After an unsuccessful search for a new home in Suffolk, John and Lesley decided that self build would be their best option. The couple had been looking for a future-proof property in a rural setting close to their family, but they found nothing that met their requirements. However, they were fortunate enough to hear of […]
Having lived in the idyllic coastal village of Middleton-on-Sea in Sussex for 24 years, when tragedy struck, and their thatched cottage was destroyed by fire, Len and Yvonne were reluctant to leave. Knowing that it would be incredibly difficult to find a better location, they made the decision to stay and rebuild their home. When […]
When Emma’s parents were offered a parcel of land at a low price by a housing developer in 1978, they seized the opportunity. The plot size was suitable for one house only, so ideal for a self build. Emma’s mother is Norwegian and so on discovering Scandia-Hus and their Scandinavian style, the designs instantly appealed. […]
Almost equidistant between Reading to the Southeast and Oxford to the Northwest, Wallingford in Oxfordshire is best known as the former home of best-selling novelist Agatha Christie. The author shared Winterbrook House with her archaeologist husband from 1934 until she died in 1976, accomplishing much of her writing whilst living there. The Winterbrook estate is […]
Seeking a bespoke home that suited their lifestyle, Helen and Neil embarked upon their self-build journey in 2019 when they purchased a property that had belonged to family. Having previously lived in and liked the area, Brookmans Park, a village in Hertfordshire situated just outside of the M25 with convenient railway services into London, when […]
Devoted Grand Design viewers Lotta and James had always been interested in architecture and house design, but never imagined that they would have the opportunity to fulfil their self build ambitions. The couple and their children were happily settled in the Surrey village they had been inhabiting for the last ten years; the location was […]
Tina and Neil knew they wanted to build a contemporary home within a commutable distance to the capital but had yet to choose where. Their search area stretched three southern counties; Kent, Sussex and Surrey. The couple were seeking a rural plot but within a community to avoid feeling isolated. Aside from these few requirements, […]
Penny and Tony had lived in their family home for more than forty years when they decided to embark on their first self build project. Whilst the property had been a lovely family home, the pair sought a lower maintenance building with improved thermal efficiency. Tony had aspired to construct their own contemporary home for […]
The transformation from tired 1930s house to contemporary self-build is a pretty spectacular one. The stunning new property sits proudly at the top of a hill on the edge of a picturesque Sussex village, backed by the South Downs and faced by the South Coast. Helen and Richard discovered the dwelling after a three-year search […]
On a sunny spot just outside the large village of Cranleigh, a stunning contemporary Scandia-Hus stands amidst the surrounding fields and trees. The house is hidden from the road by the owners’ current mid-century, architecturally designed home, and is approached from a long gravelled drive. As the building slowly appears into view, the white render […]