Clementine and David Sellick's journey to a dream home began with a challenging 1950s house. Despite its potential, the property was in dire need of a transformation. The couple's growing family of four children meant their four-bedroom, 16th-century semi-detached house felt cramped. They initially sought a six-bedroom period house but faced a dilemma when their sister-in-law suggested exploring alternative options. This led them to discover a detached, 1950s, five-bedroom house with a large garden and stunning views, despite its initial lack of appeal.
The house had a history of neglect, with a single-storey extension, a poorly designed breakfast room, and a damp, uninsulated conservatory. The living space was vast, but the layout was inefficient, and the house had a strong, unpleasant smell due to a malfunctioning sewage system. The family's dining area was underutilized, and the kitchen was the heart of their home. The house's poor condition and the family's need for more space led them to embark on a renovation project.
Initially, the plan was to build on the single-storey extension, creating a two-story property with six bedrooms and five bathrooms. However, they encountered planning issues due to the house's location in a green belt and the previous owner's retrospective planning permission. This led them to reconsider their approach and utilize permitted development rights, allowing them to make alterations within stipulated limits.
The revised plans focused on creating a more functional layout while retaining the single-storey extension. The extension was transformed into four bedrooms, one en-suite, and two bathrooms, linked to the main house by an open-beamed, timber-framed dining hall. The upper floor of the main house was redesigned into a master bedroom with an en-suite and dressing room, and a guest bedroom with an en-suite. This redesign provided the family with more usable space, despite reducing the overall footprint by 17 square meters.
The renovation included exposed timber work, intricate detailing, and a focus on energy efficiency. The project faced challenges, including unstable internal walls and unexpected discoveries, which led to delays. The family temporarily moved out during the renovation, returning to live in the finished single-storey leg while the main house was renovated. The project was completed in January 2024 and won an AJ (Architects' Journal) retrofit and reuse award in 2025.
The final result is a house with less floor space but significantly more usable space. The family now enjoys a seamless flow throughout the house, with every room utilized to its fullest extent. The kitchen and dining hall are the heart of the home, and the family has embraced the modern, efficient living space. Clementine admits that the transformation is so profound that she would find it challenging to return to living in an old house.
