Brief:
When Mo and Lynn saw Down House come on the market, they didn’t hesitate. It wasn’t the house that attracted them—but the large, beautiful garden. With few physical limitations beyond the site’s boundaries, they approached the project with enthusiasm and a willingness to be bold. The original New England-style house sat in the centre of a generous plot with a detached double garage. Though it offered rear views, it didn’t make the most of them—something we set out to change.
The brief was to explore ways of extending the ground floor and turning the house into a striking, contemporary forever home—comfortable for everyday living and welcoming for visiting family and grandchildren. Having built before, Mo and Lynn were ready to go for something truly exciting this time, and to deliver the finished project as soon as soon as possible!
Design:
We developed three concept schemes before purchase. Once committed, Sam Cross progressed the design with 2D layouts and, through collaborative meetings, brought it to life in 3D—a visualisation model that guided the build throughout. Key changes included linking and converting the garage into a spacious master suite with garden views, adding 2 large glazed rear extensions, and a striking double-height entrance.
The exterior was elaborated further with a bold gabled roofline, a dramatic 6m tall entrance hall, 2-tone white and dark grey render for a confident, unified look. Planning approval was straightforward -thanks to the single-storey design, and the green credentials of the ‘Pretty Plastic’ tiles imported from the Netherlands and as far as we know: the 3rd property in sport them in the UK.
Finishes delivered cohesion and drama: green zinc trims with golden inlays frame the 10.5metre-wide glass sliders and smaller master suite doors provide light, style, and amazing views down the long garden. While blown-glass chandeliers, and polished concrete floors provided the clients plenty of wow factor and a superb living environment - matching their own creative, open-minded approach.
Testimonial:
"Sam, I must say that you are on the same wavelength as Lynn, in particular, and myself. Even the choice of artwork and animal prints! The feature wall looks great specially in the hall. The kitchen looks great and the rooms seem to flow very well. You seem to capture our vision."
Mo & Lynn, Hampshire