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Houzz Tour: A Creative Redesign on a Sensational Rural Plot
Renovating and extending this country cottage was as much about sustainability and respecting the land as gaining space
This is the project that grew and grew. What started out as a simple refurbishment of a rural cottage in West Sussex became a comprehensive renovation, an extension and a landscaping job. “It was an absolute joy,” says Paul Duffy of BetterPAD, the architect responsible for the transformation. “It evolved to become this genuinely amazing project.”
The property sits within the South Downs National Park, on a beautiful plot with long, unspoiled views. “I really enjoy it every time I go,” Paul says. All the construction and design ideas he suggested had to respect this landscape and were subject to stringent planning constraints. Read on to see how the project evolved while staying in harmony with its special surroundings.
The property sits within the South Downs National Park, on a beautiful plot with long, unspoiled views. “I really enjoy it every time I go,” Paul says. All the construction and design ideas he suggested had to respect this landscape and were subject to stringent planning constraints. Read on to see how the project evolved while staying in harmony with its special surroundings.
When Paul first visited the cottage, the brief was simple: replace the kitchen and decorate throughout. “I said, have you thought about opening up the ground floor to create more space?” he says.
The owner had also mentioned the house not being quite big enough. “So I said, we could get an extension out here, on the side of the property,” he says. “It just kind of evolved from there.”
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The owner had also mentioned the house not being quite big enough. “So I said, we could get an extension out here, on the side of the property,” he says. “It just kind of evolved from there.”
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Originally, the ground floor consisted of three relatively small rooms. There was a wall dividing what is now the living room from the kitchen and dining space. There was also a wall running roughly in line with the edge of the island, with double doors where the bar stools are.
Paul could see that if these walls were removed and the layout improved, it would create a wonderful open-plan space, with aspects in all four directions.
Apart from a downstairs loo and the pantry, which is through the door seen just beyond the island, the ground floor of the original house is now fully open-plan.
Wood flooring, Havwoods.
Paul could see that if these walls were removed and the layout improved, it would create a wonderful open-plan space, with aspects in all four directions.
Apart from a downstairs loo and the pantry, which is through the door seen just beyond the island, the ground floor of the original house is now fully open-plan.
Wood flooring, Havwoods.
Seen from above, the original cottage is an L shape, while the new extension is the rectangular building at the top of the photo. The extension contains the master bedroom suite and a home office.
“The majority of the work I do is in London, where you’re typically physically constrained, and often the only place to extend is at the back,” Paul says. “But this was a fully detached property on a large plot.”
As such, Paul was able to consider how best to frame the view and the path of the sun in his design. “As architects, we always talk about these things, of course, but here there was this plot of land with all sorts of possibilities, and a chance to really make it bespoke. The site influenced the design big time.”
“The majority of the work I do is in London, where you’re typically physically constrained, and often the only place to extend is at the back,” Paul says. “But this was a fully detached property on a large plot.”
As such, Paul was able to consider how best to frame the view and the path of the sun in his design. “As architects, we always talk about these things, of course, but here there was this plot of land with all sorts of possibilities, and a chance to really make it bespoke. The site influenced the design big time.”
In addition to the structural and aesthetic improvements, the property underwent a complete upgrade of its utility systems, with a focus on sustainability.
“There was no gas connection, only a big gas tank,” Paul says. “It wasn’t safe, so we looked at alternatives. I’ve always been interested in the environmental and sustainability side of things and suggested an air source heat pump.”
“There was no gas connection, only a big gas tank,” Paul says. “It wasn’t safe, so we looked at alternatives. I’ve always been interested in the environmental and sustainability side of things and suggested an air source heat pump.”
Installing the air source heat pump meant replacing all the pipes for larger ones throughout the property. “For an air source heat pump to deliver the same heating levels we’re used to from a conventional gas boiler, the pipes have to be larger,” Paul says.
“We also had to do heat loss calculations and improve the thermal performance of the house for an air source heat pump to work well,” he continues. “We were already looking to replace the windows, purely for aesthetic reasons, but part of that conversation became about maximising their thermal performance, too.”
Now, the energy consumption has been significantly reduced through improved window efficiency and additional insulation. The entire perimeter of the house was fully replastered with insulated plasterboard. The roof was insulated, too. “We ended up replacing the roof as well, because the waterproofing wasn’t great, and a lot of the tiles were cracked,” he says.
“All of the roof tiles were removed and everything else stripped back, so it was just the existing timber rafters exposed. Several of these were damaged and had to be replaced,” he says. “About half of the existing roof tiles could be salvaged and were cleaned up. Then new tiles were mixed in with the refurbished ones to blend together as well as possible.”
“We also had to do heat loss calculations and improve the thermal performance of the house for an air source heat pump to work well,” he continues. “We were already looking to replace the windows, purely for aesthetic reasons, but part of that conversation became about maximising their thermal performance, too.”
Now, the energy consumption has been significantly reduced through improved window efficiency and additional insulation. The entire perimeter of the house was fully replastered with insulated plasterboard. The roof was insulated, too. “We ended up replacing the roof as well, because the waterproofing wasn’t great, and a lot of the tiles were cracked,” he says.
“All of the roof tiles were removed and everything else stripped back, so it was just the existing timber rafters exposed. Several of these were damaged and had to be replaced,” he says. “About half of the existing roof tiles could be salvaged and were cleaned up. Then new tiles were mixed in with the refurbished ones to blend together as well as possible.”
Insulation was also fitted beneath the floor, as well as underfloor heating. “It works better with an air source heat pump, and it also meant we didn’t have to use radiators, so that freed up wall space in here,” Paul says.
“So much glazing, so many doors,” Paul says of the house. Doors open off the living room and onto the large terrace. There are also two sets of glazed doors off the main bedroom, and one upstairs, allowing the interior to connect with the landscape beyond.
The living area, seen here, has a large, custom-made, L-shaped sofa, which, along with the rug, helps to zone the space. The decor is both comfortable and classic, with an abundance of tactile textiles and patterns in soft tones.
Coving, London Plastercraft.
The living area, seen here, has a large, custom-made, L-shaped sofa, which, along with the rug, helps to zone the space. The decor is both comfortable and classic, with an abundance of tactile textiles and patterns in soft tones.
Coving, London Plastercraft.
At the other end of the room, the bespoke kitchen, which is painted in a grey-blue with a Carrara marble-style quartz worktop, is now open to the dining area for sociable gatherings.
Kitchen, Woodstock Furniture; painted in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball.
Kitchen, Woodstock Furniture; painted in Oval Room Blue, Farrow & Ball.
The dining space, designed with a built-in, L-shaped banquette, was originally the kitchen.
A glass door now leads from the dining area into the extension. “We made the new space read as quite separate,” Paul says. The rest of the ground floor is open-plan with a relaxed, cosy feel; the extension beyond has a more contemporary aesthetic.
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A glass door now leads from the dining area into the extension. “We made the new space read as quite separate,” Paul says. The rest of the ground floor is open-plan with a relaxed, cosy feel; the extension beyond has a more contemporary aesthetic.
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The extension was another design element that grew in scope. Originally, the owner liked the idea of an independent, prefabricated oak structure on the land that could function as a home office. Then Paul suggested seeing what else they could achieve.
“We said, maybe this could be a really cool master bedroom, and then maybe a bedroom and an office. And then maybe an amazing en suite, too,” he says. “The plan got bigger and bigger and was getting closer to the house, so then we thought we could actually link it up.”
South Downs National Park planning restrictions state that any extension built can’t be more than 30% of the original footprint of the house. Paul’s design ended up being exactly within the limits of what was permissible.
The owner always wanted a bigger terrace than the original property offered, so having designed the extension, Paul created a large terrace area that connects it with the main house. “The view from it is incredible,” he says.
“We said, maybe this could be a really cool master bedroom, and then maybe a bedroom and an office. And then maybe an amazing en suite, too,” he says. “The plan got bigger and bigger and was getting closer to the house, so then we thought we could actually link it up.”
South Downs National Park planning restrictions state that any extension built can’t be more than 30% of the original footprint of the house. Paul’s design ended up being exactly within the limits of what was permissible.
The owner always wanted a bigger terrace than the original property offered, so having designed the extension, Paul created a large terrace area that connects it with the main house. “The view from it is incredible,” he says.
The owner wanted a more contemporary feel for the main suite in the extension, which Paul achieved through striking lighting design featuring indirect lighting from concealed LED channels. The en suite bathroom/dressing room also has minimalist joinery and wall panelling.
Basin taps, Samuel Heath. Wall lights, Original BTC.
Basin taps, Samuel Heath. Wall lights, Original BTC.
Two sets of double doors open off the main bedroom, one leading onto the terrace and the other, to the right, overlooking woodland. Here, a glass balustrade is just visible, installed because the room is around 700mm above ground level.
The three upstairs bedrooms in the original house are designed to be tranquil havens, offering peace, privacy, and a connection to nature.
The double bedroom at the back of the house, seen here, has doors connecting it to the outside and the stunning view.
The upper levels and dormers are all clad in sustainably sourced red cedar. “It is lovely, very rustic,” Paul says. “It has silvered down quite a lot since these photos were taken.”
Throughout the upper level, Paul tweaked the floor plan to optimise it and introduce a lot more storage.
The double bedroom at the back of the house, seen here, has doors connecting it to the outside and the stunning view.
The upper levels and dormers are all clad in sustainably sourced red cedar. “It is lovely, very rustic,” Paul says. “It has silvered down quite a lot since these photos were taken.”
Throughout the upper level, Paul tweaked the floor plan to optimise it and introduce a lot more storage.
A glass balustrade ensures the double doors are safe and the views unspoiled.
The ceiling height has been raised in the upstairs bedrooms. “As we were pretty much redoing the roof, we decided to get engineers involved to help us push the height up a bit,” Paul says. “Downstairs, we were creating open-plan spaces; upstairs, we couldn’t do much to increase the footprint, but we could increase the sense of space by opening up and accentuating the pitched roof.”
This guest bedroom overlooks the extension. Paul was able to replace the existing rooflights upstairs, which were old-fashioned and not working very well.
“In the National Park, they don’t want you to introduce new skylights, because it impacts the migration patterns of bats,” Paul says, “but as the property already had them, we were allowed to replace them so long as we kept them the same size.”
To make the rooflights appear bigger, Paul designed a chamfered effect on the opening. “It’s a little trick that softens the look a bit and makes the window seem bigger,” he says.
Carpet, Sinclair Till.
“In the National Park, they don’t want you to introduce new skylights, because it impacts the migration patterns of bats,” Paul says, “but as the property already had them, we were allowed to replace them so long as we kept them the same size.”
To make the rooflights appear bigger, Paul designed a chamfered effect on the opening. “It’s a little trick that softens the look a bit and makes the window seem bigger,” he says.
Carpet, Sinclair Till.
The kids’ room is at the front of the property, above the main entrance.
Landscaping became another crucial element of this project. “It was a relatively steep site before, so we used retaining walls to create flat surfaces, so the family could have a terrace and a reasonably flat lawn they could use,” Paul says.
Now, not only the family but the many friends that come to stay love and appreciate this house. “When it was finished, the owner, who has a high-pressured job, shook my hand and said ‘I can truly relax here and that means everything,’” Paul says, “I think he genuinely loves it.”
Tell us…
What do you like best about this rural home? Let us know in the Comments.
Now, not only the family but the many friends that come to stay love and appreciate this house. “When it was finished, the owner, who has a high-pressured job, shook my hand and said ‘I can truly relax here and that means everything,’” Paul says, “I think he genuinely loves it.”
Tell us…
What do you like best about this rural home? Let us know in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A family of four
Location Fernhurst, West Sussex
Property A detached house
Size Four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Architect Paul Duffy of BetterPAD
Project year 2023, completed early 2024
Photos by French + Tye
The house is what Paul describes as “a contemporary interpretation of a country cottage”. There are clean lines and modern features, such as the black steel windows, but they are offset against rustic materials, including untreated timber and stone.
“We were using natural materials for a natural setting where possible,” he says. “The property is obviously contemporary and exciting as well, but still very fitting for the country setting.”
It took around four months from Paul being asked to work on the house to securing Planning Permission, and then another 10 months of construction. “It was a relatively long time for various reasons,” he says.
The extension (seen here to the left of the property) needed a complicated foundation type because of the site conditions and National Park restrictions. “It’s near a river, which meant the ground didn’t have the usual stability, so we ended up doing piles into the ground, and that’s how we could protect the trees as well. That type of construction takes a lot longer.”