Home > March 2010

Designed to follow the contours of its hillside setting, adjoining the sailing waters of Feock near Truro, Peter and Caroline Sharp’s Cornish home is composed of two intersecting curved elements, linked at the front by a glazed walkway and clad externally in a combination of cedar and granite.

In 1999 Sarah and Jason Schofield moved into the already converted Coombe Barn, but as their children grew older they wanted to extend again. Thanks to changes in planning regulations they realised that it might be possible to build something contemporary and in total contrast to the original.

Restoration and even new build projects using traditional materials from the local area are becoming increasingly common these days, and justifiably so. Yet few are as innovative, creative and thorough as Alison Bunning’s restoration and conversion of a cider barn on her farm in North Devon.

Kevin O’Mahony’s response to itchy feet might seem a bit over the top, but with a background in the building industry – a time-served carpenter/ joiner by training and now director of a building company – his dedication to the task has given him a stunning new home in little more than six months.

George Clarke is an award-winning architect, writer and lecturer and one of the most successful property TV presenters on UK television. George became the face of architecture at Channel 4 with The Home Show in 2008. Next month he will present Restoration Man which saves some of the most beautiful old buildings in Britain by converting them into unique homes.

One of the benefits of selfbuilding is that you can often design the garden to suit your own requirements. Although a mature site has obvious advantages when compared to a bare patch of ground it also means that careful attention will be required to ensure that the new house suits its location and fits in, rather than imposing itself on the landscape.

The original layout of this large family home in Hampstead had little connection to the small rear garden and the interior, largely made up of small, dark disjointed spaces, failed to suit the modern lifestyle of a young family. The property had remained unchanged for around 30 years, so was in desperate need of refurbishment.

It looks fabulous and lasts for decades, so it’s not surprising that hard flooring has long been a popular choice in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways. Stone, terracotta and ceramic floors are now making headway into other areas of the home as well, including the dining room, living room and even the bedroom.