Village Idyll

Merry and Ben Albright had long seen the potential of homes in the main square of their Herefordshire village, so when an opportunity came up, they moved quickly. The cottage had last been renovated in the 1970s and left unoccupied for eight years when the Albrights bought it, so was in need of modernising.

The solution was a full-width rear extension that created the space for a modern kitchen diner, new windows throughout and a rejig of the internal layout — as well as redecoration. “The house is now more suited to modern life, but we’ve also given it a sense of character that is in keeping with its historic location,” says Merry.