The customer story
The problem
A growing family in a listed Neston building with a very small kitchen, wanting an open-plan kitchen-diner full of natural light — and needing everything to be sympathetic to the listing and tied into the existing building.
What we designed
Working within a listing means the specification is the design. We sourced high-quality like-for-like materials — timber windows and doors suited to a period property — at sensible prices, and worked through the render and roof window choices with the owners rather than deciding for them, agreeing where paying a little more got exactly the right result. A drainage problem with no rodding points was solved by designing an access point into the garage instead of inside the house or at the back door.
What we built
A rear extension creating an open-plan kitchen-diner, finished in K-rend to an approved sample with timber windows and doors matched to the period property, and roof windows sized for the light the owners wanted. Plasterers, roofers, electricians and plumbers coordinated throughout.
How it improved the way they live
A cramped kitchen is now the sociable room the family gather in, delivered sympathetically to a listed building — and the drainage access sits hidden in the garage rather than in the middle of the new floor.
In their words
The client’s own account of the project, published as they wrote it.
We decided to extend our home as we were looking to add more space to accommodate our growing family. Our former kitchen was very small and we wanted to create an open plan kitchen/diner with plenty of natural light where we could gather together with friends and family in a sociable space. Our property is listed so we needed to ensure that the new extension was sympathetic and tied into the existing building. Paul assisted us with this in sourcing high quality like for like materials, such as timber windows and doors, at reasonable prices, perfect for our period property.
Certain items such as the render to the outside and the number of roof windows were discussion points but with Pauls help and experience we agreed to pay a little more to get exactly what we wanted. The K rend to the outside was a product we haven’t had before and we got samples of this and gave them to Paul to sort this out, which he did and we are very pleased with the result. We had an issue with drainage and a lack of rodding points so Paul had a good think about it and suggested we put one in the garage for future access rather than having an inspection point in the house or at the back door. It was a great suggestion as we have access but well hidden in the garage. The design did evolve a little as well but Paul was always helpful and patient and provided us with great advice. We definitely don’t regret going with his recommendations as it all works well.
Paul brought in plasterers, roofers, electrician and plumbers all of which were highly skilled, polite and definitely recommended. They all worked well together and the quality was excellent. Paul and his team were always on time and very clean and tidy whilst being very professional and helpful. I was amazed you can remove that much soil across the front of the house and not had it everywhere. Paul was always polite, knowledgeable, helpful and patient. He is real gem and we are very lucky to have found his services via recommendation from a neighbour. Spending such as large amount of money of our savings was daunting but Paul’s demeanour and professionalism instils confidence so you know you have made the right decision. The end result provides this.
We would definitely recommend Paul to friends and family and in fact we have recommended him to our previous neighbours who have now moved to their new house and he has since quoted an extension on their new house. The extension works exactly as I had imagined it or even better actually as the fit and finish are incredibly good.
Richard Kay
Gallery
Inside the finished home
Get in touch
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Planning something similar? Tell us what isn’t working about your home and the design team will be in touch to arrange a conversation — no obligation.