D print, wood and metal built by the owner’s family family get-togethers. is used for bedrooms. etching. Chisel & Mouse produces in the 1970s and is held in a models of everything from large trust for the ongoing use of Working to a tight budget, The new glazed link grand designs, to smaller intricate the current family members. Rebecca Hazard from Ian provides dining space, 3D pieces and classic townhouse Hazard Architects chose acting as a social connection facades. Site visits are not normally As a mid-20th-century to prioritise the reuse between the two existing required as the pieces can often building, the single-storey of an existing redundant buildings, whilst providing be created from photographs. dwelling was in need of outbuilding by upgrading framed panoramic renovation to address the building fabric and views across the bay. Paul Smith, Hackett, the Louvre, Los Angeles Modern Art Museum, the Cabinet Office, Michaelis Boyd, Piercy & Co, Chris Dyson, Hines, Baobab are amongst the company’s illustrious list of clients. Based in a farm workshop in rural West Sussex, Chisel & Mouse was founded by brothers Robert and Gavin Paisley, who make the models themselves, mostly by hand, using a mixture of modern techniques of 3D design and printing, and traditional techniques of moulding and casting.  (chiselandmouse.com) Pictures: Models of individual homes, including a Segal house (bottom). Morris & Co home emporium at Harrods Iconic British brand Morris & Co has opened Morris & Co also recently launched a a showcase of its collection of fabrics and paint collection, comprising 40 unique homewares within one of London’s most shades inspired by Morris’s life. prestigious department stores, Harrods. The shop celebrates Morris & Co’s history and the legacy of renowned Pre-Raphaelite artist and printmaker William Morris, whose creative input pervades all Morris & Co designs. In addition to a range of wallpapers, fabrics, paint and cushions, the home emporium will house several of Morris & Co’s homeware ranges, from Path to Paisley jackets created from Morris & Co fabric cut-offs to a forthcoming collaboration with lighting specialist Pooky. Selfbuildanddesign.com /JULY 2022 17

Design Modern villa approved for historic area in Greenwich Planning permission has been approved for this contemporary mews villa in the Blackheath Conservation Area of Greenwich. The footprint was restricted by the tightly controlled back garden spaces of the existing properties. Mailen Design got around the problem of a tight plot by inserting large windows, light wells and roof lights to flood the interiors with natural light from multiple directions. The materials, form, proportions and detailing are a contemporary take on the historic listed buildings in the area. Mailen Design, which has offices in Oxford and London, specialises in innovative modern methods of construction. (mailendesign.com) 18 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com



The remodel was completed on a budget of £250,000 and undertaken by NOTO as a design and build project. 20 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

Design Raw elements a feature of Oxford renovation Raw elements have been left footprint of the building; FLOORPLAN exposed in this major revamp celebrate the structural of a three-storey Victorian intervention on the space; end of terrace in Oxford. and use a calming, muted palette of earthy, honest The steelwork can be clearly materials and textures. seen, and the interior has been painted in rich tones, to celebrate Due to the limited material the structural interventions and labour available during on the space and to reference Covid, NOTO Architects where old meets new. decided to up tools and construct the extension as The project, a crossover a design and build project. between primitive and contemporary, features a rich The project was completed palette of materials, including during the first lockdown, microcement, raw plaster, when materials and labour limewash paints, oiled timber, were in short supply and it granite, slate and terrazzo. was therefore challenging to co-ordinate processes. The owner’s brief was (noto.co.uk) concise: maximise the potential Selfbuildanddesign.com /JULY 2022 21

JOYFUL SPACES Tell us about your childhood homes INTERVIEW: Nimi Attanayake is the My first home was quite unconventional, as we lived in DEBBIE director and co-founder of a large detached Victorian villa in south London’s Herne JEFFERY nimtim architects, starting Hill, belonging to my uncle, which we shared with other PICTURES: the practice in 2014 alongside family members and a couple of lodgers. My sister and I MEGAN her husband, Tim O’Callaghan. had a room with our parents, and the house was always TAYLOR/JIM Nimi is a qualified garden and busy, fun and sociable, with lots of parties. Then, when I STEPHENSON landscape designer and leads the was eight, we moved to a traditional 1930s semi in West sister company, nimtim landscapes. Dulwich, where we had bunk beds in our own room. ABOVE & A UK-qualified architect since 2008, she has worked BELOW for some of London’s most highly regarded practices What inspired you to become an architect? RIGHT: An and currently focuses on eye-catching, inventive, and Edwardian often colourful residential projects, some of which have One of my uncles is a civil engineer and the other a end-of-terrace, been published internationally. Nimi has been invited building surveyor, and they would work on projects close to the river to join several review panels and steering groups. She together, such as putting up our large glass garden Thames, was has been a visiting critic at Westminster University and outbuilding, so there was already a family interest in extended with University for the Creative Arts, a RIBA ambassador and, the built environment. Then, my slightly older cousin consideration along with nimtim architects, has taken part in RIBA’s was accepted at The Bartlett to study architecture. to the family’s National Schools Programme, running architectural pet rabbits, workshops and projects in local primary schools. My parents had assumed I would choose a secure including garden profession in either medicine or law, but as architecture access through is a mixture of art and maths, I was drawn to find a low-level hatch out more. Dad had a contact who offered me work in a glass wall. experience in their architectural practice when I was 17, which I really enjoyed, and I went on to work there over the holidays and in between my studies. I chose to study at the University of Nottingham, as I wanted to get away from London and live independently. The Portland stone university building and beautiful campus really spoke to me, and the course itself was very scientific, focusing on practical construction details. I decided to take my diploma at a more creative and artistic university, and chose the University of Westminster, which is where I met my husband, Tim. We were both taking our Masters, and attended the same unit, which involved a field trip to Prague and Bratislava. I focused on urban scale transformative community projects, and the work was quite landscape driven. I was also taught by Professor Sean Griffiths, who founded FAT (Fashion-Architecture-Taste) Architecture, a practice known for producing joyful, playful, colourful projects, whose work inspired me. LEFT & ABOVE: The extension to this Victorian terraced house is clad internally and externally with naturally stained cork that will weather to a silvery-grey over time. 22 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

INTERVIEW PICTURES: This small double-height extension filters light from the canopy beyond to unlock a formerly dark space. What prompted you to on to open our own practice to take more creative set up your own practice? control and achieve a better work/life balance. Tim set up nimtim in 2013 and I joined shortly after. After graduating in 2008, I returned to work in the same small practice where I’d completed my work I’d taken an RHS landscape design course and focused experience, and then for Hawkins/Brown, where I on residential projects in practice, while Tim worked was a project architect for Corby Cube and other on larger-scale developments and commercial work. developments, such as Metropolitan Wharf in Wapping. This means that, although we work together and make a good team, we know our individual strengths The Iceland bank crash in 2009 saw me made and are often involved in different projects. redundant, as public-funded work stopped, so Tim and I went travelling for a year to India, Malaysia, and Sri How has the practice evolved? Lanka where I’m from. When we returned home, we married, and I then worked for Latitude Architects. In the beginning it was just the two of us, with our dog, Corbi, and a trainee architect, working from the ground It was around that time when I received my diagnosis floor of our house. With no overheads, it meant we could of a rare form of ovarian cancer, which spurred us undercut competitors and win work, while all the time learning how to write invoices and run a business. We designed our own website, spent a lot of time on the branding, and were lucky to get a few projects from neighbours and local forums. They were small, Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 23

INTERVIEW but allowed us to have fun, using colour and playfulness ABOVE: A Family members put down counters for different to work out what we were interested in - listening and sensitive and activities, such as playing the drums or homework, collaborating to make joyful spaces. Dezeen then picked respectful showing where they do them now and where they’d up and published our work, which led to more projects. refurbishment like to. You get more from this than with straight of an historic questioning, as the counters prompt a conversation. We don’t have a PR team, it’s all done in-house, and five-storey there are now eight of us – mostly women – which house, which Describe your own home encourages a healthy work/life balance. I’ve become a appears just spokesperson and representative on ethnicity and gender two storeys We live in a 1960s townhouse in Forest Hill, which within the industry, and nimtim is playing its part in from the front. we’ve adapted and changed over time. It’s a bright helping to address diversity, including giving lectures and space, with our living areas on the first floor and a joining panels for various universities, working with the BELOW: Nimi’s ground-floor office and guest room. Strong colours, Stephen Lawrence Blueprint charity to mentor students, own 1960s patterns and textures, with colourful belongings and with the Architecture Foundation’s Young Trustees. townhouse, and artwork, define the interiors. The area has a which has wonderful sense of community, and we crowdfunded Now we’re taking on some larger projects in housing been adapted for a communal playground for the local children. and mixed-use schemes. Recently, the practice won and changed an invited competition to re-imagine neglected over time. plots as part of the Becontree Estate’s centenary programme. It does mean taking a step back as our project sizes grow, which I find difficult as I love to be close to clients throughout the process. The past few years have been exceptional, with some amazing appointments and the practice has really grown. Do you have a signature style? Instead of creating cookie-cutter designs, with a box extension and bifolds on the back of every house, we take a more bespoke approach. Reflecting on the clients’ personalities and interests proves a great starting point – not only tailoring homes to the family’s current needs but looking ahead five and 10 years to make sure they’re future-proofed. Often clients have become our friends, as we delve deep into their interests and how these can be incorporated into the space. Children and elderly relatives are all encouraged to have an equal input, using a briefing game we devised to unlock their ideas in a relaxed and fun way. Do you have any advice for selfbuilders? Sustainable homes don’t need to be focused on gadgets and technology, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels. If a house is carefully designed from the outset and future-proofed, it means a family will be able to stay there for many years, rather than constantly moving on or rebuilding, making it far more environmentally friendly. nimtim architects: nimtim.co.uk 24 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

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PHOTO: WALKER LANDSCAPE & DESIGN PHOTO: WATERDALE LANDSCAPES Cooking and eating outdoors Outdoor kitchen design is a pleasure of the British inspiration from Marshalls spring and summer time, when the weather is right of material like Corian for your course! And, with our homes outdoor worktop. If you are becoming more of a sanctuary using a timber frame to build than ever before, now is the time your outdoor kitchen ensure to invest in making it as fit-for- that the wood is nowhere near a purpose as it can be by taking heat source such as gas flames, your outdoor entertaining area charcoal etc. Opt for hardwood to the next level. Here, we offer timbers – but you’d need to some great outdoor kitchen ensure maintenance is part of design ideas alongside key your process at the start of each considerations when looking to summer season to guarantee embark on such a project. An longevity. Wood should not be outdoor kitchen can really add used to build a kitchen enclosure the wow factor to a new garden – it needs to be constructed design, from pizza ovens to in- from a fire resistant and heat built barbeques, there are many proof material including the options open to you and a good mortar and jointing materials. landscape designer or builder will Wood self-combusts at 400°, be able to advise what will work some barbeques get to 800°. best for you and your family. Current trends in Before embarking on your garden design showcase a outdoor kitchen venture, “showstopper” style element it’s important to take into to the outdoor kitchen space – consideration proper space think about what you’d like to be planning and consider the your main feature in the kitchen. materials and features you want Do you entertain regularly? If to include. Ensure you choose so, a built in BBQ or outdoor materials which will withstand fridge (it’s important to note all the environment in the area electrical appliances MUST be that they are intended to be used in. Granite and poured concretes may not bode well in damp and colder climates so you may consider an alternative 26 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Showstopper kitchen trends  Sunken fire-pit  Built in BBQ  Outdoor fridge  Statement outdoor lighting  Mini kitchen for children  Feature wall  Feature paving PHOTO: JORDAN AND SONS PHOTO: URBAN EARTH designing a trendy outdoor protected with an RCD) might extend the use, past just eating, kitchen, but provides technically be your choice of showstopper needs to be a socialising space. superior qualities when used – alternatively if you’re operating Think pre/post meal drinks in a kitchen environment such in a family environment with area too. seating is important as slip and stain resistance. It’s young children, you might opt to imperative for safety that the build them a mini mud kitchen Consider your floorspace and correct materials are selected so they can join in the fun too. planning too – any floor surface according to the proposed Using a louvered pergola over around a cooking or preparation application. It’s a good idea to the dining space is a good idea area must be non-porous. Many take inspiration for the style in case of inclement weather. homeowners also opt for a of paving from the house or Also consider the lighting of the different paving to the rest of vernacular architecture. space. Putting a dining table and the garden to clearly define the casual seating area nearby to kitchen area. Porcelain paving In essence, and as with any is a sleek, modern option when self-build project, research what works for you and your lifestyle – take inspiration from others but be sure not to simply follow the latest trends, as they may not be directly appropriate for your style of property, family and social life. Consult with garden designers, builders, landscape installers, friends and family, to ensure your outdoor kitchen project is one that lasts a lifetime and delivers not only a beautiful addition to your home, but a functional, dynamic space in which to make lasting memories. Selfbuildanddesign.com /JULY 2022 27

EXTERIOR Ubuntu is in a stunning location, surrounded by fields. A micro clover lawn has been planted to create a wildlife-friendly garden area and, more recently, a wildlife pond was dug out by the outside decking, providing a wonderful feature, and bringing hours of pleasure. 28 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

READER HOME NEW BUILD IN BRIEF PROJECT Stick- built timber frame LOCATION West Dorset PLOT COST £800,000 SPENT £613,824 WORTH £2m+ Out of Africa First-time selfbuilder Sue Wardell recalls how she built a new timber-frame home with her partner Mark Oppe on an idyllic Dorset plot, influenced by her time in Africa and Asia. STORY: SUE WARDELL PICTURES: TOM SCOTT My partner Mark Oppe and I never planned to build our own house – it wasn’t a lifelong dream. We moved to Dorset from West Africa where I was working for the African Development Bank. Mark had been retired for 10 years, and when I finished work there was no need for us to have a London base, so we decided it would be lovely to live in the country. We moved to west Dorset in March 2016 and quickly fell in love with the area, realising we wanted to base ourselves here permanently. We started looking for our forever home, somewhere close to the coast but not in the tourist belt, and close to shops for basic provisions. Beaminster, one of the prettiest small towns in the South West, offered us all this and more so we started looking for properties there. One day an estate agent took me to see Minterne. It was a rather sad place. The original small A-frame house built Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 29

DESIGN \"We were very keen to make the house as energy A generous efficient and self sufficient as possible.\" floorplan allows most of the in the early 60s had been extended several times over flow and space without increasing the footprint. accommodation the years and ended up a rather rambling, disconnected Our renovation plans had to change, however, when to be positioned structure, with windows split in two by partitions, on the ground endless corridors and lots of dark areas. In the en suite we discovered that the quality of the existing house floor. A number bathroom, a floor-to-ceiling window was positioned build was so poor that it would be futile to try and put of volumes are directly next to the toilet, in full view of the drive. it right, pushing us down the new-build route. Having clad in larch However, the location was perfect, surrounded by fields secured planning permission for renovating the existing and render, with but only a 10-minute walk into the centre of Beaminster. structure, we decided to go with a slightly modified well-positioned version of that plan, rather than start from scratch. shading, We were fortunate that some friends specialise in welcoming turning tired 60s houses into bright, modern living This perhaps reflects how Mark and I never had outdoor spaces spaces. We contacted them and they agreed the any ambitions to design and build our own home and unified property had potential, so we decided to buy it. from scratch – getting the building finished and interiors. Each moving to live in this wonderful spot was more room is colour- Our initial plan was to renovate the existing important than going back to the drawing board. drenched in structure, but the A-frame wasted a lot of potential one emulsion living space so with the help of our designer friend Tony We were very keen to make the house as energy efficient shade, including Browne we came up with a design that modified the and self sufficient as possible so we engaged an eco the woodwork. existing building using mono-pitch roofs at different consultant to give us independent advice on navigating angles to break up the roofline. This meant removing the range of viable options. We desperately wanted to the top storey from the 60s extension to improve live in a home that was carbon neutral. Having spent my entire working life with some of the poorest societies in 30 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

READER HOME NEW BUILD the world and seeing the battle many people face just to IN DETAIL get food on the table, send their children to school and have a roof over their heads, I am acutely aware of how PROJECT Lighting Astro Lighting: astrolighting.com climate change has exacerbated their challenges and Design Design Project Partnerships: Hall lighting Stuart Lamble Designs: made what is already a titanic struggle even harder. stuartlambledesigns.com [email protected] Switches and sockets Given the opportunity to build our own home, our Builder HM Construction UK: Schneider Lisse: se.com only option was to make it as climate friendly as possible. We installed maximum insulation to achieve Passivhaus hmconstructionuk.co.uk STRUCTURE standards, and an air source heat pump, solar PV panels Plumbing BA Chant Plumbing & Roof Danosa single-ply membrane with a storage battery, a borehole for water, and an MVHR fitted by Protec Roofing Southern: system. (Last winter we didn’t turn on the heating once). Heating: bachantplumbing.co.uk Electrician Eco Electrix: ecoelectrix.co.uk protecroofingltd.co.uk We also didn’t use a single skip. We had a house- Windows and external wrecking party and all of the usable building materials FIXTURES AND FITTINGS doors Idealcombi triple-glazed: and fittings from the demolished house were given Ecodan air source heat pump away, including showers, bathrooms, windows and Evergreen, Lyme Regis: evergreensw.co.uk Idealcombi-direct.com even the staircase, which some neighbours took to MVHR Zehnder Comfoair: zehnder.co.uk Insulation Kingspan: kingspan.com their house in France. Everything else was crushed and Photovoltaics Callidus: callidus.co.uk used as hardcore for the car parking and the deck. LANDSCAPING Bathroom tiles Mandarin Electric gate Peter Meyrick: We kept in touch with the planners while our planning Stone: mandarinstone.com application was being considered, and they were Flooring Porcelanosa: porcelanosa.com madebypetermeyrick.com supportive and positive. So too was the local council. I Kitchen and utility units Decking Saige Decking supplied visited all our close neighbours early on to share our ideas, Basically Trade: basicallytrade.co.uk and kept them informed of progress through my blog. Kitchen worktop Somerset by Composite Decking UK: Worktops: somersetworktops.co.uk compositedecking.co.uk Dining room lampshades Helena Barrowcliff, TMO lighting: .tmolighting.com Wildlife pond The Pondscapers: thepondscapers.com Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 31

READER HOME NEW BUILD In late September we discovered we needed to The build have a bat survey, by which time it was too late to do the day/night emergent survey – these can only The house has been built with take place between May and September. We were a highly insulated stick-built on tenterhooks through the winter as we waited for timber frame, built onsite the survey to be carried out the next spring. Had we by HM Construction. The discovered a maternal roost it would have delayed house occupies the same building until the following winter, but fortunately we footprint as the previous found we only had solitary bats visiting our attic so we house and uses existing were able to proceed with building works, providing a foundations. It achieves new area for bats to roost in the future. We did this by near Passivhaus standards. modifying the roof structure of the existing carport. It is clad externally in larch with rendered sections. The work was carried out by HM Construction of Chard, who we selected through a tender process using the FMB South West list and personal recommendations, creating a shortlist of six builders. Timber frame was our chosen building method and we considered several options including factory- made panels and SIPs, but during conversations with our builders Phil Higgs and Lee Massey we were convinced that with their skill and experience, a timber frame stick-built on site was right for us. The builders are gifted carpenters and so the frame progressed quickly to start with, completed in just two and a half months. Because we built on the footprint of the original house, we were able to use the existing foundations, which required some remedial work including rebuilding some foundation walls and upgrading the drainage, but essentially we saved time and money by removing one of the major stages of the project. When Covid struck, our designer Tony Browne, who was also our project manager, informed us that the site was being closed due to lockdown. This was a real blow, but not unexpected. However, a few days \"Because we built on the footprint of the original house, we were able to use the existing foundations.\" FIRST GROUND FLOOR FLOOR 32 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com FLOORPLAN Built on the floorplan of the previous home on the site, the majority of Ubuntu's accommodation is on the ground floor, including two studies that can also act as guest bedrooms. An open-plan kitchen/ dining/living area occupies the left side of the plan, and a separate cosy living room provides a quiet hideaway. The first floor has two bedrooms including the triple-aspect master suite.

Bespoke Oak Frame Buildings Homes | Extensions | Garden Rooms | Garages 01686 688 000 | [email protected] | welshoakframe.com

READER HOME NEW BUILD Sue's top tips Try not to live on site, keep neighbours well informed of plans and process, and build a strong relationship with your builders. Most of all, have fun! It is such a privilege to build your own home – don’t let the problems that will inevitably emerge get you down. Keep the bigger picture in view and you will find it incredibly enjoyable. KITCHEN \"You read many horror The kitchen units were stories of building projects designed to look like but ours went like a dream.\" furniture, with a wood-effect later, Phil Higgs informed me that they could keep our finish. It was site open after all, as it was isolated, large enough to a challenge work in line with Covid protocols for the construction to find the industry and, most importantly, as I had pre-ordered solid surface supplies they had enough materials to keep work worktop to fit going – including plaster, which was rapidly becoming the large island. the toilet paper of the construction industry. 34 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com This was brilliant news for us and, although work slowed down as trades for the second fix had to work sequentially rather than in parallel, it meant the build was not significantly delayed. You read many horror stories of building projects, but ours went like a dream. Every problem became an opportunity – such as when we realised there was a major issue with the mains water supply, so we put in a borehole and now benefit from our own spring water. Working with HM Construction was brilliant – they had a great team of permanent staff and contractors and it felt as though everyone was invested in the project and took personal satisfaction and pride in delivering our build. We could not have asked for more from our builders. Our house design was largely governed by how we could retrofit the existing structure. Had we built a house from scratch, we would have incorporated far more influences from my life overseas – such as the wonderful internal courtyards in Tunisian and Moroccan houses that ensure all rooms have

THE BUDGET HM Costs including subcontractors £25,500 demolition and substructure Main building works including timber frame, £278,100 plumbing and electrics £27,038 Plaster boarding and plastering Decking and sunshding £1,528 External works £17,500 Internal decoration £6,500 Carport £6,000 SUBTOTAL £362,166 Other fixtures & fittings Borehole £6,958 Danosa roof including fittings for solar panels £26,250 Solar PV and batteries £10,212 MVHR £4,614 Triple-glazed windows and doors £23,720 Cladding £16,576 LPG fire including fitting £3,829 Kitchen and utility units, excluding worktops £29,047 Kitchen worktops £1,781 Flooring throughout, excluding bathrooms £7,229 Bathroom tiles £4,055 Wardrobes excluding fitting £5,343 LOUNGE Radiators and towel rails £777 The open- plan part of White goods £8,840 the ground floor has a Bathroom fittings £11,784 lounge area with a picture Electricity connection £658 window. All the downstairs Electric entrance gate including fitting £3,750 main rooms open onto SUBTOTAL £165,423 the decking. A separate Fees £79,145 snug provides Design and project management £3,010 a wonderful Bat survey and licence £1,200 retreat. Building Control £900 Engineering £1,980 Green Box Environment Consultancy £86,235 SUBTOTAL £613,824 TOTAL COSTS Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 35

READER HOME NEW BUILD \"Ubuntu is an African word FINAL WORD BEDROOM meaning ‘I am only okay Sue and Mark if you are okay.’ It is about What was the low point? wake up to putting the well-being of When we were told the breathtaking site would be closing views thanks others and the community because of Covid-19. to windows on ahead of personal needs.\" And the high point? three sides of Virtually everything else their bedroom. an outside space and create cooling air circulation. – we really enjoyed the The master Instead, we positioned all the downstairs rooms to entire experience. bedroom has open onto the deck and pond so in the summer there his and hers is a wonderful blend of indoor/outdoor living. What did you enjoy most? dressing areas Working as a team with all and an en suite. We also considered rain chains found in Sri the HM staff and contractors Lanka instead of downpipes, and glass skylights and seeing the plans turn Sue set up a in the showers, to create the feeling of showering into this beautiful home. blog to share under the stars and sun that I had in South Africa, What was your greatest her experience but these options would take us over budget. of the build at: extravagance? suewardell.com However, we have managed to include a few White goods – including elements inspired by my life and work overseas. We and windows – both installed douche sprays in the main bathrooms, which a boiling water tap. came in at £20K each, I always found more hygienic during my time living And your best buy? which is remarkable given and working in Asia, and colour schemes and flooring That has to be the kitchen the quality and style. were inspired by our stays in places like Sri Lanka. What do you like most about One day on a walk up Lewesdon Hill, the highest your house? point in Dorset, I had the idea that we should name The light and calmness. the house Ubuntu. This is an African word, meaning ‘I am only okay if you are okay.’ It is about putting the Any future plans? well-being of others and the community ahead of None beyond working personal needs. For me it really sums up the whole Covid situation and my time spent in Africa. on the garden. 36 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

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HOMES EXTENSION & REMODEL Out of the ″A t the start of the project, our brief ordinary was for ‘anything but an ordinary side-return extension', and our With its oriel window, glazed roof and architects delivered everything large pivot door, the extension to this we wanted and more,” says Jamie Victorian terrace is far from ordinary. Feldman. “Their design ideas have certainly added the wow factor, and the result is a unique home we are STORY: DEBBIE JEFFERY PHOTOGRAPHY: FRENCH AND TYE super proud of and a space that’s a delight to live in.” EXTENSION Jamie and his partner, Darren, had previously Extending into lived in a split-level flat with a shared entrance in the side return Elephant and Castle. “We didn’t need to be in Zone has opened up 1 of London any more and wanted a larger home the rear of the with our own front door,” continues Jamie. house, creating a spacious The couple had prior experience of adapting kitchen/diner and renovating properties, including their holiday with a large pivot home by the coast, where they built a two-storey door, an oriel side extension, so taking on another project was window and a possibility. “We spent a year looking at houses glazed skylight. and offered on two others which fell through, each time at the last minute,” says Darren. “Then in 2019 we found this three-storey terraced house on the street where two of our friends live, so we already knew the area well. There were five students living in the house, so although it was habitable it was far from our ideal home at that point and had been on the market for some time. It meant that we were able to make a lower offer, which was accepted.” Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 39

HOMES EXTENSION & REMODEL ORIEL WINDOW \"We got to know everything about The rear the building…it made us change extension has our original design and spend an oriel window where Jamie longer on fleshing out the details.\" and Darren's cockapoo Jamie and Darren bought the house in November Rupert loves 2019 and intended to begin work the following spring, to enjoy the but the pandemic delayed the start which meant they sunshine. spent longer living in the house than expected. “The extra time meant we got to know everything about FLOORPLAN the building: where the sun hits at different times of day and even where our cockapoo, Rupert, prefers to The ground floor has been extended and be,” Jamie explains. “It made us change our original reconfigured to create a kitchen/diner to the design and spend longer on fleshing out the details.” rear, opening into the double living space. A WC was also added. On the first floor there The two reception rooms on the ground floor had already been combined by a previous owner, with a are now the main bedroom, a guest room, separate kitchen/diner stretching out into the rear bathroom and utility, with a study/bedroom garden. The split-level first floor contained three bedrooms and a bathroom, with a shower room and three and en suite on the second floor. study/fourth bedroom on the second floor. “What is now our bathroom was previously a bathroom and boxroom, which we’ve combined, so now we have three bedrooms,” explains Jamie. “Instead of our original plan to have a separate dressing room, we decided to keep the second bedroom as a spare room and build open wardrobes in our bedroom.” Phase one of the project involved replacing the old single-glazed windows with new double-glazed timber sashes, as well as renovating and decorating bedrooms, with a good friend who does carpentry and general building work creating bespoke open wardrobes and shelving in plywood. The upstairs shower room was also refitted to create what would become a luxurious guest bathroom. The couple then turned their attention to remodelling and extending the ground floor. Previously, the kitchen could only be accessed down a narrow hallway, the terracotta floor tiles were freezing cold, and the kitchen cabinets were old and dated. A flimsy wooden back door FIRST FLOOR GROUND FLOOR 40 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

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HOMES EXTENSION & REMODEL KITCHEN/DINER An L-shaped kitchen and an island unit provided poor security and low garden walls meant that are complemented by the polished the rear of the house felt overlooked, with little privacy. concrete floor and sintered stone worktops, selected for their distinctive “We wanted to open up the ground floor to create an and individual markings. A wine fridge and open-plan living space, which included finding room hob were incorporated into the island. for a toilet,” says Darren, who works from home in the top-floor study. “We enjoy entertaining, and having a downstairs WC was a must-have for our project.” Jamie Googled ‘south-east London architects’ to research potential practices, and the following week Alex Rider, of Rider Stirland Architects, visited the house to discuss the brief and develop a concept design, working closely with Jamie and Darren to fulfill their aspirations. “We were very impressed and loved the practice’s enthusiasm,” says Darren. “We knew we didn’t want a standard box on the back of the house with bifold doors, because they are everywhere. Apart from that, and the wish for a concrete floor, we allowed Alex the freedom to design something unique.” An L-shaped extension filling in the wasted side-return passage, along with internal alterations, provided the opportunity to create a series of linked spaces across the ground floor, designed so that the Victorian rooms, with their high ceilings and original features, would open into a bright and texturally rich contemporary kitchen. The rear extension features a large pivot door, an oriel window, and a fully glazed roof to flood natural light into the kitchen/diner and help create a dramatic contrast to the darker, more retrospective living spaces. The house dates to the early 1900s, standing within a Conservation Area, and the design was tweaked to meet the planning committee’s requirements. A proposed curved wall was replaced by a straight one, to reduce impact on the neighbours’ right to light, but a beneficial outcome of this alteration was that the kitchen ceiling could be maintained at the original height, with one section of roof slanting down to 2.4 metres at the boundary, to meet height restrictions imposed by Southwark planners. 42 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

“Our main contractor - Sam of Uffington Developments - was well-priced and paid such attention to detail in the tender,” says Jamie. “He constructed the side and rear extension, landscaped the garden, reconfigured the ground floor, and built our new cloakroom, as well as the upstairs utility and bathroom – treating the project as if it were his own. He even did some research into the history of the house and decorated internally. We were so impressed.” At the start of the pandemic, prior to the build, Jamie and Darren decamped to their house by the Kent coast and were there when the country went into lockdown. “Noone was allowed to travel, so we stayed there for IN DETAIL PROJECT Pivot door, oriel window Architect Rider Stirland Maxlight: maxlight.co.uk Architects: riderstirland.com Builder Uffington Developments: Roof light Glazing Vision: uffingtondevelopments.com glazingvision.co.uk General builder/ carpenter for Phase 1 FIXTURES & FITTINGS Kitchen Roundhouse: Paul Beauchamp roundhouse.org.uk Painter/decorators Sanitaryware Lusso Stone: lussostone.com Pure Perfection WC floor tiles Bert and May: bertandmay.com STRUCTURE Worktop County Sash windows The Stone Granite: London Sash Window Company: londonsash.com countystonegranite.co.uk Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 43

STAIRS four months,” says Jamie. “Building work in London A new oak started in January 2021, with the demolition and major staircase has structural alterations. As the only way to reach the old been installed, kitchen was along a narrow hallway, this was closed and the ground- off to create the downstairs toilet we needed.” floor cloakroom was designed The existing kitchen structure was demolished by Darren, who and, with no rear access for machinery, the builders chose acoustic dug the deep foundations for the new extension by wall panelling hand. London stock bricks were chosen to match the with Bert and original house, and the structural steel beams were May floor tiles. LIVING ROOM Parquet flooring was laid in the double reception room, where the fireplace was retained, and Darren’s piano takes pride of place beside a bar area. Original rooms have been decorated in darker colours to contrast with the new pale extension, fusing the qualities of historical Victorian living with modern light-filled spaces. 44 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

HOMES EXTENSION & REMODEL UPSTAIRS manoeuvred through the front window to be slid into would take the risk with the kitchen, just to get things Internal position along a scaffolding rig. The aluminium-framed moving,” says Darren. Flush, deep blue cabinets and alterations at pivot door and oriel window were installed without an island with bar stool seating were fitted, and the first-floor level incident, but the roof light was measured incorrectly polished concrete floor was then laid. This wraps up enabled the by the manufacturer, which resulted in a delay of steps to connect with herringbone parquet in the creation of several months while a replacement was made. living room, with the exposed steel beams, stone an enlarged worktops and a linear concrete pendant light in the bathroom “It was the only wrinkle in the whole project, and extension continuing the texturally rich theme. with a walk-in we ended up moving back into the house before it was shower, finished, as we already had bookings for our holiday “I’m terrible at DIY but wanted to do something on alongside a home in August, so had no choice but to live in a the project, so the builder let me knock out a single new utility building site,” says Darren. “The bathroom couldn’t be brick on the old garden shed,” laughs Jamie. “We were room. Bespoke used and the kitchen hadn’t been installed, so we ate happy to leave everything else to the professionals wardrobes and takeaway in the box room every night for weeks.” and were grateful to have such a fantastic architect shelving were and incredible builder helping us through. made for the The project reached a stalemate when the polished bedrooms, concrete floor couldn’t be laid until the roof light was “Despite the pandemic and delays, we have allowing the in place, and Roundhouse was worried about installing enjoyed the process immensely. In fact, to mark smaller room their kitchen before the other work was completed, the end of the 10-month build, I videoed Darren to be used in case of damage. “Eventually we told them that we celebrating by dancing up on the kitchen counter!” for guests. FINAL WORD What was the high point Your best buy? And your top tip? Watching the huge pivot The Atlantic Lavastone Ask for a quote on a full worktop, which we sourced kitchen to benefit from door being installed. independently at 60 per the best discount, but We wanted something cent of the price. They then try to reduce the unconventional, rather had a 2.9m slab for our price by sourcing items than sliding or bifold island, which was shipped such as worktops and doors, and the weighted over from Italy and stored appliances yourself. door only needs to until we were ready. be touched with one Biggest extravagance? finger to gently close. …and the low point? Our kitchen, and the The kitchen skylight being Bert and May floor tiles wrongly sized delayed the whole project for in the WC. We did go more than a month while slightly over budget, a new one was made. partly due to needing deeper foundations. Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 45

HOMES NEW BUILD SUNNY SIDE UP First-time selfbuilders Kath and Max Gowland have replaced their small annexe with a stunning family home, arranged around a sun trap courtyard and designed with health in mind. STORY: DEBBIE JEFFERY PICTURES: IAN HASLAM 46 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com

Kath and Max Gowland had no intention IN BRIEF of building their own home, until the bungalow annexe in their garden presented PROJECT New build them with a potential problem. “After my LOCATION Yorkshire mum died, her two-bedroom bungalow COST Already owned, stood empty and we were forced to consider either moving or doing something with it,” explains Kath. (circa £450,000) SPENT £1.5m “Then the idea dawned of replacing it with a WORTH £2m+ contemporary, environmentally friendly home for our own retirement, in the area we love so much. It took a while to get Max on board, but once he thought about it, he was excited about dividing the garden.” Kath and Max have four adult children and six grandchildren, who all come to stay, so downsizing was never an option. Not for them a traditional, single-storey retirement home, either. “When the sun hits the water it really does feel like being on holiday abroad.” Selfbuildanddesign.com / JULY 2022 47

EXTERIOR Designed around a sheltered courtyard, the contemporary new house is of hybrid masonry and timber-framed construction, clad in a combination of bricks, timber and standing seam aluminium. “We are an extremely active family, which helps to keep ENTRANCE us feeling young, so our house needed to reflect this, The entrance with stairs to promote exercise rather than everything and garage being on one level,” explains Max, now 68, who holds a are configured biochemistry PhD and is the founder of a company aimed in an L-shape at improving health and well-being in the over 50s. Max arrangement still innovates new products and appears on the QVC around the channel to sell the company’s supplements, with Kath parking area, previously working as his PA and accounts manager. with new trees planted along “We’ve known our architect since he was about 12 years the driveway. of age, so there was no doubt who was going to design our new home,” explains Kath, 65. “A Christmas gift of rollerblades for our boys led to them taking up roller hockey when they were children, and we eventually set up our own club, coaching more than 100 youngsters and 48 JULY 2022 / Selfbuildanddesign.com