A stunning extension has transformed this Georgian home into a welcoming space
Rachael and Tom Somerville have reconfigured a period house and added a contemporary extension to create a welcoming family home
Hidden behind a tall brick wall and large timber gates, Rachael and Tom Somerville were not sure what to expect when they first saw this house. But as they made their way through the gates, they spied rolling lawns and leafy green trees, dropping down to woodland beyond. ‘The house is in the centre of town but with a huge garden backing onto a beautiful conservation area, so it feels as if it is in the countryside,’ explains Rachael, ‘yet we are only a five-minute walk from the local supermarket and butcher.’
While they admired the original features of the house, including tall ceilings, sash windows and shutters, Rachael and Tom knew they had some work to do on the interior. ‘The layout of small rooms didn’t work for us because we wanted more of an open-plan feel and a better sense of flow between spaces,’ explains Rachael. ‘We also felt that there was potential to convert the cellar, which had a very low ceiling, into a more usable space, and to improve the connection with the wonderful garden.’
The couple moved into a rented property while they consulted an architect, sought planning permission and hired a building firm. As the house is built into a slope, the cellar is below ground at the front of the property and at ground level at the rear. ‘We were able to dig down to increase the height of the cellar and extend it at the back of the house with a flat-roofed single-storey structure, clad in beautiful copper-effect aluminium,’ says Rachael. This new
decorating advice ‘Choose an accent colour or material to enhance the connection between rooms – we used brass touches throughout to add warmth’
basement has a contemporary feel compared to the original floors of the house and includes a store room, a gym, two guest bedrooms with en suites and sliding doors to the garden. Above, the flat roof has become an expansive terrace, accessed through French doors from the kitchen. ‘Not only did we gain plenty of space for friends to stay, but we also have direct access to the garden,’ says Rachael.
On the floor above, a wall between the kitchen and dining room was removed to create an open-plan space complete with seating area. The couple also reconfigured a series of small ancillary rooms into a spacious utility-boot room and separate cloakroom. ‘We used a backdrop of soft greys throughout to link the rooms and create a calm, easy-to-live-with feel, with other colours occasionally introduced to add more depth,’ explains Rachael. The same colour palette continues upstairs, which includes the main bedroom suite, newly enlarged with a dressing area created by converting a former bedroom, and a nursery for baby Nancy, born two months before the project was complete and the family were finally able to move in.
‘I used to work in sales and marketing, but left my job to manage this project,’ says Rachael, who shares images of her home on Instagram @rachaelsomervilleinteriors. ‘I absolutely loved it. I’ve always been interested in interiors, but growing up in rural Wales, I didn’t come across many designers and never thought I could make it my career. Now I know differently, and I’m very tempted to follow my passion and take on more projects in the future.’
DECORATING TIP ‘To pick the perfect wall colour, paint swatches on paper and hang them around the room to see how the shade will look at different times of day’