Demolish & Rebuild 1.5-Storey Self Build Log Home in Cornwall

Once satisfied with the drawings, Zoe reached out to a local architect to formalise the plans and support the build. While the architect was unable to take on the project, he recommended that they consider a Honka kit home.

“He told me that if I wanted a project where I knew what the end cost was going to be, it was worth considering a package home. In the end, we opted for Honka – from day one they were very obliging. Luke Faulkner, the project design manager at Lodgico, the distributor for Honka in the UK, was very approachable and genuinely wanted to help us achieve the design we wanted.”

Timber cladding and cork render create a warm and eco-friendly facade

To ensure they were making the right choice, Zoe and her partner, Andy, visited a Honka home in Minehead, Somerset. “That was an inspiration and made us feel confident in their timber system,” says Zoe. Honka, a Finnish company founded by five brothers in 1958, is renowned for its expertise in industrial log home manufacturing. The company specialises in creating healthy living environments by using organic materials, maintaining exceptional indoor air quality, and delivering homes that offer a warm, stress-reducing atmosphere.

To secure formal planning permission, Zoe relied on CAD plans from Honka, and Luke recommended OCR Architecture to take on the Building Regulations plans. Once approval was granted, the focus shifted to site preparation, beginning with the demolition of the original bungalow.

For Zoe, who had lived in the property for 23 years, it was a poignant moment. “My grandfather owned it before that, so it was sad in some ways,” she says. “But at the same time, I was fed up with talking about doing something to the house, so it was a relief to see things finally starting to move. So, overall, it was a day of mixed emotions.”

Cabin Life

With the bungalow reduced to rubble, Zoe, Andy and Danny moved into a temporary on-site cabin that would serve as home for the next eight months. Built by her father using recycled timber, the modest cabin featured a woodburner, a small bathroom, a tiny kitchen and a loft space for sleeping, accessed by a ladder.

A sheltered porch area makes the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the outdoors

“It was sweet but basic. In the mornings, the temperature would drop as low as seven degrees,” says Zoe. “The whole area was muddy because it was winter and wet, so every time we stepped outside, it was a case of grabbing our wellies. When I had to go off to work, I’d stomp through the mud to the car, change into my normal shoes, and then try to look professional when I reached the surgery. But I guess that’s one of the delights of self building.”

As well as the stress of the mud and living in cold conditions, challenges with the utilities added to the pressure. “After the bungalow was demolished, we still wanted electricity supplied to the cabin,” says Zoe. “I didn’t anticipate how much notice the company would need, but, hey, we got there in the end.”

Zoe had open-plan living on her wish list. This has been achieved, resulting in a spacious and inviting atmosphere

As Zoe took on the responsibility of organising the concrete slab for the kit home, the project became increasingly challenging. Balancing the role of project manager with her part-time work as a GP proved to be a strenuous task. “Once Lodgico arrived with the kit, they took over project management, but I was in control up to that point,” says Zoe. “In hindsight, I underestimated how crucial the foundations and drainage were.”

Modern Efficiency 

Once the groundwork was complete, life became less frenetic; before long the three-bedroom kit home arrived on site. The house was constructed using Honka FXL134 Zero Corner spruce log, a modern, non-settling, cross-laminated unit designed for contemporary homes. Its innovative design eliminates traditional corner overhangs, which offers a sleek, minimalistic appearance while ensuring structural stability. Steico ThermDry wood fibre insulation was fitted, and the exterior finished with a combination of cork render and timber cladding.

The cream Shaker-style kitchen combines timeless charm with practical functionality, which matches the home’s warm, natural aesthetic

The kit arrived in January 2022, and within just two weeks, the house was wind and watertight. By early July, the turnkey build was complete. “Seeing the log frame go up so fast was so exciting,” says Zoe, who is thrilled with her new home, now positioned four metres further down the garden for an enhanced layout.

To maximise the stunning views of the Helford River, which is known for its scenic blend of woodland, secluded creeks, and semi-tropical gardens, the window sill heights throughout the house were lowered. Viking V21 aluclad double-glazed units were installed, ensuring both energy efficiency and picturesque sight lines.

In terms of heating, the home features underfloor heating (UFH) on the ground floor and radiators upstairs, all powered by an air source heat pump. Solar panels were also installed, reinforcing the home’s eco-friendly credentials.

Here is the underfloor heating being laid. It’s been paired with a wood burner to provide a cosy focal point in the living area

Among the features Zoe cherishes most is the long cloakroom with practical cupboards underneath, making it a functional and stylish addition. “The veranda is a big plus point, too. It’s perfectly located so that on warm evenings, we can sit outside and look down towards the river,” Zoe says. The veranda also doubles as a delightful space for serving cream teas during the ceramic classes Zoe runs from her pottery studio at the bottom of the garden.

Zoe is especially proud of her handcrafted touches. “I’m excited by how my exterior bird and vine ceramic tiles – which I’d like to make more of for commissions – have enhanced the look of the house, making it more bespoke,” she says. “The ridge tiles I made have the owl and the pussycat theme and work well, too, because I wanted to add some quirky, artistic features to the property.”

Reflecting on the finished project, Zoe feels the investment was worthwhile despite exceeding her original £350,000 budget. “It’s been worth it because I’ve ended up with a vastly superior end-product, we’ve even created more parking space at the back of the house,” she says. As for things she might have done differently, Zoe admits she would have liked the sitting room to be slightly larger, but it would have been too hard financially. “Overall, everyone loves the house, including my two grown-up sons, Charlie and Hamish, so I couldn’t be happier!”