private house, HoustonThis project involved extensive works to a semi- detached villa located in the Conservation Area of Houston. In addition to requiring general modernisation (such as new electrical wiring and central heating) the 1970's rear extension containing the kitchen and bathroom just didn't work or do the original features of the house any justice.
The kitchen was relatively large but the poor layout prevented the placement of a dining table. Not ideal for a young couple who liked to entertain dinner guests. Another drawback was the position of the bathroom. From the upstairs bedrooms it was accessed down the stairs and through both the lounge and kitchen- far from ideal. Despite having a lovely private South facing garden the ground floor did not connect with it visually due to the bathroom's poor location. The key to unlocking the potential was the unused attic space. The second bedroom was moved into an attic conversion allowing the creation of a bright, generously sized bathroom on the first floor. This in turn allowed the rear of the ground floor to be opened up to create a stunning dinning kitchen. The budget was carefully managed with off the shelf fittings mixed with bespoke items and quality finishes, such as the folding sliding doors and natural stone floor, where they had maximum impact. Architectural services included dealing with the local authority to secure both Planning Permission and Building Warrant; finding a suitable contractor and liasing with them during works on site. |
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