Gemma and Graham were unexpectedly drawn towards a rather tired Grade II thatched house with its origins dating back to 1625 – but it lacked a connection with the garden. An oak-framed extension became the perfect solution to the problem.
“We didn’t plan to take on a renovation but it was such a pretty house with a lovely big garden that we couldn’t resist,” says Gemma.
“The only way to make the house work for us was to replace the garage with a big glazed extension linked to the garden,” says Gemma. “The house is a timber frame build and so it made sense to use oak, and we both like the look of natural wood.”
Planning approval to build the extension was fundamental to us staying here,’ Gemma explains. They were rather surprised when they received approval straightaway but the planning conditions dictated that we couldn’t go higher than the house roof pitch.
Welsh Oak Frame designed the extension with glazing on all four facades so that light tracks around throughout the day. The west-facing rear has doors onto the garden and floor-to-ceiling corner windows on either side, look to the south and north. Welsh Oak Frame suggested glazing the high gable end above the kitchen to draw in the east-facing morning sun.
“It meant we could have four windows on the kitchen-end of the south side with a view across the courtyard,” Gemma explains. “My favourite feature, though, is the corner windows with the curved braces as we get a panoramic view of the garden.”
“It’s a big room with a high ceiling but the oak makes it feel really warm,” says Gemma. “Spending time together as a family is really important to us and this room is ideal for that. I can be in here and the children can be doing their homework or playing in the garden and I can still see them. It’s a beautiful building and we’re thrilled with it.”