Cheltenham Arts & Crafts house moves to construction phase.

The house is large at about 3,500 sq. ft. with many beautiful original features. But there was poor communication between the principal rooms on the ground floor, and no connection to the gardens. The first and second floors had several large bedrooms, but inadequate bathroom facilities and some smaller under-utilised rooms. 

Our solution on the ground floor is to build an L-shaped single-storey extension that wraps around the northwest corner of the property.

At the back of the house, the extension contains a spacious kitchen−dining room with large windows and doors opening on to the garden. To the side is a new utility/boot room and space for a walk-in pantry, a cloakroom and a foyer that links these new spaces to the beautiful original entrance hallway and staircase, and the three receptions rooms beyond.

The first and second floors have been reconfigured and refurbished, to give three ensuite bedrooms, including a very large master, on the first floor. The second floor has three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The extension and the reorganisation of existing spaces create a much better flow throughout the house. 

The project has been developed from concept design through to planning approval and is about to go to Stage 4 technical design and tendering for construction.

Part of the tendering process is to produce a very detailed cost breakdown for our clients. We’re working closely with our quantity surveyor and our long-term interior design collaborator, Lauren Gilberthorpe, to ensure the costs are as accurate as possible. This is particularly helpful for our client at a time when prices are rising. 

Our client is also keen to incorporate energy-saving technologies wherever possible and both ground source and air source heat pumps are under consideration.