This sympathetic build puts sustainability first
Liz and Anthony Lewis built their own house and were able to create a bespoke property that puts sustainability first
Every home has its story, but this one started long before a brick was laid – with a saga of planning permissions sought and, eventually, granted. ‘It took three years before we could break ground on the build, and in that time we rented a house nearby, then eventually bought a property in Chester as the delay was so long,’ says Liz Sower-lewis. ‘But the wait was worth it.’
Liz and her husband Anthony had inherited land in Cheshire and, after considering whether to rebuild an existing – and very rundown – Georgian farmhouse on the plot, decided to start from scratch with a self-build. ‘The farmhouse was in too much of a state of disrepair,’ explains Anthony. ‘English Heritage examined the building to see if it should have been listed, but they supported our plans as all the original features of the farmhouse had gone. Starting afresh meant we could make the most of this idyllic spot.’
Liz is an avid subscriber to Country Homes & Interiors and had been keeping a file of magazine cuttings for inspiration. ‘My mum looked at all of the houses and said, “They’re all by Border Oak!” So it was obvious we should ask them to build something for us,’ says Liz.
The couple plumped for a standard design from Border Oak, but the planners wouldn’t pass it. ‘As we were taking down the Georgian building, the ruling was that we had to >
❝ I WORK IN SWEDEN A LOT AND THEIR INTERIORS INSPIRED ME. WE WANTED THE HOUSE TO FEEL CLEAN AND FRESH WITH LINES❞ SCANDI COLOURS AND CLEAN
replace it with similar – a red-brick Cheshire farmhouse,’ says Anthony. ‘The house had to be comparable from the front, but the back could be different, so at the rear we went for an open-plan layout and glass doors. Border Oak’s alternative design enabled us to secure approval from the planners.’
But that was just the start. Bat and newt surveys also had to be done to ensure there would be no impact on wildlife. ‘The process was long as each survey took months,’ says Liz. Finally, construction began. ‘We tried to use the old bricks from the farmhouse, but they weren’t suitable for the house, so we used them in the garden walls instead,’ says Anthony. ‘The process was relatively quick once it started. It took about 15 months from digging the foundations to moving in.’
Anthony is passionate about sustainable building and alternative energy. ‘It’s about the “Fabric First” principles, making sure you build a house with walls and windows designed for energy conservation,’ he says. ‘We also used a ground source heat pump – it was part of our aim to build in a considered way. The beams are all sustainable green oak. There is lots of glass on the south and west side, with special glazing to collect, store or reflect the sun’s energy.’ It was also important to Liz and Anthony that they supported local talent, so the tradespeople were all from nearby.
The couple finally moved in around Easter 2016, but the work wasn’t over. ‘We were naive,’ says Liz. ‘We thought >
❝ THE EXISTING FARMHOUSE WAS IN A TOTAL STATE OF DISREPAIR – THE ORIGINAL FEATURES HAD GONE. IT WAS EASIER TO TAKE IT DOWN REBUILD❞ AND
everything would be complete when the builders finished, but once they left, we had piles of bricks and spoil to sort. We didn’t realise we’d have to do the outside!’ They turned to another local firm, Urban Landscapes Design, to help with the garden. ‘The main work was done within a year, but it took another year to complete it. We took it slowly as we felt it was important to see the lie of the land through all the seasons.’
When it came to the interior, Liz knew exactly how she wanted it to look. ‘During the build we’d begun to see the fabric of the house appear. I work in Sweden a lot and their interiors inspired me. We wanted the house to feel open and fresh with Scandi colours and clean lines. The interior is mostly painted in one shade, an off-white, which looks very different as the light changes. The house was a blank canvas.’
Liz completed a mood board for each room. ‘Each room has a theme, but is similar,’ she says. ‘I have a less-is-more approach, but I like a mix of Scandi and industrial style. I also have lots of collections of vintage pieces as I love the history of things – the model soldiers in the study belonged to Anthony’s great-grandfather and I enjoy collecting items such as shoe lasts and unusual camera cases.
‘We absolutely love the home we’ve created,’ says Liz.
‘The house is cosy in winter and we can see the snow on the Wrexham Hills, but in summer it’s amazing when the doors are open and we can watch the birds for hours. We’ve taken our time and done it well – that was important to us.’