1980s property reimagined for modern living

The goal was to expand the footprint as much as possible, enhance flow and functionality, refine the aesthetic, and achieve a low carbon footprint. The design focuses on making each room more vibrant and inviting, bringing in natural light, and creating a stronger connection to the outdoors.

When our clients set about creating a high-quality family home, they turned to Palmer + Partners, specialists in sustainable architectural design. Project architect Stefania D’Amato came up with a design solution which would reuse as much of the structure and fabric of the existing 1980s property as possible, whilst meeting her client’s needs for more space, better flow and function and low-carbon longevity.

“Our starting point for the design was to breathe new life into the dated 1980s detached property, transforming it into a modern, functional family home,” says Stefania D’Amato. “We focused on maximising the property’s potential, both in terms of space and its connection to the outdoors. It was essential to meet the client’s needs while preserving the openness and beauty of the green belt. Additionally, the original property lacked the necessary airtightness to minimise heat loss, so the technical design prioritised achieving excellent U-values and maximising solar gain.”

The extent of the transformation at Hedgerow House is indeed striking. Externally, the front elevation – with its large, glazed panels and rendered finish – is barely recognisable. By extending the first-floor roofline to seamlessly connect with the ground-floor entrance and incorporating an expansive bespoke rooflight, the design introduces modernity to the front facade while illuminating the two-story entrance hall. Similarly, the main rear elevation features well-proportioned gables, with the central gable extended, raised, and lengthened to increase the depth of the property. This central gable also mirrors the layout inside, aligning with the dining room, kitchen, and the master bedroom with an ensuite above. 

Upstairs, a recessed glass balcony adds a striking feature to the elevation, highlighting different depths while offering a private escape from the main bedroom. It also provides shade to the large open-plan living spaces below. On the ground floor, the expanded footprint creates a bright, open kitchen and living space across the back of the house.

“Special attention was given to creating unique, light-filled spaces that enhance the overall experience of the home. A striking feature is the entrance hall, filled with natural light thanks to expansive glass panels and a massive rooflight above, which creates a sense of openness from the moment you step inside. Another highlight is the curved staircase by Edge Bespoke, a sculptural element that not only serves as a functional connection between levels but also adds a sense of elegance and fluidity to the space.”

Internally, the flow within and between spaces has been transformed. A sense of openness is achieved through expansive internal Crittall-style glazing, which segregates the spaces.

Rachele Bowley, Creative Director at Last Interior Design, worked hand-in-hand with our clients and the wider project team to deliver a full interior scheme, including spatial layouts, finishes, joinery and cabinetry design, and furnishing. Rachele’s aim was to introduce just the right amount of character and warmth to balance the striking modern architecture.

“Our clients wanted to retain the modern aesthetic but didn’t want spaces to feel stark or too contemporary,” says Rachele. “We used layers to create depth and bring soul. Interventions such as cladding the pantry wall with the floorboards used in the kitchen area served both to link the two spaces and to intensify the visually warming effect of the oak. Throughout the property, we used layered timber shades to add depth and character. This is seen from the entrance hall, looking into the kitchen space, where darker smoked oak dining chairs sit against the light smoked floor.”

Hedgerow House is defined by a collection of exceptional architectural features. A gallery-inspired double-height hallway exhibits the stunning curved staircase and a mezzanine first-floor landing. Here, expansive double-sectioned ceiling glazing by Stella Rooflight, internal Crittall-style doors and a full-height glazed entrance section bring an extraordinary sense of light and openness.

The reconfigured internal layout is wholly different from the original. Extensive remodelling has created a full-width open-plan kitchen living space with a statement contemporary internal-external glazed fireplace. The revised layout brings depth and connection through the property. Upstairs, the main bedroom suite with its vaulted ceiling, exposed trusses, and private balcony, stands out as a key architectural feature. The ensuite, positioned next to a window, includes a freestanding bath, offering the perfect spot for a relaxing soak with a view.

Pivotal to the project is a home pub, the structural bridge where architecture and landscape design gracefully dovetail. Outside the garden room, a pergola-style covered seating area forms the main entertaining space, leading to a secluded hot tub area set amongst lush planting and sculptural screening elements.

Landscape designer Richard Rogers worked alongside the design team, with cohesion and balance front of mind. "The oak-clad and rendered property is angular in form, so the garden needed to be more than just an outdoor space: it would serve as a bridge between the house and the surrounding countryside," says Richard. “We mirrored the angular aesthetics of the house with the straight edges of the planting beds and paving leading away from the building. From there, long but subtle curves in the form of paths and edges were used to link to the softer, more naturalistic areas beyond, including a wildflower meadow". Richard’s vision, brought to fruition by The Secret Landscape Company, is currently bedding in.

As well as the outstanding project team, the Hedgerow House reimagining would not have been possible without the many excellent specialist suppliers who brought vital elements of the project to life. Too numerous to mention individually, but nonetheless important, we thank everyone involved.  Last, but certainly not least, we thank our clients for trusting us with their family home and wish them every happiness there long into the future.