contemporary redesign project

before

rear exterior The had never been lived in and was an ideal blank canvas for the couple to bring their plans to life

fact file

The Owners Lorraine Kerr, a stay-at- mum, lives here with her husband David, ‘Extending up who jointly owns an IT business, and their daughter Leah, two The PROPERTY A detached five- house and out has built in 2008 The LOCATION Glasgow, Scotland transformed WHAT THEY SPENT The couple bought the house for £350,000 in 2010 and have spent around £285,000 on extending it. It has recently been valued at £635,000. our property’ Lorraine and David Kerr have turned an new facade A specialist company hired through ordinary new-build house into a modern the builders rendered the house using K Rend. The new accoya timber panelling home with individual style and character is from Russwood and is framed in zinc Words Mairi MacDonald Photographs Douglas Gibb

hile looking for their future As the house had already been on family home, Lorraine the market for two years, the builder W and David Kerr came across was happy for Lorraine and David to rear garden a house built by a local builder two years buy it for a slightly reduced price. ‘As Clerestory earlier, which had never been sold or lived soon as we had started looking for a around the top of the extension make a design in. ‘The house didn’t grab my attention house, we’d put our two-bedroom flat, statement and flood the when I saw it on the , but the size which we had lived in for three years, space with light. These and location made it worth a look,’ says on the market,’ recalls Lorraine. ‘But windows and the bi-fold to the extension Lorraine. ‘When we went to view it, we as a result of the economic downturn, and the are all from immediately loved the feeling of space the property market in Glasgow was Duration Windows. Earth inside. It had a large, light double-height very slow, and we had a decision to Angels landscaped the garden to work well , five double , a , make. Did we wait until the flat had with the new open-plan a large open-plan family , a formal sold and risk losing the house, or did space. Red seat cushions and a shade from B&Q , a double and a garden, we stretch ourselves and have mortgages give old outdoor with plenty of potential to be improved.’ on two properties? As chance would u an update contemporary redesign project old kitchen before Right Although the open-plan kitchen existing kitchen was A large island breakfast bar is the focal new and unused, point of the space. The Royal Oak Lorraine and David island and base units and the Yeso felt that it was too units are all from Porcelanosa, small for the size which also supplied the Corian of the house worktops and Siemens appliances old Below The décor needed a refresh to work with the new open-plan kitchen space. The couple also decided to create a doorway in the wall between the living room and dining/ family area, to link the spaces better

seating area Below Pedralbes porcelain tiles in Gris, from Porcelanosa, provide a neutral backdrop to the bold sofa from Instyle Sofas and Maze wallpaper by Harlequin from Gilding the Lily. The Boda pendants are from Pagazzi and the blinds design tip were made to measure by Shades A suspended panel can be a great device to bridge two areas with different ceiling heights, linking them together to improve the flow of space, while also providing a level surface for task

have it, we only had to wait one month into reality. ‘We had employed the services intention was to have the loft ready in time floor for the new staircase up to the loft until the flat was sold.’ of Glasgow architect Karen Parry, but we for the baby’s arrival, so that it could be as we were gaining a room upstairs,’ says Although Lorraine and David loved their were waiting for the sale of the company used as a main living room away from the Lorraine. ‘The rest of the space in the fifth new home, they knew from the day they to go through before we committed to the work in the rest of the house. bedroom works well as a home office area.’ bought it that there were several issues that builders,’ explains Lorraine. ‘As soon as we With no access to the loft from inside The conversion of the enormous 85- they wanted to address. The kitchen felt too were in a position to go ahead with the the property other than a small hatch on square-metre loft took more than four small in proportion to the rest of the house, work, I also discovered that I was pregnant. the landing, the builders knocked a hole months to complete, with large amounts the flow of the downstairs needed Suddenly, time wasn’t on our side and we through the outside wall at loft level. of insulation added to ensure it was a addressing and the loft was an enormous, needed to get going with the project.’ Scaffolding was erected and a ladder was comfortable living space. At one end of the undeveloped space with lots of potential As soon as planning permission had put up and taken down daily for the space is a with a large drench but no proper access. Added to this, the been granted without any problems, builders to have access from outside. This shower and Jacuzzi bath, WC and twin exterior rendering was poorly finished the builders set to work. By this time, meant that they could complete the work sinks. A built-in dressing room sits between and the iron on the outside of Lorraine was four months pregnant and in the loft without having to go through the en suite and large bedroom, and there the house were not to their taste. the projected timescale for the completion the main house. Access to the loft from is a living room with an integrated cinema With fate playing a timely hand, David of the job was six months. Knowing that inside the house was left until last, and system at the other end. The six existing sold a portion of his IT company to an the new baby was going to come home to a involved installing a staircase leading up rooflights were replaced with 16 larger American firm and the couple were then building site, Lorraine and David arranged from the fifth bedroom. ‘We felt that we designs to bring in more light, so the able to turn their vague plans for the house for the builders to convert the loft first. The could sacrifice a bedroom on the middle had to be strengthened significantly to u

66 APRIL 2014 REAL REAL HOMES APRIL 2014 67 contemporary redesign project dining room design tip Right Pocket doors Informal room dividers, slide into the wall so such as open shelving units or that the kitchen and dining/ a double-sided wood-burning can become one stove and log store, are ideal big space – try Eclisse for separating two different for a similar design. Harlequin Flint functions, such as dining and wallpaper frames the living, within an open- doorway. Warm wood plan space finishes create a cosy feel, with flooring from Howdens and a table and chairs from Sterling Furniture. The bookcase from Oak Furniture Land divides the room into two separate spaces

living room Below A palette of primary colours teamed with white gives a modern look to the space. The far wall is painted in Steel Symphony by Dulux. For similar leather sofas and a rug, try Harveys. The coffee table is from Sterling Furniture. A mirror from Pagazzi sits above the from The Fireplace Company

allow for these extra openings. At the gable end, double bi-fold doors with integrated blinds were fitted in the hole that had originally been made to allow the builders access from outside, offering views over the . With the loft conversion complete, the builders then set to work on extending the kitchen with a modern single-storey structure designed by architect Karen Parry. Made from rendered brick, with a zinc roof, the extension has windows on both sides in addition to clerestory windows to maximise the internal light. Folding-sliding doors allow easy access to and from the garden. As the kitchen space was now more than double its original size, Lorraine and David chose large contemporary-style units to fill it. ‘There is already a dining room directly off the kitchen, so we didn’t feel the need to have another table in the space. Instead, we chose a large island with a breakfast bar down one side. Together with the L-shaped sofa at one u

REAL HOMES APRIL 2014 69 contemporary redesign project old loft space Right The loft was before a large area with lots of potential and existing rooflights, but there was no proper access from the main house

loft bedroom A high ceiling gives the bedroom a spacious feel. The bed is from The Living Room and the floral feature wallpaper is from B&Q

design tip Stripe patterns or textures can help change the apparent proportions of a room and help to balance them out. Narrow stripes on the floor running the shortest width of a room home cinema Above Half- divide make the space look up the converted loft. wider and shorter An audio/visual system from Activate Audio Visual has been fitted throughout the house, with a home cinema end of the room, it makes for a very white Corian worktops and light floor Leah spent the first few months of her which slide away into the wall, between the in the loft. The new rooflights are from sociable space,’ says Lorraine. tiles also help with this.’ life living between the bedrooms and the kitchen and the dining room and between Velux and the carpet To prevent the large rectangular island With Leah born just as the kitchen loft space, which had become a comfortable the living areas,’ explains Lorraine. ‘In is from Jem Carpets. from making the room look long and was being installed, the builders were and warm makeshift living room away effect, this creates one large living space.’ Try Harveys for a similar sofa. The coffee table is narrow, the Kerrs chose floating kitchen under huge pressure to finish the work. from the noise and dust, with a sofa, The décor throughout the house is from The Living Room units in two different shades to extend ‘In hindsight, we should have moved out , microwave and fridge. simple and contemporary, with most the perception of floor space. LED lighting while the work was being done, but at When the loft conversion and kitchen rooms decorated in neutral colours and light-filled space both below the floating units and above the time we thought we could manage,’ were nearly completed, all that was left to accessorised with strong, brightly coloured Left Walls painted in Rum Caramel 5 by the island canopy help add to the effect. admits Lorraine. ‘It did mean I was there do inside the house was to create a double statement pieces. In the hallway and Dulux create a calming ‘We also wallpapered the original kitchen to oversee the builders and make decisions, doorway between the family area and kitchen, Lorraine has chosen to decorate feel and visually link area to bring a bit of texture and interest but it was a dirty, messy job, when all I living room. ‘David and I wanted a better feature walls in fun, up-to-date wallpaper. the different areas of the loft. The chests are to the room, and painted the rest white to really wanted to do at the time was enjoy flow throughout the downstairs rooms, ‘When we moved the furniture from our from The Living Room maximise the light,’ says Lorraine. ‘The the countdown to my baby arriving.’ so we asked the builders to fit pocket doors, old two-bedroom flat into the house, we u

70 APRIL 2014 REAL HOMES REAL HOMES APRIL 2014 71 5- THE PLANS point plan ground floor before ground floor after Planning a

Kitchen loft conversion Utility Utility S tore Kitchen S tore Starting a project? Follow this useful guide Shower Shower room room from consumer expert Jennifer Newton

Dining Dining Hallway room Hallway room Builder, a builder may provide a architect or plans drawing service from 1 a structural engineer – try Living Living loft company? Living Living room room A specialist company can Fmb.org.uk, Ratedpeople. room room give a free quote, with com or Mybuilder.com. advice on how to use the Depending on your design, space, from adding you may have to see an first floor before fIRST floor after to issues, before architect (.com). you pay for drawings. For This will be costly, but will

Bedroom less complex conversions, mean state-of-the-art design. Bedroom Bedroom Bedroom

homeowners now working from Bedroom Best use of space? A full conversion with a home, and adult children living En Void En Void 2luxurious bedroom and en suite at home for longer, converting ended up with lots of rooms and space suite suite

en suite - Dress ing Above Also within the - Dress ing Bath- Bath- to fill, so we started with almost a blank room room is a great way to add value, but the space into a home office, loft space, the master canvas. A couple of pieces – such as the en suite includes including a bathroom will be bedroom or more living space Bedroom Bedroom dining room table, chairs and wall unit – feature panels covered Bedroom Bedroom more expensive. With many could be more cost-effective. came with us from the flat, but we bought in Venis Pietra Slate tiles and Natal Marfil most of it to suit this house,’ she says. floor and wall tiles. Krion basins add With the aim of de-cluttering the rooms second floor after Red tape issues completion certificate. If of audio/visual (AV) equipment, David contemporary style Most loft conversions you own a semi-detached and Gamadecor Tokyo The house was a 3are possible using permitted or , or a flat, had it all moved to a central AV unit Wenge vanity units new-build when the soften the look. All the housed in one of the upstairs cupboards. couple bought it, Home development rights, but then you will need a party fixtures and fittings Home network and AV cabling was but they wanted to cinema there are restrictions – see wall agreement, which can are from Porcelanosa re-organise the layout established throughout the building, to suit them and Planningportal.gov.uk for be as easy as asking your which enable the couple to control the add space. The loft the full list. The work will neighbours to sign a letter has been converted equipment from any room in the house. into a master suite Bedroom also need to comply with approving the work (Gov.uk To complete the contemporary style and cinema room, building regulations. A loft details what it should state Dressing and blend in the kitchen extension with the kitchen has been company or builder can and what to do if refused). extended and new room the rest of the house, Lorraine and David doors have made organise this, but make If they don’t agree, it may had the exterior re-rendered with a finer, the ground floor En suite sure that you receive the mean paying for a surveyor. lighter render. They fitted new glass more open-plan balustrades to the front and rear of the main property and also substituted the Practical boiler to add an en suite. Also existing weathered wooden panel facings considerations think about how much space to with a more durable and attractive wooden 4Plumbing is important – will your sacrifice for the staircase. Finally, panel framed in zinc. ‘The removal of the THE COSTS central heating system cope? If a cost-effective conversion is old rendering was one of the worst parts THE CONTACTS you have a tank in the loft, your possible if there is enough head- Architect Karen of the renovation,’ recalls Lorraine. ‘The Building work £130,000 Parry Architects, system may need to be changed. height, but planning permission drilling started at 8am and finished at Kitchen £42,000 0141 561 5694, You may have to upgrade your is usually needed for box dormers. Karenparryarchitect. 5pm, and lasted for two weeks. It was so Rendering of garage com noisy that two-month-old Leah and I had and house £30,000 Garden design and to leave the house and spend our time Audio/visual system £20,000 maintenance Earth and complexity. A home- Angels, 0141 357 The costs visiting friends and family. Garden £20,000 6308, E-angels.co.uk You will need around improvement or personal ‘Despite it being an extremely stressful Furniture and Windows and bi-fold 5£15,000 to £40,000. Loft loan is an easy, quick way nine-month project, it has been worthwhile,’ shower area decoration £13,000 doors Duration company Econoloft says to raise funds, but it will Right A slimline pillar Windows she continues. ‘Our house is exactly how we separates the wet Bathroom £12,000 Audio/visual system a Velux conversion starts usually be cheaper to add want it now, so all we need to do is enjoy it room-style shower £12,000 Activate Audio Visual from £18,000 and a dormer the cost to your mortgage. Kitchen, as a family. When Leah grows up, she will area from the rest Architectural fees £6,000 conversion from £26,000, Check with your lender of the en suite. The and tiles Porcelanosa be none the wiser about the chaos during shower and WC are Total £285,000 Flooring Howdens, but prices vary with size or a mortgage broker. the first few months of her life!’ from Porcelanosa Jem Carpets

72 APRIL 2014 REAL HOMES for stockist information see page 149 REAL HOMES APRIL 2014 73