30 SelfBuild&Design february 2013

Vicky Worthy in the garden of her renovated cottage (right).

Story: AlexAndrA PrAttPICtureS: AlexAndrA PrAtt & the BAzeley PArtnershiP

first-time selfbuilders Patrick and theresa Kelly have built a home in Cornwall which is heavily influenced by the houses in Lugana beach.

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CaLIfornIadreaming

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february 2013 SelfBuild&Design 39

new build

While many selfbuilders dream and

plan for years, others find themselves

building their own home for want

of an easier alternative. This was

the case for Patrick and Theresa

Kelly, but their inexperience didn’t get in the way of them

becoming the very model of the engaged, well-informed

client. In fact, their stylish new home in Cornwall could be

described as a blueprint for first timers on how to get it right.

“We were looking for a holiday home in Cornwall and

would have preferred something we could just move into,”

admits Patrick. That changed when their agent showed

them a seriously dilapidated bungalow in a small cove on the

north coast. It did have one major selling point: it’s setting

in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. “The view to the

sea was the big deal,” says Patrick, “and the beautiful views

across the valley,” he adds.

Cedar, glass and stonethe exterior features different blocks of colour and materials including cedar, aluminium, glass and stone. the cedar clad utility room has been deliberately sited closest to the road. the Kellys originally thought of building their home over three storeys, but felt it would be too much. one of the most rewarding elements of the build has been how the house sits on the site.

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40 SelfBuild&Design february 2013

Yet the property was in poor condition, and far too small

with just two bedrooms, and a kitchen located in a lean-to.

“It was practically a tourist attraction, it was so rotten!”

laughs Patrick. Yet the Kellys used it as it was for the

first year, after patching up the flat roof, and cleaning

away the mould – even putting up a false wall to seal off a

particularly bad area. “We cleaned it to within an inch of

its life,“ says Theresa.

Planning permission had originally been granted for a

large extension, but this had expired, which as it turns out,

proved to be a blessing. The design incorporated lots of

small rooms which didn’t make the most of the site. “It was

very old fashioned,” says Theresa.

If all this wasn’t enough incentive to consider demolition

and replacement, the sums involved were.

“We didn’t have this vision of building here, but then

VAT rules (reclaiming the 20 per cent VAT on labour and

materials) had a big part to play, plus the fabric of the building

had little merit,” says Patrick. “The old bungalow had been

constructed in a different era, and to different standards”.

The couple realised that a new build was the only real

option to provide them with the light, energy efficient,

family-friendly space they really wanted. They then turned

to their property finder, who put them in touch with local

architectural firm The Bazeley Partnership.

Once they decided on the new build route, Patrick

and Theresa were inspired by Theresa’s sister’s property

in Laguna Beach on the Californian coast. They loved

the glass, wood and mix of materials found in modern

Californian homes

They showed pictures to their architects, along with lots

of ideas on finishes and styles that appealed to them.

“We had a significant input into the design,” says

Patrick. “The architects found our mood book and spider

diagram of our requirements and functions, very helpful,”

agrees Theresa.

rooms with viewsthe original house didn’t make the most of the views across the valley which can be enjoyed best from the games room. the engineered oak flooring in the dining room was supplied by ted todds.

Light from aboveDedicated rooflights provide light in the kitchen without an outlook onto the lane. The open-plan area is delineated by a change of flooring from wood to slate.

february 2013 SelfBuild&Design 41

The external finish of Patrick and Theresa’s new home is a

sleek, but sympathetic combination of local stone cladding on

the ground levels, plus render and cedar, with of course, lots of

glass. The glazing in particular is a key feature of the property,

linking the internal living spaces to the landscape.

“We’ve had some interesting discussions about the size

and location of the windows.” says Patrick. “They’re not

symmetrical, which can sometimes be difficult for people.”

The Kellys decided to have an open day for all their

neighbours in the village to come and take a look at their

proposed plans.

“It was a really good way of getting to know people through

the build,” says Theresa. In pre-application consultations with

the council, the only issue was the amount of exterior cedar

cladding proposed, and this was adjusted. Patrick is pleased,

however, that they retained it as the decking material on the

ground floor terrace that sweeps around two sides of the

house. “It’s much nicer quality than softwood,” he says.

new build

going upWood and glass feature throughout, including on the open-tread stairs by KJ Bromell.

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44 SelfBuild&Design february 2013

dramatic rooflightsThe striking central rooflight was a bespoke item, commissionedby their main contractor.

Patrick & Theresa’s toP tIPSn Choose your builder carefully. n Put a lot into the environmental design of the building such as insulation. n Stay close to the build. have a monthly site meeting; it gives the project a heartbeat. n Keep money in the bank for hard landscaping. n having architectural oversight (and an architectural warranty) was, on balance, a good decision.

new build

february 2013 SelfBuild&Design 43

As they live some distance away and have busy professional

lives, Patrick and Theresa decided to use a main contractor

for the build.

They invited three competitive bids, opting for Teague

because of their quality/price combination.” It turned out to

be a good choice.

“This is a story of a great main contractor. They wouldn’t let

anything go. They really looked after our interests,” says Patrick,

who kept up with progress via emails, and monthly site meetings,

during which he and Theresa stayed on site in a caravan.

The construction was not without its challenges, however.

The site itself had some fairly major restrictions, as the

original bungalow sat above a massive retaining wall on a

steeply sloping site.

The new house occupies the same position on the plot,

although it has a larger footprint than the old bungalow. This

is tight against the lane on one side, and it was something

of a balance Patrick recalls, fitting the house between these

two limitations. It meant re-landscaping the garden into

steps (each wide enough for a sit-on mower) and changing

the foundation to a slab, with more work and time involved

creating support for the new house in one corner. This

quickly added £10,000 to the fairly modest budget, but as

they had built a contingency into their budget this wasn’t a

major problem.

The ground floor is traditional blockwork, with a second

storey that combines timber frame with steel supports to

create long spans over the open-plan living space. The Kellys

did make some changes during the build, but only minor ones

to the partition walls downstairs. Several delays were caused

by the windows, which are a critical feature of the design.

The rooflights were bespoke and the large powder coated

aluminium frames were sourced from a specialist supplier.

Although the rooflights were delayed and the main windows

incorrect when first delivered, these problems were quickly

resolved. The striking bespoke oak front door was built by

apprentices from Teague & Sons.

Inside, the Kellys decided on a clean, modern approach

with a muted palette and the heating laid underneath an

engineered oak floor. In the kitchen, sleek white gloss units

are kept at base level under a white worktop made from

Corian, a solid, non-porous acrylic based material that comes

in over 100 colours and can be cut and moulded as desired.

Unusually, there are no eye level units.

“it’s a brilliant seaside house.”Unusual windows

unusually, the windows are not

symmetrical; at Patrick’s request.

©the bazeLey PartnerShIP

“We wanted to keep it understated,” says Theresa,

who was conscious that the kitchen area is integral to the

open-plan living space. Downstairs, three of the four large

bedrooms have minimal furniture and wonderful views,

with added interest from occasional curved walls, which

Patrick wanted, so “it wouldn’t look like a box”.

Their regrets are few, but they do plan to re-design the

shower in the en suite bathroom, which is currently too

small, and partly enclosed by a solid wall. The lighting

too, Patrick feels could have benefited from more creative

attention. “If I was doing it again, we would get some

advice from a lightning designer,” he says. One idea they

are glad they shelved, was the plan to put a ‘green’ roof

on the utility room, which is on the road side, next to the

entrance. “You don’t see much as you come down the

hill,” says Theresa.

‘Green’ technology is evident elsewhere however,

particularly in terms of energy efficiency. There are solar

panels for hot water on the roof, and the couple chose

an air source heat pump instead of ground source heat

pumps for heating.

They’re pleased with their decision as it provides a nice,

even temperature. This is undeniably due to the thermal

gain from the large, double-glazed windows and high spec

insulation, which is a mixture of Kingspan and rock wool.

The project, including demolition of the original

bungalow, was completed in an impressive 11 months,

and the Kellys enjoyed the process.

“There was an element of fear, doubt and uncertainty at

the outset, but we got more comfortable as it progressed,”

says Patrick, who admits he would like to tackle another

project some day. For now though, they are enjoying

frequent visits to their new holiday home.

“It’s great to live in. It’s south and west facing, so the

orientation is perfect for the living room during the day,

and our windows face over the sea where the sun sets. It’s

a brilliant seaside house.”

Keeping it minimalthe main bedroom was designed for minimal furniture and uncluttered living. the Kelleys plan to replace the shower in their en suite with larger one, not constrained by a solid wall.

new build

44 SelfBuild&Design february 2013

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ContactsMain Contractor th teague & Sons: 01840 230366 Architect the bazeley Partnership: www.bazeley-architects.co.ukGlass Balustrading and external Balcony KJ bromell: www.kjbromell.co.ukWindows Dunheved Glass: www.dunhevedglass.comKitchen alno: www.alnokitchens.co.uk

Final thoughtsWould you do it again?yes, it was a fun process. you get things wrong, but I would consider being more hands-on next time.What is your favourite aspect of the house?Lying in bed, looking at the sea, but we’ve learned to take advantage of the broader landscape and not just the sea.What was your most extravagant buy?“nothing really. the kitchen [from alno] is medium range, and wasn’t stupid money for a house of this size.”