REMODEL

The ground floor layout for the existing home included generally large spaces, but with no consideration for their uses or their function.  Oversized rooms felt cavernous and sparse.  Living, kitchen and dining areas were separated and impractical, and with limited views to the generous garden, all space felt gloomy. All first floor bedrooms were awkwardly contained within the oversized roof void.

As well as resolving the many missed opportunities of the home, it became clear that the clients aspired for lots of opportunities to share the spaces while using them in their own separate ways, such as cooking while watching TV, or dining while reading.  

The design developed gradually to become a carefully-remodelled ground floor layout, creating an open-plan kitchen and seating / summer room, with adjacent dining area accessed by folding doors to become semi-connected.

Central to the layout, the expansive but unused secondary living room has become the dining area, generous utility, ground floor WC and dedicated route through to the ground floor bedroom suite beyond.  While fulfilling many practical objectives, this area created multiple opportunities for long, framed views through to the garden, providing visual connections and reminders of the scale of the property.

To the first floor, simple alterations and the inclusion of a dormer window have created a generous master bedroom with ensuite, dressing room areas, and space for seating.  By repositioning the staircase just 300mm, the landing area has become significantly more generous and the existing bathroom and bedroom have become usable and delightful.