Making your space work for you
“Ashleigh looked after the Building Regulations, additional permissions and construction drawings for the single-storey extension to our Cotswold stone cottage. He’s very friendly and easy to work with; drawing up plans from our sketch exactly as we imagined. “
Private client
Our brief
In the case of The Lodge, a delightful, detached Cotswolds cottage, small is indeed beautiful. Although it’s not a listed building, the property is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. And, as you might expect in a character property of this age, space is at a premium.
The owners had a clear vision for The Lodge. To increase the available light and living space by adding a single-storey side extension expanding the open plan kitchen and dining area to include a boot room and downstairs cloakroom – without sacrificing any of the charm of The Lodge itself.
Our solution – The Lodge
We undertook the measuring survey, created the plans and, as experts in Cotswolds architecture we took care of all the additional permissions necessary for working in an AONB. Our plans were accompanied by 3D rendered images so the clients could see exactly how the proposed extension would look on completion. Our priority was to ensure that the extension was sympathetic both to the original Lodge and the surrounding landscape.
Our plans also proposed new steel frame French doors in the reimagined dining room, and a compact patio area and fire pit directly outside the dining and kitchen area to create an alfresco dining opportunity! By constructing a few steps and a retaining wall, we altered the landscaping of the outside area further to create a higher and lower level of the garden space.
Designing in character
“I designed The Lodge extension to complement the character of the main house,” says Ashleigh. “We made sure it would blend naturally with the original materials and Cotswold stone.”
“The roof lines of the additional storey are slightly lower than the main Lodge – following the architectural principle of being ‘subservient’ to the original building, so it appears to step down very naturally in keeping with the existing roof lines.“
The extension feels like a miniature version of the house itself. Over time, as the stone naturally weathers in, the extension will look like it’s always been there.
Preserving original features
One of Ashleigh’s favourite touches in The Lodge is inside the new downstairs cloakroom.
“I incorporated part of the original wooden stairs as a unique feature of the new WC,” he explains. “We subtly altered the windows – preserving the old stone mullion and surround, to create an architectural feature in this little space.“
“It’s the little imaginative touches suggested by the property itself that can make a big difference. And as a lover of Cotswold architectural heritage and history, I love to find an innovative way to incorporate a traditional feature into a new design.”
“Thinking ‘outside the box’ is part of what we bring to every project.”
The Lodge – designed for living
The Lodge is one of our favourite examples of how a relatively modest extension can work small miracles in historic properties. Our thanks to our clients for being a delight to work with too. Whether a client has a clear vision of what they are looking to achieve from the outset or want our creative input on their ideas, we’re always happy to collaborate.
“The Lodge is like the Tardis!” Ashleigh says. “Not only did we create space for a boot room, the boiler area, a practical and stylish new kitchen – we then connected the new spaces directly to the dining room in the original building.“
Ashleigh Clarke, Founder and Senior Architect
Read another case study of a stunning extension to a traditional Cotswold property here.
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