Milford House
The Project
Renovation, modernisation and extension of a 2,500 sq ft family home in Sunningdale, Berkshire
What the client liked
The location in a private road in the heart of Sunningdale, close to shops, very good schools and sports grounds. The client liked the architectural style and the traditional layout, although an earlier extension had led to some fundamental issues that needed addressing. Finally, the house has a large garden where children can play freely and safely.
The original house
The original plan
First Floor
The kitchen as we found it
The Brief
The owners wanted to renovate the house and, with the prospect of an overseas posting, they needed to make the house as easy to rent as possible. These were the areas needed to be addressed:
The ground floor needed to be pushed out into the garden to create a large kitchen/dining/family room with floor-to-ceiling windows and large skylight to maximise light. This new extension was to open onto a large patio and the garden beyond for informal living and entertainment.
The kitchen needed a complete overhaul, with a large island for cooking, eating and entertaining. A separate pantry had to be created.
The utility room had to be re-designed and include a service entrance for direct access from the forecourt to the kitchen.
The formal dining room in the front of the house was to become obsolete and given another use.
The first floor needed re-designing to include an en-suite master bedroom with dressing room and direct access to the landing, rather than through a study.
An en-suite bathroom was to be created to one of the guest bedrooms.
The empty attic space was to be converted and become the kids’ sleeping quarters with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a store room.
General modernisation of the house.
All additions and renovations had to be sympathetic with the style of the house, maintaining continuity with materials and proportions.
The owners wanted our advice on these matters, so they could brief their own builder, who could also bring his own creativity and problem solving capabilities when required.
The original back of the house
"Gerard has a rare combination of skills and talents. He is able to fuse class and style with practicality and functionality. He brings elegance to design, whilst remembering that houses are to be lived in, and budgets need to be used sensibly."
- Andy, Landlord
Changing layout
The extended ground floor:
A roomy and light family room was created, with access to a large wooden deck for easy outdoor living. An all-new kitchen was installed, with a large island to link it to the living entertaining area. In the new extension, a sitting and dining area now benefits from great views and easy access to the garden and lots of light streaming through huge lantern roof lights. This is the heart of family living.
The view from the garden
The extended living and dining area
The new kitchen
The original dining room near the main entrance was transformed into the master’s study.
The utility room was re-designed: the boiler was moved to the second floor/attic, making room for updated laundry equipment and storage; we also added a service entrance onto the forecourt for convenient access from the front of the house to the kitchen at the back.
The cloak-room was re-designed to allow for a coat hanging closet.
The first floor
The large master’s suite was completely re-designed: the existing study was transformed into a dressing room; the master’s bathroom was installed in the original dressing room; the original master’s bathroom has now become the guest room’s en-suite; a corridor was carved out of lesser used closets in the guest room, allowing for direct access to the landing, whilst keeping some privacy.
The staircase
The master bathroom
The guest bathroom
The second floor
When the attic area was eventually insulated, the builder managed to find the space for two bedrooms for the children, each with its en-suite shower/bath room. A shower was even creatively inserted in one of the dormers, giving it sufficient headroom.
Seven dormers were added - in keeping with the house architectural style- and three skylights for maximum light and headroom were also installed.
The Finished Project
A house extended to 3,400 sq ft with all modern amenities, six bedrooms and five bathrooms, a home office and a magnificent family living area opening onto the garden. Upon moving abroad, the owners found a corporate tenant immediately.
Before
After