Hi! Wow there’s lots here. I think we can really help you here and we can work with you to produce some design options. Seeing as it’s quite a project, I suggest we start with a chat to discuss your brief?

If you need professional help please get in touch,

Thanks

Your double garage is attached to the house but does not seem appear to have direct access it. You also seem to have a decent amount of land to the side of the house extending to the front. Could you use the garage to create the annexe and build a separate garage, maybe a lovely oak framed one?

Hi, sorry I always get to these things at night.

So to the West of the house is on the very border of the plot so we can't go that way or put windows on that side.

We could go to the North on the courtyard area & had thought about this for maybe creating a new downstairs loo and access hallway to a "music room" in a half converted garage.

To the East, by the current kitchen the plot is quite tight. It would be out of proportion to go too Far East there.

By the time you get to the sitting room the house has really opened up.

There is tons of space south - it's really the special views and light there we want to maximise...

It's tricky we thought of a plan to move the stairs to the garage area and double heighting the garage - this would have allowed us to open the current living room on west to the galleried hall area to make a big long room and create an office/bedroom above the current garage. ]

But my other half really liked having the stairs in the middle of the galleried hall in heart of the house. He's open to changing the stairs but doesn't want to move them unnecessarily.

I feel like the natural place to put the annex is in the current kitchen/utility wing of the house. It's just how do we then remodel to create a big open plan kitchen/diner/living area that gives outside living vibe inside?? Also its a really bit plot the house is on, and bc it's a barn I feel like some big open space /height in the house would be really cool. We're open to ideas but just can't seem to figure out a layout that works.

Can we do something to make the galleried hall a wee bit bigger as well? It's the wow factor of the house but needs something creative to optimise it.

This is the house from above showing the front garden. Hedge to LHS of pic shows the west boundary- we can't go that way bc of neighbour.

RHS of pic you can make out a fence to RHS of yellowy grass - that's our east boundary. as you follow it down it goes diagonally out to RHS/east. it's a bit tight near the RHS top of house where current utility is, but could maybe extend a bit off current kitchen/closer to main house to create annex in current kitchen bit?

This next photo shows more of the back. Note to the LHS/west of this pic the neighbour's place is really close to our boundary wall.

SO very grateful for any ideas, thank you!

should say it's a nice flat plot. green belt. no permitted development rights we think, bc previous owner did a small extension already. so will have to get planning permission.

H, thank you for all the comments.

yes a chat would

be helpful thanks. Re the garage as annex I agree that would be easy in many ways but unfortunately two issues- Granny wants a lovely view with lots of light- not to look on to a new oak garage (although we might use this space for us for

something).

also drains see at back of house, south side so I think it might be harder to get plumbing all the way round the property to the back. We’re quite used to idea of annex in our current kitchen now- but how can we open up current sitting room

to maximise garden/light/ give a sense of dimension. View of gallery and fireplace in galleries are? Is that doabike? Thank you so much for all the help

!! julia

Personally I think this is such a big project you need to get professional advice. For what it’s worth I would be looking to extend on the east side but an architect or designer would explore many options.

With some room labels to help

Hi Julia,

I agree with Jonathan above - it's a big project, and because the options are almost endless it would take a good amount of time for research and exploring to find the most efficient and good looking layout/design.

The short answer is yes, it's all possible, and the plans above are proof of that. The end result really depends on how far you want to stretch the design.

I feel like having a big open space with great views in the living/kitchen area really matters for you. The amount of glazing and light will very much decide how connected you are with the garden and the views.

Think about big windows/skylights combined with tall ceilings (where possible) as examples below:

Remember this can all be tailored to suit a modern or a more traditional style. I personally wouldn't suggest curved glazing - In my opinion it wouldn't be a good fit for your house and secondly I think it's a outdated trend anyway.

Obviously all this would depend on your budget and that's why designers will usually create a couple of options to explore potential designs & how each of them would fit within the total cost.

Doing your own research is great but consider hiring a professional to at least provide you with a feasibility study - for your project's scale it would be a very beneficial exercise.

Andrei

Hello, sorry I’m so late replying. The pandemic put paid to our plans for a while but we are picking them up again now. Thank you so much to James and Andrei. These are incredibly imaginative and helpful ideas for us. I would never have had so much imagination. I’m
Going to give them all serous thought and look at an architect again now. Thank you so much!