Mill Farm

Oakley, Buckinghamshire.

Type: Renovations

The clients were a young family who had bought an old mill house. They’d just had a baby and were expecting a second child, and their pretty and charming new home wasn’t big enough for their growing family.

What was the client’s brief?

We needed to create more space for the family by turning the two-storey building into a three-storey home, but without losing any of its character. The house also had a small, dark kitchen, and we were asked to transform this into a big, bright family kitchen that opened out into the garden.

What did we do?

We remodeled the interior of the house – taking the structure back to just floor, external walls and roof, and then adding height to allow for an extra floor with two more bedrooms and bathrooms – without altering the character of the exterior.

Inside the home is crisp, modern and bright, with a large family kitchen that flows seamlessly into the garden, while the exterior remains a traditional heritage building.

What challenges did we need to overcome?

Turning a two-storey house into a three storey home without changing the external character was a big challenge. We were careful to ensure the home didn’t lose any of its heritage charm, and even resettled the windows so you’d never know the alterations had happened.

The property also had an old outbuilding (a former pigsty) that was tied onto a neighbour’s property, and there wasn’t much certainty over who owned it. We managed to knock the property down and build a new garden building in the space, to the satisfaction of all parties.

What did the client like best?

The client absolutely loved the finished result (you can’t tell from the street that a floor has been added) and our collaborative approach to the project. The client was a local builder so we had a great working relationship, which allowed us to get the best possible end result.

Status: Completed

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Hear what our clients had to say.

Renovations.

We’ve helped transform many wonderful living spaces through renovations and extensions over the years.

Whether you’re looking for a contemporary glass addition, a complete makeover for a period Victorian or Edwardian property, internal remodelling options for houses built more recently, or a complete restoration of a derelict building, we’ll be able to help.

Using our 3D design process, you can explore a range of alterations before embarking on the more detailed phase of your renovation or extension.

Listed Properties.

With our wealth of experience working on listed and heritage properties across London and the South East, HollandGreen has successfully negotiated consents with Local Authority Conservation Officers and with Historic England for a wide range of renovation and extension planning requests.

We work with Specialist Heritage Consultants, and Archaeologists to provide detailed assessments of historic buildings, and have gained approval for ambitious, but sympathetic alterations to properties of historic interest, including those Grade ii* which fall within the top 3% of protected properties in the UK.

New Builds.

For many people the prospect of building their own home is the ultimate dream. At HollandGreen, we’re proud of the fact that we have helped a number of people achieve this dream.

If you are fortunate enough to have a plot of land that has the potential to be built on, or a house that you would like to knock down and start again with a blank piece of paper, we’d love to help.

We can advise on likely planning implications to help establish the feasibility of your project. Our exciting design journey will help you navigate through planning, choosing your builder, and delivering your dream new home.

Barn Conversions.

Barn conversions offer the perfect opportunity to create a unique countryside home, packed with character. At HollandGreen, we’ve had extensive experience in converting existing agricultural buildings into residential dwellings, in accordance to the recent changes to ‘Class Q’ Permitted Development Rights.

From traditional listed stone walled buildings with slate roofing, to more modern metal clad farm sheds for the modern, industrial look, you can create luxurious country living perfect for you. What a great opportunity to create a characterful family home that’s sympathetic to its rural setting, and generally larger in volume and scale than a modern build.

Conservation Areas.

Many properties fall within locations specified as a Conservation Area or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and we have specific experience working with planning departments across London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Please do get in touch if you have any specific questions around what can be possible within a Conservation Area, even if you are just at the early stage of purchasing the property.

Luxury Basements & Pools.

If you’re battling to add space to your property, creating a basement storey can provide the perfect option to add significant living space, without having to move.

With basements closer to the main living areas than lofts, there is greater flexibility in terms of use, from home cinemas, wine cellars and playrooms, to office spaces, personal gyms and swimming pools.

To find out whether adding a basement to your property will add value to your house, we recommend seeking advice from your local estate agents. Talk to us about Permitted Development Rights, as basement extensions are often possible, if a cellar space already exists.

Luxury Kitchens & Lofts.

The way people use their living space is changing. We find that for most of our clients, the kitchen is now the hub of the modern home, and we’re proud that we’ve become known for our inventive and aspirational kitchen extensions.

We’ve helped hundreds of home owners across London and the South East create open, bright and contemporary kitchen living spaces that combine cooking, dining and living within one social and inviting area.

We’re also known for our carefully considered, aesthetically pleasing loft extensions that both increase living space and add a wonderful new aspect to your home.