coombes : everitt Your Home A different kind of extension

A different kind of extension

A different kind of extension<br>
Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham

The brief

Our clients desperately needed additional space for their growing family and visiting friends. The small windows on their original Cotswold stone cottage made for a dark interior, and they challenged us to find a solution that opened up their stunning views over the surrounding countryside.

Key challenges

The original Mansard roof on the property made any loft conversion or outward extension virtually impossible. In addition, there was distinct lack of space to the the rear of the cottage, and a steep slope away from the property at the front.

Our solution

We built forward and down, excavating deep into the hillside with significant measures to stabilise the existing house and neighbouring plots. A stunning open plan kitchen/diner with a generous wraparound external dining terrace enjoys panoramic views across the Cotswolds. Large glazed sliding doors, rather than a bi-folding system, mean that the expansive views beyond are largely unobscured and increase the sense of space within the room. The extension is connected to the original property by a lightweight glazed link which fits neatly under the eaves of the Mansard roof, turning a challenge into a feature.

A new lower ground floor was created featuring a spacious entrance hall with built in storage, large utility room, shower room and a fifth bedroom or study, providing flexible living space to accommodate the family’s different needs over time. The entrance hall is flooded with light flowing down from the second storey above, which ties back into the original ground floor via a timber and glass staircase.

After reconfiguring the original cottage, the result is a spacious five-bedroom home. On any project, our aim is to meet both our clients’ needs and their budget. During this project we discussed a number of ways for the owners to save costs, such as using standard glazing sizes over large bespoke panels, replacing expensive timber with Millboard decking, and minimising the amount spent on the kitchen.

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“They came up with an amazing idea to open up our dark Cotswold barn. In doing so they’ve enhanced the original property and given us the kind of living spaces we had dreamed of.”

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