We first met this client after she had endured a 6 year legal battle with an insurance company for something that the Estate Agent's surveyor had missed at the point of sale. As a result the client was mentally worn out by it all and almost at the point of giving up.

However, with plenty of positivity we transformed her situation and took a previous design that someone else had done, which didn't work for various reasons, and completely reworked the design into something that was much more practical, and created additional space our client didn't think was possible. We created a vaulted feature ceiling in the open-plan living / dining room to create a socialising space with plenty of height that is filled with natural light, which you wouldn't typically expect to find in a bungalow. This then creates the "wow factor" and a great conversation starter when people walk into the space.

Planning permission was granted first time for the new design. We then set about creating the Building Regulation and construction technical drawings, which also received Building Control approval with ease.

We then continued to work with the client to select the right builder, in which our client took our recommendation to instruct Alan Bender Ltd. As an architect it is very important to choose the right builder for our client's to ensure they understand our vision and deliver a high-quality build, coupled with 5-star customer service. Whenever we have worked with the ABL team it has always been an enjoyable experience, both for myself and our clients.

It is clear that each member of the ABL team cares about doing a great job. They take pride in their work and their attention to detail and finishing is to an extremely high standard. On this particular project this is credit to Graham, Adam and their team.

We continued to professionally advise and support our client during the onsite construction phase of the project. Something that can be extremely useful and valuable to our client’s to ensure the building is built to our exacting standards & in accordance with the approved drawings. Any technical queries can then be picked up early and dealt with quickly and efficiently, to reduce stress and ensure that the original vision is executed to the highest of standards.

We were working to a very tight deadline of just 14 weeks to complete the extensive building works to enable our client to move in before Christmas. However, with a lot of man hours, hard work and dedication it came in right on schedule, much to the delight of the client.

By having a successful partnership between architect and builder it can make a big difference to how well a project goes, and what the experience is like for the client. After all, an excellent design coupled with good craftsmanship can really transform a property. Not only by adding value on multiple different levels but by actually making a difference to people's lives.

In this instance by taking a negative and turning it into a positive our client can put the past behind her and finally move on with her life now that she has the home she deserves. We are thrilled that we have been able to be part of our client's journey to success and to make such a difference to her life.