The Grange

This beautiful detached property in Berkshire harboured some enchanting historic features which were sadly hidden beneath a poorly renovated interior. The owners were keen to uncover the history of the house and to extend it sympathetically for their growing family. The house is entirely surrounded by a beautiful garden rich with flowers, ancient topiary, fruit cages and vegetable beds. Whereas the original house had stood tall looking over the garden, the new extension reaches out into the landscape, drawing your eyes to the abundant fruit trees which are framed by the strategically placed glass doors. When the doors are open, the extension feels almost like a colonnade, drawing the soft fabric of the garden into the main living space.

A single storey extension with a hipped clay tiled roof, stitches seamlessly to the original house. By aligning with the existing roof gradients and using perfectly matched reclaimed roof tiles, the roof appears as a continuation of the original house. The contrasting exposed brick walls, set back from the main façade create a subservient and gentle addition to the original. A french reclaimed brick was carefully sourced to retain the antiqued feeling of the old house. The new open plan kitchen and living space has a high vaulted ceiling which floods the extension with light and creates a feeling of space and openess. Double steel framed doors on two sides make the extension feel light and airy and very much part of the garden. An exposed brick wall runs the length of the kitchen, exposing the raw materials to the inside, creating warm texture and colour. A long stone topped island is the centre piece of the room, drawing the family in for food and conversation. This is flanked by an original inglenook fireplace, as a reminder of the original fabric.

From the kitchen, the rest of the ground floor was reconfigured to provide a rational series of spaces and an intriguing route through the historic house. The low ceiling of the newly placed dining room forms a wonderful contrast with the adjacent vaulted kitchen creating an intimate family space where the history of the house can be enjoyed. The practical support spaces of the Boot Room, WC and playroom all open on to a large and inviting hallway which draw you in from the main entrance. These spaces showcase the original wooden beams, side by side with bespoke cabinetry and a deep colour pallet, to embed you into the warm, working heart of the house.

Upstairs, all the bedrooms and bathrooms were sensitively furnished, enhancing the cottage like character but with a contemporary twist. Hand poured artisan tiles bring colour and pattern to the cool bathroom spaces and further bespoke cabinetry provide attractive and practical storage space for the growing family. A close collaboration with the client meant that every detail of the house, from the form of the architecture to the colour of the cupboards was carefully considered both to meet their precise needs but also to unify the design as a whole.