thinking differently to create a spacious and stunning home.
Relocating from the by-the-sea hustle and bustle of Falmouth’s events square to sleepy nearby Swanpool. Ian and Bridget were keen to go all out to create a low-maintenance home with wow factor. And even a challenging set of planning constraints couldn’t put the brakes on their ambitions.
THE BRIEF
Raising the roof of this single-storey bungalow to create a new second floor with three double bedrooms including a master with ensuite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe was the original brief. As well as renovating and improving the downstairs interiors and changing the styling of the existing property to give a ‘New England’ appearance.
Researching the planning restrictions on this property, we soon learned that we couldn’t go up a floor as per the original brief. So we had to change tack to rethink how else we could meet the need for additional space. The double garage at the side of the property was the obvious place to start…
THE INTERPRETATION
Combining small rooms into larger living spaces added space. Increasing the pitch of the roof and removing interior ceilings to reveal vaulted roofs added even more. Inserting large gable windows opening onto green views that let the light flood in. All this added to the illusion of this being a house which extends upwards, whilst in reality mostly building sidewards.
To a couple who had worked in the construction industry and understood how plans work, using our Virtual Reality technology seemed unnecessary. But once they put on the VR goggles they were converted – instantly seeing the value of being able to walk into the new space, understanding instantly how the many changes to the original brief could work.
THE OUTCOME
Demolishing the garage allowed us to create symmetry which, combined with exterior cladding, gave the New England styling the couple craved. And an extension at the rear of the property allowed us to meet the number of bedrooms in the original brief, including the master ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
Although technically still a bungalow, the new vaulted ceilings and giant gable windows give the property the feel of a much larger house. Beautiful finishes, attention to detail and bespoke design choices like the exquisite kitchen worktop make this a real stand-out property.
