The Party Wall People

For this project our client required a lot more space for their family's growing needs. They specifically wanted to convert their loft into a master suite and open up the ground floor for better flow. They approached us during the purchase process which allowed us to start the design journey with them from the very beginning, creating a new lease of life for the property, tailored made for them.

# Brief
Converting the loft allowed for a really great master bedroom space. This needed to include a separate bathroom space as well as making the most of the front gable for a fantastic dressing area. Also important to the client was reconfiguring the first floor to include ensuite bathrooms for each of the bedrooms, extending and adjusting the ground floor for a generous open plan kitchen and living space. All in all, our brief was to create loads more space in this family home. Its not often you get asked to make a Tardis! 

# Concept
![GUGLIELMI CONCEPT 15](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/7JX9VR4iSZ53s2wVYvSFHB/5cf1e7f60e54b6b2aedba61490618a27/GUGLIELMI_CONCEPT_15.jpg)

On the ground floor we removed the garage allowing for much more natural light into the formal dining room. This room still opens out to the back through connecting doors to a large kitchen space with pantry and side access, providing great flexibility as needs change. With good planning, we proposed rebuilding the store for a more useable utility/laundry space with side access to that all important outdoor hanging space. 

A fantastic sliding glass door rear elevation gave a lovely connection to the garden and some well placed roof lights brightened up the floor plan perfectly. Externally, we married a material palette that complements the age of the property but with a more modern aesthetic suited to our client's taste.
![J000291 68.jpg 67.jpg 68](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/4ALuUDE7lpCnt0FyaYej8s/90bf16063f6745d5e6a5f1268a170c74/J000291_68.jpg_67.jpg_68.jpg)
Ground Floor Plan

![J000291 69](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/3mfBuRDdIMwJ6HzRxadHfn/c5d0fdc5ed9574a22c898003f7c130a4/J000291_69.jpg)
First Floor Plan

![J000291 70](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/5uEBJNwlta46ibcdWG6W1P/e9ca95d0cd882abcb0ad5b966f5fde7c/J000291_70.jpg)
Second Floor Plan

# Challenges
Like any project, our team had to keep our client's budget in mind throughout. This can sometimes pose a challenge, but ensuring we balance the brief carefully means we manage expectations and the project moves forward even when construction costs escalate. One key element that posed a challenge was the limited head room in the new loft, which meant we had to propose lowering the ceiling across the whole first floor. This was only possible because of the generous head height in the existing so we were able to design this in effectively and hit the brief successfully.

Guglielmi, Epping Exterior

Guglielmi, Epping Interior

J000291 68.jpg 67.jpg 68

J000291 70

J000291 69

Epping

A prominent corner plot is the location of this beautiful family home. A more traditional house required a substantial extension for more bedrooms and living space. Important elements for our client were natural light for their art collection, a gorgeous kitchen and entertaining space and a knock out master bedroom suite. We delivered this and more!

# Brief
Our client needed additional bedroom space for a more generous master bedroom with great connection to the mature garden to the rear. It was also key to provide a more open fluid layout with a living kitchen space for everyday use. It was important to find two work from home offices with enjoyable views to the rear. Sustainability within the design was a concern for our client and the simplest way to achieve this was to retain as much of the existing as possible without needlessly demolishing parts of the original property.

![Regnier Wilson Sketches](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/5q9X7QUM6nVMSjnD9sJuKP/885b8fd29c1e65f162541aaa1edc9685/MRW_CONCEPT.jpg)

# Concept
With some sensible interventions we were able to create all of the above with a contrasting modern extension. A series of simple forms tucked around the existing property were broken with a clear delineating glass link. The front elevation allows for a two storey side extension that follows the traditional domestic scale gable form, whilst at the rear a single storey extension captures sufficient space for the new ground floor additions. The material palette was chosen to provide a contrast where the new stood apart from the old with dark timber cladding.

![Ground Floor Plan Regnier-Wilson](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/4JTSnhbAsXCuCdYfwSR5wj/9fda99b739410e3dc9477911e4e6ebbc/J000270_GF.jpg) Ground Floor Plan
![First Floor Plan Regnier-Wilson](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/6Ljcp11Pa4uQhbSKwXQJTm/a19fbf77b1fb660e8fcf1cf7656e8835/J000270_FF.jpg) First Floor Plan

# Challenges
The largest challenge to this project was the planning process due to some interesting local parameters. Engaging a tree specialist early on allowed for decisions to be made about the retention of some key trees and the best method of protection. The rear boundary was also a Grade II Listed brick wall that needed to be clearly protected which formed part of the submission process. As such a pre-application meeting with the local authority yielded valuable feedback to engage on these subjects and ensure that we had responded suitably to each matter prior to an application.

Regnier-Wilson Front View

Regnier-Wilson Rear Garden View

Regnier-Wilson Kitchen

Regnier-Wilson Bedroom

First Floor Plan Regnier-Wilson

Ground Floor Plan Regnier-Wilson

Westlands

This large detached property on the main road deserved a much needed redesign. The front elevation is now double fronted and much more eye catching if we do say so ourselves! This is a lovely big project encompassing a loft conversion, rear extension and entrance reinvigoration. 

# Brief
The brief for our clients included a full ground floor reconfiguration, first floor re-jig and loft conversion. It was essential we created flow through the spaces, and included play rooms for the kids and a classy quiet space for the parents that can adapt as the family grows. 

The brief for the extended kitchen for this family home included a connection to the outdoor patio for outdoor dining and a large kitchen island for gathering. 

![Walkin site photo](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/5Dqmyf0esFXm68e5soeC0z/8fb5213c6bd27caa3471860f159a300f/for_website.jpg) Existing Site Photo
# Concept
Our resulting design for the family brings together their need for light and a connection with the outdoors. Architecturally, the crown roof makes the kitchen/dining space feel large and open with several rooflights flooding the space with light. The sliding doors open up to a patio area right next to the kitchen, essential for those summer BBQ's and family dining outside. 

The loft utilises a Juliet balcony making the Master bedroom feel like it opens right up to the outside. The ensuite and office space uses rooflights to keep the spaces light but maintain privacy. We worked with the clients to design open treads on the stairs to the loft, this means light can travel down from the loft to the darker staircase below. 

![245](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/3n2YNj1HEWClG4JG93D0e2/4eece8ccbaf78e56aa534ab16563a12b/245.jpg)Ground Floor Plan

# Challenges
Our clients highly value symmetry and balance in Elevation. This was a fun challenge to get right architecturally as the existing building was not symmetrical. We recessed a portion of the utility and kitchen back, then used lovely vaulted roofs and materiality to showcase the 2 dominant spaces of the kitchen island and living room to create balance visually. This meant the dining space softly bridged the gap resulting in a harmonious design the clients were very happy with.  

# VR
See below for the VR experience we created for our clients! This helps our clients really visualise what their new home looks like, it also helps our clients make further decisions with kitchen design and overall finishes. See more about our VR and design process in our [Stage 1](https://method.studio/process) guide.

J000245 GARDEN

J000245 DINING

J000245 FRONT

J000245 GAMES

J000245 KITCHEN

Great Baddow

The brief for this project was to create a lovely family home that would better cater for the client's needs. This included making best use of a loft conversion as well as extending to the side and rear over two storeys. The ground floor at the rear became a great open plan entertaining space for the whole family.

# Brief
Our clients love cooking and entertaining friends and family in their home. They needed an open plan Kitchen/Dining space with loads of natural light and a big sliding door to connect the inside with the outside. 'Back-stage' items like a pantry, utility for washing machine and a dog wash were essential to making their house a well functioning home. 

An important part of the brief was also a loft conversion. This space was to include a Master bedroom, ensuite, dressing room and a quiet office space for work calls. The master and office space makes the most of a beautiful view of the outside to keep an eye on the kids (and the dog) in the garden. 

![Vallil site photo](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/6A3hdcorSCHWLuiZbbpJc3/cd04daa7d8c5b6263ecfee73c960ffed/for_website.jpg) Existing Site photo

# Concept
Our resulting design for the family brings together their need for light and a connection with the outdoors. Architecturally, the crown roof makes the kitchen/dining space feel large and open with several rooflights flooding the space with light. The sliding doors open up to a patio area right next to the kitchen, essential for those summer BBQ's and family dining outside. 

The loft utilises a Juliet balcony making the Master bedroom feel like it opens right up to the outside. The ensuite and office space uses rooflights to keep the spaces light but maintain privacy. We worked with the clients to design open treads on the stairs to the loft, this means light can travel down from the loft to the darker staircase below. 

![248 0](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/4ugW2dTEJ8x1hKWtiFUcSL/d09a3a239ff230d0a3dcd8e421ea1fa4/248_0.jpg) Ground Floor Plan

![248 1](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/3EBXs4nJQN9BCnVplvPNeW/c2c85280ea526a721f308a40513b9b18/248_1.jpg) First Floor Plan

![248 2](//images.ctfassets.net/m89aihghrib4/6PAgUYy3RDGRL3cVFb29QE/b11e06509db3bc924d54c3ae7738b865/248_2.jpg) Second Floor Plan

# Challenges
Because this was a 6m extension we needed to find a way to ensure the existing living room wasn’t plunged into darkness. We therefore inserted some big roof-lights within the crown-roof of the extension. This allows a wash of indirect natural light to illuminate the internal living space. 

We were also raising the ridge and redesigning the roof shape to include an incredibly spacious loft for the master suite. We took into consideration many factors including the neighbours heights, massing, character etc. Because of our experience and thoughtful designing this project sailed through planning with an early approval. 

# VR
See below for the VR experience we created for our clients! This helps our clients really visualise what their new home looks like, it also helps our clients make further decisions with kitchen design and overall finishes. See more about our VR and design process in our [Stage 1](https://method.studio/process) guide.

J000248 KITCHEN

J000248 FRONT

J000248 GARDEN

J000248 K:L:D

J000248 REAR

248 0

248 1

248 2

Vallil site photo

Broomfield

During your project The Party Wall People will always provide accurate, easy-to-understand advice. They are a small team but they firmly believe this gives them the advantage of flexibility and excellent communication. The Party Wall People pride themselves on a professional and personal service, and Method Studio can definitely agree with this. Here's an example of some of their recent work below...