Renovation projects

David and Carol Cross saw the potential in a derelict former grist mill and have turned it into a glorious family home. The couple had to do a lot of remedial work on the old barn, including underpinning the granite walls. But great views from the rear make it all worthwhile.

Bill and Connie Pack have artfully converted an unloved Dutch barn into a striking new home that enjoys light and space and yet is true to the building’s original form.

David and Elaine Badham started almost from scratch when they sympathetically renovated and extended a listed 17th century thatched cottage that had fallen into a terrible state of repair — paying meticulous attention to every detail.

Just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, and a short walk from Harrods and Harvey Nichols, Alan Waxman’s mews house nestles behind the only gated entrance in Belgravia. But while the property has a prestigious address, a well-appointed façade and a beautifully designed and ultra-luxurious interior, it didn’t always look this glamorous.

Jayne Blakeman and Tim Morrison have transformed a 1960s house into a stylish contemporary home that makes the most of its generous plot, combining cedar cladding and render on the exterior to make it look like a completely new property.

Overall Winner of the 2009 Homebuilding & Renovating Awards. Shaun Beverley was the only one to see potential in the shape and open plan of an ‘eyesore’ 1970s home in Lancashire. Plenty of DIY later, he has transformed it into a super-stylish contemporary retreat that gives more than a nod to its roots — leopard-print wallpaper and all.

Winner of Best Conversion in the 2009 Homebuilding & Renovating Awards. Irena Murray has extended and remodelled a former barn to create a light, flowing home. The new extension has turned the former smithy's into an L shaped home and additional rooflights and folding sliding doors flood the open plan space with light.

Winner of Best Remodel in the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2009. Cathie Curran has artfully remodelled and extended her London terrace, using rooflights, wooden flooring and built-in storage to make it spacious, stylish and sunny.

Chris and Michele Jones have dramatically lifted a dull 1960s house by extending upwards to add on a new storey, complete with a wraparound balcony and cedar-clad ‘drum'. The house also includes an integrated garden room and innovative use of brise soleil in the porch.

Max and Linda Nash spent a decade converting a small dilapidated cow barn in an idyllic setting, extending it to more than double its original size, and bringing in water and electricity from over half a mile away, to create a comfortable, baronial-style home.

Sally Onions and Ian Bottomley have painstakingly converted a listed Georgian church into a stunning home including the original stained glass windows.

Kate and Stephen Duncan have transformed a characterless converted 1880s coach house into a home full of rural charm by restoring the original features and using reclaimed materials.

Richard Stott and Heather Moffat have doubled the size of their renovated end-terrace cottage with a dramatic oak and glass extension. From the street the home looks very similar to the rest of the cottages, but the rear is surprisingly contemporary.

Kate and Stephen Duncan have transformed a characterless converted 1880s coach house into a home full of rural charm. Read all about this remarkable project in the November issue of Homebuilding & Renovating. As part of H&R Extra, here are some additional photos of the house.

Darren and Kathy Barlow have completely transformed a 1970s house into a home that blends contemporary design with dream family living.

Jonathan and Jenny Blain have virtually rebuilt The Old Bakehouse in Devon, using eco-friendly materials and incorporating state-of-the-art technology to create a home that has it all.

Catherine and Sam Heppenstall have converted an old barn and attached farmhouse into an open family home.

Architects Andrew Yeats and Lucy Nelson spent over a decade transforming an abandoned village school in the Yorkshire countryside into light and spacious accommodation in which they now both live and work

John Carver and Anna Carloss have transformed a dilapidated 1950s property into a beautiful and sustainable family home

Colin and Heather Morgan have created a stunning contemporary home within the traditional stone shell of their 18th century Oxfordshire barn

Michael Booth has created an elegant period home with light, free-flowing rooms and perfect proportions by renovating a two storey apartment in a 19th century wool merchant’s house

Stuart and Pat Smith have totally reinvented a former 1930s golf clubhouse on a magnificent elevated site overlooking the River Dart in Devon.

Geoff Jacobs has converted an 18th century sawmill into a light-filled contemporary home, extending it to triple its size and using reclaimed materials for a seamless finish.

Paul and Nicola Pendall made local news headlines when they turned the country’s first example of an automated bowling alley in York into their dream home.

Nick Broady has painstakingly restored a lodge in the grounds of a grand manor house, rebuilding the original structure and adding on a seamless extension.

After two years of incredibly hard work, Lesley and Steve Baker have lovingly turned four run-down 18th century peat cutters’ cottages into one charming property.

Perched on a ridge in the rolling Sussex countryside, Hans and Tricia Petri’s award-winning home is farsighted in every way — from a design maximising the surrounding views to built-in eco-friendly, energy-saving systems.

Simon and Sally Robinson have sympathetically transformed their 300-year-old cottage – on a DIY basis – into a charming period home that’s also perfect for modern living.

Michael and Ali Jackson’s vision for their 17th century property might have taken well over a decade to realise, but the seamless blend of old and new is a triumph.

With lots of imagination and flair, architect Gregory Phillips has created a brand new addition to his own home, which gives new meaning to the humble 1930s semi.