Open house A 1970s bungalow has given way to a spacious new build
A 1970s bungalow has given way to an open-plan new build that combines lots of space with a warm and natural colour scheme
Since they built a new home on the site of an old bungalow, the festive period has become even more of a fun time for the Ruane family. ‘The open-plan layout is perfect for parties,’ says Rachael. ‘We also have a large, unused loft area that’s great for the children to play in – though they’re usually drawn out into the garden, no matter what the weather!’
Yet when pharmacist Rachael, 40, and her husband Tony, 48, who runs a data storage company, moved from their Georgian townhouse in Reading to a small Berkshire village in 2009, they had no plans to embark on a major self-build project. With two young children, Rosie, now
13, and JJ, now 10, the couple were seeking a bigger house with a generous-sized garden.
What they decided to buy, however, was a brick-built, 1970s bungalow with dated fittings and a dilapidated PVC conservatory, at a cost of £800,000. ‘The attraction was the two-and-a-half-acres of land around it,’ says Rachael. ‘We bought it with the idea of making improvements and had no intention of knocking it down!’
The seeds of demolition were sown after Rachael went on a building course aimed at renovators and self-builders. ‘Until then the idea of demolishing the house seemed a waste,’ she recalls. ‘But I came home with a new view and suggested to Tony that we should start from scratch! Taking the bungalow down to the foundation level would qualify as a new build and we wouldn’t need to pay VAT.’
To save money for the work and make sure the plans were all in place,
the family lived in their old bungalow for almost four years. The couple hired local architect Duncan Mathewson to design the new house and steer it through planning, which was complicated as it’s in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but also because the build had to adhere to the footprint of the original bungalow, which had already been extended by previous owners.
‘Fortunately the plot is so large the planners decided that our new design, with its increased volume, wouldn’t look out of place,’ says Rachael. Neighbours were shown the plans, as was the parish council, and there were no conflicts.
To keep costs down the couple bought a caravan and lived on site until the majority of the work was finished. ‘Before moving in, we built a shed and the garage,’ says Rachael. ‘It meant we could store all our possessions and plug in the washing machine and fridge. We moved into the caravan in April 2013 and moved out that November – having lived there quite comfortably.’
Most of the old bungalow, from bricks and baths to roof tiles and windows, was recycled, either locally or via eBay, and during the demolition, just before the last walls came down, the couple invited their children and friends to splash paint around at a unique graffiti party.
‘It was great fun!’ Rachael says.
For their new five-bedroom home, the couple chose a contemporary, energy-efficient design, using Structural Integrated Panels for the walls instead of bricks and mortar, because they
give more flexibility and can be erected quickly. ‘The panels arrived in three articulated lorries from Scotland. All were numbered and fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle,’ explains Rachael. ‘We used the existing concrete foundations, and the house structure only took 13 days to erect and make watertight!’
The Ruanes were left with just the doors, windows, plumbing and electrics to finish themselves. ‘Tony was busy with the practical jobs so gave me a list of things to source, such as lighting, heating, kitchen, bathrooms and flooring,’ says Rachael, who took on the project management. ‘I knew that if I didn’t deal with them we’d be in the caravan for a long time!’ In the end, it cost the couple £500,000 to demolish the bungalow and build their new home, now worth around £1.9 million.
Light interiors reflect Rachael’s love of warm, natural colours and wood. The doors are made of walnut, while sheepskin rugs cover seats and floors and woodburning stoves add cosy touches. At Christmas, a ceiling-high tree takes centre stage in the open-plan kitchen/diner while, in the upstairs seating area, Rachael likes to create her own, minimally designed, twig tree using branches from the garden strung with silvery stars and mini-glitter balls.
‘We had our first family Christmas in the new house last year,’ she remembers. ‘Although the rooms are spacious, the atmosphere felt relaxed, warm and cosy, which is just the way we like it.’