Before and After: A Modern Makeover

“We fell in love with the house when we saw it, but the first floor layout didn’t work,” says Cat Knightley, the proud owner of this stunning contemporary-style home overlooking Poole Harbour.

The existing house – self-built as a family home in 1967 – featured a basement and large ground floor, with a distinctive stone chimney and steeply pitched roof outside. However, the latter proved detrimental to the interiors. “A lot of space was lost due to the roof pitch, meaning the first floor was considerably smaller than it needed to be,” explains Cat. This floor contained just one double bedroom, two singles and a bathroom. Small dormer windows also inhibited the views.

‘Turn the house into something modern, with a view of the harbour, four double bedrooms and three bathrooms,’ was the brief presented to brother and architect, Peter Knightley of TW-2 Architects. While the footprint remains the same, Peter responded with a stunning design for a boxy rectangular white-rendered and cedar-clad exterior, punctuated with windows and doors of varying sizes.

The existing roof has been removed (replaced with a series of flat roofs to maximise internal space), the first floor remodelled and an additional floor added — complete with roof terrace to take advantage of the harbour vista. Insulation, in excess of current Building Regulations standards, has also been included to ensure the house performs efficiently. The work took just six months to complete.

1. Roof Terrace - Patio doors from the second floor master bedroom open out onto a roof terrace, which makes the most of harbour views beyond. Timber decking complements wood finishes throughout. 2. Windows - The patio doors and windows above, from Velfac (velfac.co.uk), drop light into the double-height living room. All are composite, with low maintenance aluminium outside and timber inside

The modern façade also acknowledges the house’s past. “It was important that the original chimney and stone plinth were kept. The same family who built the house sold it to us and we wanted to preserve what we could of their family home,” says Cat.

Inside, the electrics and plumbing have been updated and the home now boasts high-end finishes and bespoke joinery, with the stairs, skirting boards, internal doors and wardrobes designed by architect Peter and crafted by DB Joinery (01761 451123; dbjoinerytimsbury.co.uk).

“We feel happy that we’ve given the house new life rather than getting rid of it and starting again,” concludes Cat.

Peter Knightley is a Principal Architect at TW-2 Architects (tw-2.co.uk 01494 512717)

Further Reading:

• Before and After Design: Renovating a Bungalow 
• Before and After Design: A Green Makeover
• Exterior Makeovers