HANDLED WITH CARE
Anna and Joel Loader brought their period house into the 21st century while retaining its original character
Extending a period property in Berkshire was a careful balance between adding more space and light and retaining its character and charm
When Anna and Joel Loader decided the time had come to move out of London, in 2008, they set their sights on a small village in Berkshire, near to where Anna grew up. ‘We came out of the station and there was the feeling of autumn – the smell of woodsmoke and mist over the canal,’ says Anna. ‘The setting alone sold the village to us and we both knew it would be a lovely place to live.’
It didn’t take the couple long to find a house with the period features they were after. ‘The Victorian frontage was attractive, plus it was light and spacious and it reminded me of my childhood home,’ says Joel. It was clear the house needed quite a bit of work, but they had a vision of what it could become. In fact, they started renovating the place as soon as they moved in, knowing it would be a long haul. They carried out the work slowly over three years, replacing floors, installing underfloor heating and adding a new boiler. Walls were then re-rendered and replastered, ceilings were repaired and part of the roof was replaced, all before decorating could begin.
Then, in 2016, with all three bedrooms occupied by themselves and their two children, Beatrix, now 13, and Willem, seven – the pair decided to extend their home. They visited architect and structural engineers Orange Key Design Studios to discuss their options. The design
studio’s plan involved a contemporary side extension that would create two more bedrooms and two extra bathrooms, plus a glass kitchen-diner extension that opened out to a Mediterranean-style courtyard. The challenge was to get a balance between bringing in more space and light, while retaining the property’s period elements.
‘We went to a lot of trouble to keep the original materials and find similar reclaimed ones that were sympathetic to the house,’ says Joel. ‘Roofing tiles were handmade to match the originals and new windows commissioned to blend with the existing sash windows. The front retains its period feel, but the back has a contemporary edge,’ he says.
Alongside the extension, Anna and Joel took the opportunity to refurbish the rest of the house. Using as few ingredients as possible worked really well for the couple, whose family now numbers five, since the arrival of son Edward two years ago. Limestone flooring was laid throughout most of the downstairs rooms, while unfinished oak was used for the floor in the living room to create a light, natural feel. ‘The William Morris quote, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful,” played a big part in our plans,’ says Joel.
The family is thrilled with the result. ‘The extension delivers on both a functional and a design level,’ says Anna. ‘It’s changed how we live as a family.’
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