From Tired and Modest to Bright and Contemporary
OB Architecture
7 years ago
How can a modest 1970s house be transformed into a bright contemporary family home on a relatively limited budget?
The White House · More Info
Proud to present The White House, one of our three recently completed projects in Winchester.
The White House · More Info
Look out for the other two!
Photography: Martin Gardner, martingardner.com
See more about the project on our website: goo.gl/QCMUEP
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Comments (6)
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OB Architecture
7 years ago Related Discussions
A trend that should end
Comments (1300)For me it’s maximalism. Lovely in a quirky cafe or boutique hotel but at home it would give me a headache. I like a restful house and so yes quite a lot of it is grey! Not battleship grey or anthracite but bluey or greeny greys. Concrete floors. Depressing, cold, ecologically not great, look unfinished. Plants very high up. How do you water them? Walk in wardrobes even if it means the bedroom becomes tiny. I’d rather have a bigger bedroom with wardrobes in it, than dress and sleep in tiny spaces. Uber industrial. There’s a reason we usually hide cables, conduits, vent ducts...because they are ugly. Buying new furniture and accessories very often to have an “up to date“ look. I see all these instagram pictures with everything brass, mid century, wood, rattan, green (today’s trends) and I wonder what has happened to all their grey, painted, silver, shabby chic items from 5/10 years ago. And what will they do with today’s items when the look swings round again......See MoreIf you were to change the look of your home...
Comments (77)I have always been attracted to the Carmel-by-the-Sea houses designed by Comstock...the interiors are often decorated casually, with comfy sofas, chairs, maple & cherry furniture and nature-inspired art and accessories. Big fantasy. In real life, we are retired on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and live in a 1200 sq.ft. condo one block off a large town's Main St. and two miles from any beach. Except for the building and location, we have the rest...not sure if our decor is English casual, English coastal or ???, but I wouldn't change it, except to buy better quality sofa and chairs....See MoreDo you sleep with blackout curtains?
Comments (77)Huh? Looks like I'm the first here to post that I can sleep on a clothes line!! As long as I am horizontal- I can sleep if I'm tired. I have worked night-duty for over 25yrs + sleep half my week during the daytime. I can sleep by day or night. Light or dark doesn't bother me. I can sleep with curtains open or closed, bedroom door open or closed ( I always leave lamp on in hallway at night), sleep with TV on. A reasonable level of noise doesn't wake me, radio doesn't wake me, music doesn't disturb me, regular conversation doesn't wake me, regular traffic noise doesn't wake me. Crying babies, whining children + loud squabbles will wake me. I don't like being woken ...!!! My biggest sleep problem is getting off to sleep, always was a night-owl. It is usually after 2am before I'd consider going to bed. Once I do go to sleep, I stay asleep. Strangely it takes me longer to settle if the house is quiet!! Always sleep sitting upright in bed, with curtains open + beside light on if I need to be up early in the morning. It works for me. So I reckon I have saved a fortune on window dressings, eye-masks + ear plugs. All I need is a radio + 5ft 3inches of floor space and zzzzzzzz...See MoreBiggest learning from a renovation?
Comments (28)This is what I have learnt and highly recommend: 1) Have a contract with the builder with a time frame specified for the work and a penalty clause. My 4 week renovation has taken 6 months costing me an extra 2k in storage fees (thus I care not for verbal promises for the future, it's what's written down that counts.) 2) Neither add to or subtract from what you have agreed with the builder. If you add to he will want a fortune for the inconvenience, if you subtract, he won't deduct the cost and will find wrangles to avoid refunding. Make an agreement and stick to it. 3) Insist, INSIST on each and every job being listed with a cost. So, if it's £30 to hang doors and a door isn't hung properly you know how much to with hold reasonably until the problem is rectified. This way the law is on your side. 4) Unless you are a DIYer who can accomplish a pro finish - leave it to the pros. Otherwise all your hard work and effort will add nothing to your property and may even reduce it's value. 5) Live in the property first. That way you will learn the best layout for rads, doors and furniture to suit your lifestyle and/or practical living. Get it right the first time and when it comes to selling the agent can confidently talk to potential purchasers about how they could site their furniture, how the space flows, how it has been professionally thought out and planned thus sticking out above the swathe of other properties in the same area which simply have a paint & carpet job done to be sold as re-furbished. 6) Photograph every angle of every room before the builder starts. Then keep a photo record of his work as he goes along. Trust me he will be doing the same in order to claim you told him x when it was y (when it was really x.) 7) Keep each and every receipt of your costs. So, if you have to buy tile trim at £20 each and he cuts one too short so you need to buy another, send him an email stating that you supplied a tile trim, it was cut too short by him, and he can expect another on day X. Then at the end of the job you can send him an email stating that you are happy with everything (hopefully) and will settle in full with the exception of the tile trim which cost you £20 and you have now deducted. Trust me, if you don't and you think you have a good relationship and let these things go as they are small amounts in order to keep a good relationship, he will think nothing of surprising you with a bill for an extra couple of grand for unforeseens (which you don't have to pay btw, as all costs must be agreed beforehand.) Plus small amounts soon add up to hundreds. 8) The builder is not your friend (hopefully) but an employee. Treat him as such. Be polite but not over friendly and expect a professional service. Having used different builders on three seperate occasions they have all been dominant and bolshy with me until they meet my husband. Do not be afraid to hold your ground and when the builder threatens walking off the job simply because you have asked him why a pipe isn't sunk for eg.- tell him that if he does he is in the wrong and you will think nothing of getting another builder in to finish and pursuing him for the cost. Don't be initimidated. I have now three times, and the third time is most definitely the last. I hope this helps. These pointers have come from my bad experiences and are what I will follow on my next project....See More- PRO
OB Architecture
7 years ago - PRO
OB Architecture
7 years ago
Daisy England