An elegant Arts & Crafts house in the Marlborough conservation area

An elegant white Arts & Crafts house in the Marlborough conservation area, with views over the garden
An elegant white Arts & Crafts house in the Marlborough conservation area, with views over the garden

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Renew & Extend

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Heritage

1228 The White House

Arts and Crafts renovation

This elegant Arts & Crafts house in the Marlborough conservation area has been sensitively refurbished and extended with a contemporary wing offering direct access to the terrace and garden beyond

modern single storey extension to arts and craft house with glazed doors and windows opening to the patio area
View of the corner of the modern extension to an arts and crafts house with chain guttering with brick garden wall behind
corridor with white walls and large glazed section with garden views.

Context

For many, the charm of a period property is something that can’t easily be replicated in a modern-day building. This was certainly one of the reasons our clients were drawn to this notable Arts & Crafts house in Marlborough, which had remained essentially unchanged from the time of its construction around the turn of the twentieth century. Although extensive gardens meant that the plot was attractive to developers, our clients were more interested in the possibilities for refurbishing and extending the existing accommodation to turn it into the perfect home for a young family.

traditional dining room with corner leaden windows. grey painted walls with wooden table, floor and chairs. Large glass light fitting and paintings on the walls
first floor hallway with stairs leading down. roof lights flood light into white painted space with doorway leading to bedroom

Brief

Our clients loved the architectural style of their new home but knew they would have to introduce a better balance between the formal and informal living spaces and recalibrate the out-dated master-and-servant accommodation divisions if they were to commit to exploring the long-term potential of the property. Their vision was simple: to create a spacious, characterful home that would provide a stylish and comfortable backdrop to family life, to include lots of social spaces with direct access to the beautiful grounds.

sitting area with sofa and chairs and stone fireplace. Stairs leading up to first floor, wooden flooring and soft rugs with glass light fittings
Modern kitchen with stone floor. white painted walls with wooden beams leading down into the next rooms and glazing with views to the garden

Challenges

The primary challenge for us was to upgrade and extend the house without destroying or diluting its charm. It was clear that the existing layout would have to be repurposed to give redundant spaces a new lease of life and to remove the artificial divisions between what was originally the owners’ accommodation and staff quarters. Adding a new extension was an essential part of the brief – but it was an element that required sensitive handling, given the building’s location on a sloping site within a conservation area. Although already occupying a spacious plot, extra thought also had to be given to enhancing the privacy between the garden and its boundary.

outside view of glazed link to the modern extension from the arts and craft house.
side view of house with brick garden wall, gravel drive and tree in back ground

Outcomes

The finished project encapsulates a striking synthesis of new and old. The original accommodation has been reconfigured to create a more logical flow, while the stunning contemporary extension delivers an exciting new kitchen-dining-living space that not only affords a wonderfully versatile family hub but also offers easy access to a new terrace and the garden beyond. A new forecourt that spans the area between the extension and the new garage creates an impressive entrance, at the same time screening the garden from the road.

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