Houzz Tour: Natural Light Floods into an Elegant New-build Home
Oak cladding and generous glazing were key to connecting this home to the countryside around it
An idyllic location was the inspiration for this stunning home. Builder Jeremy Westcott and his family had bought a rundown 1960s bungalow on the edge of the South Downs National Park a few years previously, but dreamed of constructing a home that took in more of its surroundings.
Jeremy teamed up with architect Carl Leroy-Smith to design and build a house that did just that by using a combination of glass and timber to connect the interior with the exterior.
Jeremy teamed up with architect Carl Leroy-Smith to design and build a house that did just that by using a combination of glass and timber to connect the interior with the exterior.
As the front and back of the home are fully glazed, it made sense for Carl to plan the front door at the side of the building. To the right of the door as you enter is a handy bench, plus an understairs cupboard and a cloakroom. The bottom of the staircase is two metres wide and narrows after the first three steps. “This makes the entrance a little more interesting,” Jeremy says.
The opposite wall is covered with slatted oak joinery to match the oak cladding on the exterior of the house. The timber panels push open to reveal a coat cupboard, a services cabinet and the entrance to the living room.
Composite doors and windows throughout the house, Velfac. Ground floor walls painted in Polished Pebble, Dulux.
The opposite wall is covered with slatted oak joinery to match the oak cladding on the exterior of the house. The timber panels push open to reveal a coat cupboard, a services cabinet and the entrance to the living room.
Composite doors and windows throughout the house, Velfac. Ground floor walls painted in Polished Pebble, Dulux.
There’s an opaque glass screen above the slatted doors to bring light into the hallway. “We could have left it open, but we wanted to make the living room feel enclosed and cosy, particularly in winter,” Jeremy says.
Pendants, GANTlights. Orson sofa; leather tub chair, both Made.com. Curtains, Applemoon Interiors.
Pendants, GANTlights. Orson sofa; leather tub chair, both Made.com. Curtains, Applemoon Interiors.
Most of the home’s doors and windows are made from composite frames that have durable aluminium on the outside and softer timber on the inside.
Huge, concrete-effect porcelain floor tiles feature throughout the ground floor. “We were originally going to have polished concrete flooring, but we were too far away from the firm who were delivering it,” Jeremy says. “The travelling distance would have affected the screed.” So at the last minute, the couple went for these tiles and are now very happy with their decision.
Azuma natural floor tiles, Imola Ceramica.
Huge, concrete-effect porcelain floor tiles feature throughout the ground floor. “We were originally going to have polished concrete flooring, but we were too far away from the firm who were delivering it,” Jeremy says. “The travelling distance would have affected the screed.” So at the last minute, the couple went for these tiles and are now very happy with their decision.
Azuma natural floor tiles, Imola Ceramica.
The glazed façades are framed by slatted timber overhangs. They form attractive covers for the patio areas outside the living room here and the kitchen, out of shot to the left.
Inspired to renovate? Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Inspired to renovate? Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The kitchen-diner is situated at the end of the hallway corridor, and the glazed side door provides a view from the entrance to the garden.
There are bifold doors at the back and front of this room to connect the whole space to the outdoors. Black skirting boards match the dark frames of the doors and windows.
An oak dining table can be extended to seat eight, while a large kitchen island with a waterfall worktop provides a place for a casual breakfast or lunch.
Solid oak dining table, Journey’s End Furniture.
There are bifold doors at the back and front of this room to connect the whole space to the outdoors. Black skirting boards match the dark frames of the doors and windows.
An oak dining table can be extended to seat eight, while a large kitchen island with a waterfall worktop provides a place for a casual breakfast or lunch.
Solid oak dining table, Journey’s End Furniture.
The kitchen units are made from standard carcasses with bespoke plywood doors. These were painted in a black wash that allows the wood grain to show through. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards house a fridge-freezer, integrated ovens and storage cabinets.
The family decided they’d like a TV in the kitchen, but have cleverly part-concealed it in a timber-framed recess.
Lucern Lake quartz worktop, First Stone Worktops. Kitchen cabinets, Howdens. Bespoke cabinet doors painted in matt black barn paint, Bedec. Lien Diamond 805 induction hob; push mechanism downdraft extractor, both Elica. HBG633BB1B ovens, Bosch. Integrated fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel.
The family decided they’d like a TV in the kitchen, but have cleverly part-concealed it in a timber-framed recess.
Lucern Lake quartz worktop, First Stone Worktops. Kitchen cabinets, Howdens. Bespoke cabinet doors painted in matt black barn paint, Bedec. Lien Diamond 805 induction hob; push mechanism downdraft extractor, both Elica. HBG633BB1B ovens, Bosch. Integrated fridge-freezer, Fisher & Paykel.
This photo shows how the kitchen-diner can be opened up from front to back. From here, you can see the ample extra space that’s been provided by the overhanging timber and balcony above to create a sheltered patio.
In the downstairs cloakroom, Jeremy introduced a couple of interesting surfaces. The countertop, for example, is part of a concrete floor that was saved from a previous basement project. “The concrete has a worn, polished effect on the top, which works really well in here,” he says.
Above this sits a solid wood basin that was carved from a tree. It’s untreated and inherently water-resistant.
Bantul basin, Cipì. Mirror, Ikea.
Above this sits a solid wood basin that was carved from a tree. It’s untreated and inherently water-resistant.
Bantul basin, Cipì. Mirror, Ikea.
The master bedroom looks out over the front garden and surrounding countryside. Fixed slatted pine screens on the left of the window ensure privacy for the neighbours when they’re in their garden. “The screens work well, as they’re positioned by the bed, so it makes that area more cosy,” Jeremy says.
A door to the right of the slats has a glass balustrade in front, which enables the couple to slide the glazing open safely.
Mantra wool loop carpet in Taupe, Waterlooville Carpets.
A door to the right of the slats has a glass balustrade in front, which enables the couple to slide the glazing open safely.
Mantra wool loop carpet in Taupe, Waterlooville Carpets.
The en suite features a walk-in shower, with the walls and floor covered with limestone tiles. Jeremy used standard cabinets in here, but framed them with oak to give a more interesting finish.
The children’s room has a view of the back garden. The middle panel of the floor-to-ceiling glazing is a bi-parting door, which slides apart to form a large opening. The windows lead out to a balcony covered with Millboard composite decking.
This room and the couple’s bedroom are lit by simple, exposed-bulb pendants, which hang from the centre of the pitched ceilings. Jeremy’s partner painted the wall behind the twins’ cots to zone the area and reflect the angled lines of the architecture.
Cots, Snüz.
This room and the couple’s bedroom are lit by simple, exposed-bulb pendants, which hang from the centre of the pitched ceilings. Jeremy’s partner painted the wall behind the twins’ cots to zone the area and reflect the angled lines of the architecture.
Cots, Snüz.
A guest bedroom is located in the smaller pitched section of the home. As the ceilings elsewhere go right up to the apex of the roof, the family had foregone any loft storage space, so in this room they decided to add some. Above the flat roof is an attic space where they can keep bulky items out of the way.
A large, sheltered balcony leads out from this bedroom. “From around 2 o’clock it gets the sun, so it’s a lovely, private place to sit,” Jeremy says.
A large, sheltered balcony leads out from this bedroom. “From around 2 o’clock it gets the sun, so it’s a lovely, private place to sit,” Jeremy says.
The exterior of the guest bedroom is seen here on the left, and below is a utility and shower room.
Tell us…
Which part of this stunning new-build home do you like best? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
Which part of this stunning new-build home do you like best? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Jeremy Westcott and his partner with their twins and two dogs
Location A village at the edge of the South Downs, West Sussex
Property A new-build house
Size Three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Architect Carl Leroy-Smith
Builder Jeremy Westcott of Westcott Construction
Photos by Richard Chivers Architectural Photography
Jeremy and his partner lived in the 1960s bungalow that was originally on this plot for a couple of years while they gathered funds and waited for Planning Permission to build their new home.
The couple worked with architect Carl Leroy-Smith, with whom Jeremy has collaborated on many jobs. “We met in 2012 and I think our projects were some of the first that went on Houzz,” Jeremy says. “We got on really well. I’ve appointed him on more than 10 projects.”
Carl came up with a design that incorporates two pitched roofs, which beautifully frame elegant, dark-framed, glazed façades.