Out & About July 2017

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Derelict late-Victorian houses with
broken fireplaces, sparking sockets
and a utility door where the front
entrance should be pose no problem
for Kate Cooper from Absolute Architecture,
Newbury.
The architect recently helped a West Berkshire
family renovate a two-bedroom former lodge
house, built in 1910.
Kate worked with the family on a year-long
journey to sympathetically and comprehensive-
ly renovate the property. From humble begin-
nings with a tired façade and unconventional
layout, it is now a 21st-century home.
Kate’s first job was to assist with a planning
application that would allow the owners to
extend. She then started work on a seamless
extension to include a larger kitchen with utility
room and dining area, and a third bedroom
with en-suite.
“The property was quite run-down and needed
a complete refurbishment,” said Kate.
“It was cramped with lots of small rooms so we
opened it out, added an extension and worked
on extensive landscaping, a large patio and a
pond to enable the family to enjoy the outdoor
space as much as possible.
“However, it had real character, which we’ve
worked hard to retain and enhance, and there
are some beautiful features that have been
unveiled, such as exposed rafters in the bed-
rooms, which had to be removed and replaced
so we could paint them and install the huge
lantern lights”.
Removing the ceilings in the master bedroom
created an amazing transformation, leaving
behind a dramatic vaulted space. Kate also
reconfigured the area to include the en-suite
bathroom.
Kate introduced local designers and craftsmen
to the team including Ben Heath Kitchens, LT
interiors and Isobel Pigott landscape design,
so that all aspects of the project were fully
designed and bespoke.
The exteriors have been carefully renovated
and softened with a more subtle Farrow and
Ball colour-scheme of grey and white.
Kate enjoyed designing all of the interior detail
to meet specific requirements for built-in stor-
age, an Aga, and a raised wood burner. Kate
herself is delighted with the results and even
personally shopped for the family kettle, tea
towels and crockery to complete the kitchen.
She said: “The extension ties in with the origi-
nal character of the cottage and the kitchen is
a real triumph – it’s just unrecognisable from
what was there before.
“We chose simple Shaker-style units in soft
white and the highlights of the room include
a striking black and white tiled floor and a
bespoke pendant light which has been
powder-coated the same colour as the Aga.
“The colour and interest comes from the bright
Manuel Canovas fabric picked out for the
dining room chairs and everything else is
simple and elegant. The owners didn’t want the
room to feel too new and slick, so we added
ceiling beams to give it character and texture.”
French windows have been put in, leading onto
the outdoor terrace and the new bay window
provides light and extra seating plus views of a
newly-planted wildflower meadow and natural
ponds.
The owner, Leslie, added: “We needed
someone with great references and contacts to
take on such a huge project and Kate gave us
the confidence and vision to achieve our dream
home. She did a lovely job. You can hardly
believe the transformation.
“Every small detail has been thoroughly
thought through and it’s a truly relaxing
hideaway for our family. I feel like I am
enveloped by a warm hug when I am here.
When I’m away for a while, I come here to
escape everything and breathe a sigh of
happiness when I walk through the door.”
For more information, click onto www.absolute
When architect Kate Cooper was asked to transform a
small former lodge into a cosy, but up-to-date family home, she took up the challenge with
relish as MARGARET MCDONNELL discovered
Making a House a
Garden
Before
After
Kitchen
Lounge
Bedrooms