REAL PROJECT EXTENSION AND RENOVATION
An extensive renovation and extension scheme has transformed this once-dated cottage into a unique family home in the countryside
PROJECT Renovation and extension of an 18th-century cottage
LOCATION Shropshire
BUILD COST Circa £120,000
ADDED VALUE Circa £170,000
BUILD TIME Three years
SIZE200m 2
Camilla Monk, an architect, and her ex-husband had only been dating for six months when he purchased a damp, dated cottage, in dire need of an overhaul, close to a village in the picturesque Shropshire countryside. Over a decade later, an extensive renovation project together with a two-storey rear extension have transformed the property into an incredible home for their four children, Leo, Caspar, Felix and Tabitha.
Here, Camilla reveals the story behind this labour of love project, and explains how they created a home which combines clever design ideas and practical, robust spaces for their family.
What were your first thoughts when you saw the property Camilla?
It was an absolute wreck — it hadn’t been touched for years, and it had a 1970s extension on the side. This was not a project for the fainthearted, but Simon fell in love with the property.
It needed to be underpinned on one side, and the old concrete pebbledash was causing damp to the sandstone and brick walls. Most people would have considered knocking it down. But as soon as we took down the ceilings we realised it had an original elm frame which must be around 300 years old. These amazing beams had all the original carpenters’ markings — you can’t knock down that kind of history.
We didn’t live in the house for a good two years, as it was such a state. We literally camped in the garden on the weekends doing work to it at the beginning.
What was the design brief?
We worked out a brief together and I treated it like a project for a client. Our aim was to open up the house to the views, to introduce as much natural light as possible, and to create a home that was child-centric (so there weren’t lots of changes in level or steep steps, for instance).
We had two or three different options on the table, based on budget, and we both fell in love with the final option.
I’ve always liked houses with split personalities. From the roadside you have a house that is pleasing and doesn’t test you. You walk through the front door and see the garden straight away and realise it’s very light, and you don’t expect that from a cottage. The rear elevation surprises people and is fun.
We also wanted the house and extension to work as a whole, not as two disparate pieces. The extension replicates the height of the original ceilings to two sides while the doubleheight central space is there to give relief from th
