Rose Cottage Extension Leicestershire
Rose Cottage, Leicestershire
The Brief
Our clients live in a conservation area in Leicestershire and wanted a way of extending and remodelling their rural cottage to accommodate their whole family. At the same time they wanted their home to compliment the surrounding heritage architecture.
Our Solution
We extended to the rear of the property and combined the retained cottage with the large garden. This created social space for the family and connected the existing space to the abundant nature in the large rear garden.
Heritage Architecture
Working in a Conservation Area
Swain architecture have a lot of experience working in conservation areas and work with local planning officers to achieve planning permission in challenging locations.
Blending Traditional with Contemporary
Appropriate scale of buildings and the materials they are built in are aspects of architectural design we are sensitive to at Swain Architecture. At Rose Cottage we chose a pitched roof to the upper level and specified reclaimed brick and wood façades externally so the new building blended in with the existing. We hope you agree that this is contemporary and sensitive architecture.
A Family Home
Space for Everyone
Connecting to a modest village cottage, our challenge was to create a master suite as well as three bedrooms, including one en-suite. By opting for vaulted ceilings on the first floor we retained the intimate nature of the original cottage and creating an extension that was sensitive in scale and form.
Connected to Nature
At the ground level, full width glazing frames the large garden. This introduces lots of light to the interior as well as providing an amazing view of the large cottage garden.
Do you have a heritage property you’d like to turn into a family home?
Swain Architecture has extensive experience working with planning authorities to ensure sensitive development within conservation areas. Whether you’re raring to knock down walls, or taking your first tentative steps towards a new space, we’d love to hear about your project. Bringing inspiration, robust design practice and plenty of experience with us, we transform spaces into something you can enjoy for years to come.
What did the clients think?
“Izzy understood exactly what we wanted. The old house was tricky with lots of small dark rooms and awkward spaces. Now the flow is so much better and the rooms larger and brighter. There’s a good balance of quirky old spaces and modern new spaces! We have floor to ceiling glass running across the entire back of the house- couldn’t connect any better to nature or be any lighter. It’s a real wow factor in the house.”
The owners of Rose Cottage, Leicestershire
Stoneycroft, a new-build family home in Derbyshire
Stoneycroft, Derbyshire
The Brief
Our clients bought a rare plot in a popular Derbyshire village with rolling countryside views. Their brief was to design a home for a family with grown children who all live busy lives and want a space they can enjoy together, while also providing a level of flexibility and space. The family also own a company that specialises in industrial buildings and wanted to put this expertise to use by building by using a steel framed building.
Our Solution
Working within the context of a rural village we designed a series of buildings that step down into the landscape, following the topography of the land. We designed a shallow plan building, which lends itself to steel framed construction. Aesthetically this design is reminiscent of traditional, brick built agricultural buildings found in this area.
Although the house is, in essence large, the design of ‘a collection of buildings’ conceals the scale within the streetscene and provides plenty of living space that frames the amazing views.
Architecture with a Sense of Place
Our Concept: A Collection of Rural Buildings
We always try to deliver quality architecture with a design that suits a building surroundings. Having made sure we reviewed the landscape, topology and neighbouring architecture we came up with this design of a collection of rural buildings. This design offers plenty of space for a large family but from the road it looks like a series of smaller homes. The main glass entrance forms a link between buildings at the same time as offering a glimpse of rural countryside views as arrive. The amount of glazing also floods the main circulation with light, without making it a greenhouse in summer.
Working in a Rural Area
Swain architecture are experienced at working within rural areas. We liaised with South Derbyshire District Council Planning Authority and ensured that our designs work within the picturesque village and streetscene of the property.
A Family Home
Space for Everyone
Houses in villages have a reputation as being small. Our challenge was to create a large amount of family accommodation that flows naturally, offering communal areas as well as personal spaces. As well as four bedrooms, a snug, mezzanine, gym, home office, boot room and utility, give this home defined spaces and clutter free circulation. All of these extra spaces ensure that a home works and functions well.
Connected to Nature
At the rear of the property, full width glazing frames the outside space. This introduces lots of light to the kitchen/living space as well as providing an amazing view of the large garden, and beautiful rolling Derbyshire countryside.
Built Form
Architectural Detail
The materials buildings are designed with are important to us at Swain Architecture. With our design for Stoneycroft we chose local red brick and timber (typically agricultural) for the façades of the building but utilised them in a contemporary way. Our aim is to design a building that looks like it belongs in its surroundings while being authentic to its time. We hope you agree that we’ve achieved both contemporary and sensitive architecture.
What did the clients think?
“Thank you so much again for designing our house. We love living here and we couldn’t have done it without your professional approach and understanding of our requirements. We are both very grateful.”
The owners of Stoneycroft, Derbyshire
Do you have a heritage property you’d like to turn into a family home?
Swain Architecture has extensive experience working with planning authorities to ensure sensitive development within rural areas. Whether you’re raring to knock down walls, or taking your first tentative steps towards a new space, we’d love to hear about your project. Bringing inspiration, robust design practice and plenty of experience with us, we transform spaces into something you can enjoy for years to come.
Leicestershire, Extension & Renovation
The Spinneys, Leicestershire
The Brief
Our client had experienced challenges in transforming this (newly listed) Grade II Listed detached home near the National Forest in Leicestershire into their dream home. This rare example of Arts & Crafts Architecture in the rural English Midlands is well loved by local residents.
Our Solutions
As experts in working with heritage buildings we worked closely with a heritage specialist and Charnwood District Council Planning Department to design an exceptional piece of architecture worthy of sitting beside this existing building. When working with old buildings we often believe in complementing the original design rather than running the risk of creating a pastiche. Our solution was a contemporary crafted piece of architecture that satisfies the owners contemporary taste and celebrates the listed building.
Arts & Crafts Principles
The Arts & Crafts movement is known for quality materials and craftsmanship. Our design features some modern-day craftsmanship in respect to the exiting building. White handmade bricks add to the textural quality of the extension by introducing a contrast to the glazing, and a large bronze frame adds a warm depth to the existing house. Our design celebrates the uninterrupted lightweight, effortless glazing, draping internal spaces with picture-perfect views, framing the homes large, wooded garden.
Working Within a Conservation Area
We created a design that returns the existing building to its original design and proportions. We made sure we visually separated the extension from the existing building making it subservient and sensitive. This project presented significant challenges for us to achieving planning consent and our approach of working with the planning authority and within heritage best practices resulted in planning approval being granted.
West Bridgford Extension & Renovation
West Bridgford Extension & Renovation
The Brief
Our client wanted to create more space in their beautiful detached period home. They wanted to open up the back of the property, extending the ground floor and replanning the existing downstairs layout.
Our Solutions
A new large dining kitchen and family room was created as well as a practical and tidy utility room. The family living area not only benefits from floor to ceiling heritage aluminium windows, but also two large roof lights. The property benefited from a large loft which was ripe for conversion to a master bedroom suite with a contemporary twist.
An Eclectic Mix of Contemporary and Traditional
Materials
The new external elevation of this project is particularly striking. Black render on the new ground floor extension contrasts with gold zinc cladding for the new loft conversion. The design of this extension deliberately contrasts contemporary materials with the retained traditional period elevation on the street view.
Framing New Views
Large picture windows in both the new main bedrooms and en-suite make the most of the natural light and create new views over this popular suburb of Nottingham.
“We really wanted to do something different with our loft conversion. The house, although Edwardian from the front, was not as pretty from the back. We absolutely love looking at our brass coloured loft extension when the sky is blue and the sun glints on it, the colour is beautiful”
The owners of Florence Road, West Bridgford
Ivy House Bottesford Leicestershire
Ivy House, Bottesford, Leicestershire
The Brief
Swain architecture designed this project to convert an unused two-storey outbuilding and link it via a new ground floor, single-storey family room to a detached Victorian home in a Conservation Area.
Background
The owners of this beautiful rural property felt they weren’t making the most of the interior space they had with their unused two storey outbuilding being located in between the main living space and the large garden.
Our Solutions
By adding a modest single storey link from the main house to the renovated two storey outbuilding we connected the house to the garden. The new link created a large kitchen-dining-lounge space with views across the picturesque garden.
Connecting to a Better Lifestyle
It is often thought that the more space in a home the better. At Swain Architecture we believe that well planned usable space is even more important. The benefit of employing a good architect, (like Swain Architecture!) is that the entire building is considered, even if the additional space is relatively modest. Connecting well-proportioned rooms in a way that suits a client’s lifestyle and needs.
New Accommodation
The single storey link building has created a private walled courtyard centred around an original antique water pump. The new family room has connected the house with the garden with sight lines through to the very bottom of the garden which overlooks this picturesque town within a Conservation Area. New rooms include a guest bedroom, home office and room to accommodate a growing family.
Detached House Extension in Duffield
Hazelwood Road, Duffield
Background
This detached house was well cared for and in an outstanding location in the Derbyshire village of Duffield. The owners knew they wanted to bring their home into the 21st century. They were looking to make some changes for their growing family.
The Right Spaces in the Right Places
Our client had already had planning consent granted for a design drawn by another firm of architects. Whilst the design met part of their brief, they felt they were left with a property which was much too big for their needs. We were asked to review the scheme and our ideas led to a full appointment on the project.
Creating Spaces for Modern Family Life
Space Planning
Our client required five bedrooms on one floor. Having previously been scattered all over the building we were able to reconfigure the layout so that all the bedrooms could be located on the existing ground floor. Bedrooms were given their own ‘wing’ so that they were kept separate from the flow of the living spaces.
A House That Feels Like a Home
We believe the flow of a home is really important to our clients enjoyment of their space. If rooms feels like they are in the correct place and order the entire home feels right and will be a pleasure to live in.
Efficient Use of Space
Cost Effective
By redesigning the internal layout, we were not only able to make more efficient use of the footprint, we were also able to save our client significant unnecessary expenditure.
Imaginative Family Spaces
The children had their hopes for first floor bedrooms from the previous designs, we were able to please them with a mezzanine for sleepovers, much more fun!
TANK Nottingham Office Headquarters
TANK Nottingham Office Headquarters
The Brief
Our friends, the PR agency Tank wanted their new commercial office design to delight both their clients and team in equal measure. Tank’s owner Trevor, a heritage enthusiast, asked us to assist them in restoring this important Victorian building, whilst making it ‘work’ for their fast growing and dynamic business.
Our Solutions
The removal of the unattractive partitions on the first and second floors helped reinstate the original large, bright open-plan spaces in this historic period building. We created flexible studio spaces to allow for the flexible expansion of the company as well as the transformation of other rooms for use as small event spaces.
Mad Men Meets The House of Elliot
A Contemporary & Sensitive Restoration
On the ground floor we transformed the space, creating luxurious meeting spaces and even a multi-purpose reception bar for client events and team breakout space. The décor was carefully considered and reflects the building’s history. Even the toilets have had the glamorous treatment with old Victorian washstands transformed to create sink units, with a rich, deep heritage colour palette used throughout.
Interior Architecture
This has been a fascinating project for Swain Architecture and has allowed us to venture into the interior design. Working closely with our client who has a strong sense of style and passion for heritage buildings. We specified everything from décor and lighting to furnishings and materials.
West Bridgford Extension & Renovation
Ella Road, West Bridgford
The Brief
Our clients wanted to extend their traditional period home in West Bridgford. They wanted to create a new ground floor dining kitchen that linked through to the rear reception room to provide a large family living space.
Our Solutions
We were able to reconfigure the space to also provide a utility and wc. Further to the extra ground floor space, we designed a loft conversion to provide a fourth bedroom/master suite with a quiet study area overlooking this popular Nottingham suburb. By making full use of the floor space available we transformed this property into a large and versatile family home.
What did the clients think?
“We did not necessarily know what to expect being our first time working with an architect, but Izzy was full of ideas and really listened to our tastes and preferences. She was friendly, open and very patient with our endless questions.
Due to the fact that we were renting elsewhere whilst the planning/work was being done, Swain Architecture did their utmost to ensure the planning process was completed as timely as possible. Naturally, this required lots of coordination and contact – all expertly done. The open plan kitchen has been fantastic for family life and totally enhanced the way we live. It also gives us a great experience of the garden and being close to nature. We get a lot of really positive comments about the large windows in the loft extension and the pillar/plant shelves in the kitchen.”
The Owners of Ella Road
London Terrace Extension
Merton Road, London
The Brief
The clients for this London home renovation were a busy and sociable couple. They wanted to add a loft conversion to develop an extra floor while also extending the rear of the house to create new entertaining space, befitting their personality and social lifestyle.
Our Solutions
The project includes a rear garden-facing extension for an open plan kitchen and living area. The new living area now links seamlessly with the garden. The south-facing extension is built using traditional London (stock) brick, with fibre cement cladding wrapping the first floor element and includes a section of glass roof to maximise light and space as well as minimise the loss of greenery.
Spaces to Grow, Entertain and Live
Eclectic Styling
Our clients had a strong interior design sense and internally the decor is a marriage of the couple’s contrasting but complementary tastes. The completed design of this project incorporates a myriad of Scandinavian clean lines juxtaposed with more bohemian style.
What did the client think?
“We’ve really enjoyed the process of working with Izzy and the team. They took time to listen to our ideas and dreams before transforming them into our amazing new home!”
The owner of Merton Road
Leam House, Hellidon, Northamptonshire
Leam House, Northamptonshire
Background
The client appointed Swain Architecture to create their forever family home, as well as transforming a number of disused barns into holiday lets.
The Brief
The brief was to renovate the current family home, a stone farmhouse, and create five large ensuite bedrooms. The extended and renovated home needed to be ideal for a couple wanting to enjoy luxury living and have enough space to host extended family for a long weekend stay. As well as requiring more space, the clients felt that the overall flow and functionality of the home needed to be improved.
A Rural Retreat
Our Solutions
The master bedroom and study will be moved, to ensure the best light and views of the Leam fishpond, which the house overlooks. The client wanted to modernise the building, whilst retaining some of the traditional character features of the stone farmhouse, including its traditional staircase.
Sat on the edge on the village of Hellidon, the estate is still used as a working farm. Four disused barns on the site are to be renovated into functional holiday lets, converting further barns into an annex and office studio overlooking the lake. A disused threshing barn will also be converted into a party room, with character features such as a double height ceiling and exposed wood beams.
