This project is a refurbishment and extension of a flint-and-brick cottage, designed to make the house more sustainable, flexible and suitable for multigenerational living. The aim is to simplify the confusing layout, improve circulation and create a clear, generous kitchen and social space that becomes the heart of the home. The plan will allow the house to work comfortably for two people during the week and expand to host the wider family on weekends and holidays.

Future-proofing is central: the ground floor can accommodate a bedroom and wet room if needed, and the overall layout will be rationalised to support long-term, accessible living. A new utility or mud room with direct garden access will handle the practicalities of daily use.

The design is guided by the existing flint, brick, lime and clay-tile construction, with reference to SPAB and Historic England principles. Materials will be breathable, robust and easy to maintain, aligning with the cottage’s character. Leaded windows, painted timber joinery and simple, durable finishes will form a coherent palette.

The desired atmosphere is a balance of cosy and calm, with enough openness in the circulation to avoid the cramped feeling of the existing layout. Interiors will reflect the cottage’s rural character without becoming minimalist, drawing on natural textures and materials.

The current house feels dark and enclosed. The design will introduce clearer routes, better-aligned openings and improved connections to both courtyards. Small, strategic adjustments to windows and doors will bring more daylight into the plan and strengthen the relationship with the garden.

Although unlisted, the cottage will be treated with the care of a historic building. New interventions will be modest, well-crafted and sympathetic to the existing fabric. Joinery and stair elements will be repaired or redesigned where needed, and a potential new garden structure will replace the outdated office while respecting the material language of the house.