Niche Design Architects

We found Niche Design on the web and contacted Chris Hunt for a chat about a proposed extension. Chris was helpful, full of good advice and professional throughout and we now have an extension we are proud of. As well as the design and architectural drawings Chris organised full and reliable costing, advice from a tree specialist and structural engineer and arranged planning permission and building control. We found a family firm of builders with a little help from Chris who were good enough not to need any more input from the Architect. Thanks all round for a really good job that was on time and in budget.

We have worked with Chris and Cathy from Niche Architects on a number of projects over the past 12 months. We have found them both to be thoroughly professional. They offer a great level of customer service, complemented with interesting and clever designs. We really look forward to working with them again. Highly recommended.

A very high standard of work and interpreted our design wish list so well we hardly needed to make any changes! In fact we ended up with a new build instead of a refurbishment which has most certainly given us more for our money! Chris managed our contract with the builders very effectively and efficiently, enabling the project schedule, finance and aims to stay on track. He guided us through a maze of potential problems and recommended other professionals involved including Ashfield builders who were also excellent! We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Niche Design for both design plans and contract management. Thanks Chris. We love our new home.

We contacted Chris about this project when considering to purchase the property and his advice and management has been exceptional all along. In particular he helped us secure planning permission (no mean feat for a grade II listed property in a Conservation Area), oversaw the tender process, recommended a great builder and project managed the construction stage. The result is that we have transformed a cosy 17th century building into a beautiful home, retaining its charm yet creating more space, more light and all the functionality needed for a modern family. The best part - this was done on time, almost to the original budget and with virtually no stress! We would strongly recommend Chris and the Niche Design team to anyone seeking the help of a highly professional and skilled architect.

Chris listened to the brief for more kitchen space, light and warmth in our Edwardian home. He provided an excellent design which met all our requirements and provided insight and advice throughout the process. We now have a thoroughly modern space which is in harmony with the rest of the house. Niche Design enjoy our complete confidence and we have no hesitation in recommending them.

We first contacted Niche Design in 2016 with a view to obtaining planning permission to build a new house in our garden. Having lived in our existing Victorian home for over 30 years we didn't want to leave our village. We wanted to find an Architect who could deliver a contemporary design that reflected the way we wanted to live both now and in the future. Having chosen Niche Design, from day one Chris was incredibly positive and showed he had great experience of planning applications in green belt areas. He listened to our ideas, gave excellent feedback and introduced his own ideas that produced a design that has exceeded our expectations. Once planning was approved Cathy became involved in fine tuning the internal layouts and producing working drawing for our builder. Cathy's detailed drawings were comprehensive and she was always on the end of the phone if we needed any questions answered. Niche Design have helped us build the house of our dreams, we would recommend them highly to anyone looking for a passionate team of Architects who are excellent at their craft.

Our objective from the start was to take full advantage of the beautiful views across the valley. Chris from Niche fully supported us and came up with the perfect design. After lots of discussion he worked around our lifestyle and design taste. The result was a bright , open space with sliding glass doors which perfectly frame the view. Chris was professional and easy to work with and we are delighted with the result .

Having downsized, we needed to extend our rather cramped bungalow and create disabled friendly accommodation. Chris was recommended by our builder, he visited us and we liked the way he listened and came up with ideas, so we were happy to instruct him. Chris, our builder and ourselves had many meetings together to get the plans drawn up for what we needed. It was brilliant that they were both willing to spend time with us getting it right. After the local authority wanted to change our plans, Chris was instrumental in getting them passed as originally designed. We would recommend Niche Architects without hesitation.

It was a pleasure to work with Niche Design Architects. I recommend them 1000% . They undertook an extensive renovation/restoration project with us. They were attentive to detail, worked well with the builder and contractors and were extremely responsive to our needs. We particularly appreciated their innovative (yet practical) ideas and their design aesthetic. We also appreciated how they carefully listened to our desires and preferences, and worked with us to accomplish them. We valued and trusted their opinions on all aspects of the design.

Niche Designs were great to work with. Chris was very patient, allowing us to spend a long time working out our requirements from the design so that once the build started there was no need for any rethinks.He put forward suggestions but really allowed us to make the design our own. He was clear on the fee structure and guided us through the tender process and the build itself. He was a useful buffer when we had the inevitable 'difference of opinion' with our builders which we were able to resolve amicably. Overall we were really happy with the quality of work from the firms he suggested and we all feel that the outcome has exceeded our expectations.

We asked Niche to draw up designs to convert part of our garage into an office. The result is not just an office but a beautiful, light-filled space which is a pleasure to work in - cosy in the winter and cool in the summer! They were very flexible about looking at different options which made the whole design process very straightforward. The drawings and information they provided was very comprehensive and as a result the builder had no queries and we had no nasty surprises in terms of additional costs. In fact we were so impressed we've asked them to draw up plans for a new kitchen / dining room and loft conversion. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.

We were recommended Niche Design Architects and have been completely satisfied by their excellent service, professionalism and innovative design skills. Chris Hunt showed us a portfolio of work at the start of the process which was impressive and reassuring! He listened carefully to our brief (to design a contemporary 'Eco' friendly, 4 double bedroom house within a large garden plot) and the design he came up with more than exceeded our expectations. The design utilised the shape of the landscape well making the most of the available plot. Chris handled and kept us informed throughout the Planning Application process which had a successful outcome. I would like to thank him for a job well done and look forward to seeing the house when constructed.