BEFORE & AFTER HOUSE
BY TRANSFORMING THE LAYOUT OF A THIRTIES HOUSE, ALONG WITH LOFT AND REAR EXTENSIONS, SERIAL RENOVATORS PAUL CLARKSON AND PHIL THOMAS CREATED A FOREVER FAMILY HOME
Living area
‘This is our daytime hang-out space, whether preparing food, reading the paper or the kids relaxing with their devices.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
The Ikea sofa has slipcovers by Bemz. For similar pendant, try Caravaggio matt pendant, £254, Holloways of Ludlow. Try Ted Todd for similar flooring
W hen Paul Clarkson and Phil Thomas were looking for a new project, they wanted to find something with enough potential to create a spacious family home for their three children. ‘When we spotted this place, we got the sense that we could make something really special,’ says Paul. And this three-bed semi was in the perfect location. ‘We wanted to stay in the area as the schools are close by. The reason to buy this one was the garage - it gave us the opportunity to extend on the side as well as on the back.’
As Phil explains, ‘The house hadn’t been lived in for 30 years. There was no kitchen or working bathroom. When the sale went through we lived in nearby rented accommodation and the renovation started as soon as we got the keys.’
PLANNING STAGES
‘The loft conversion is permitted development, which came through first so the builders started on that and gradually worked their way down while we got planning permission for the rest,’ Phil continues. ‘A local architect helped us get through planning. I did a lot of the design work, drawings and internal layouts myself and we engaged a local builder.’
WORK STARTS
‘The whole building was pretty much stripped back to brick and we were left with a shell,’ says Phil. ‘Then the garage and existing side extension was knocked down, the side rebuilt and taken up to two storeys. Next, the back of the house came out for the rear extension, which required planning permission as it runs across the back of the original garage as well as the house.’
The layout was rejigged on the middle floor. The couple’s aim was to increase the size of the box room bedroom and incorporate an en suite in the guest bedroom. They also knocked through the original side wall to add a walk-in shower to the family bathroom in th
