‘We didn’t need planning permission’
A 1950s bungalow’s modern addition has created more family space
The couple had been searching for a home in this area for a while. ‘However, most three-bedroom houses were out of our price range,’ recalls Dominic. When they found this bungalow, it was structurally sound but needed updating. ‘What struck us was its warm, homely feeling,’ he says.
SMART PLANS ‘We were keen to modernise the property and add two more bedrooms for our children,’ says Dominic. ‘We did this with timber-clad extensions at the side and the rear and, as they fall under Permitted Development rights, we didn’t need planning permission.’
IN THE THICK OF IT ‘We lived in the house while the work was being done, which took six months,’ recalls Dominic. ‘We put up a tent in the garden for all our furniture and we slept, cooked and ate in a couple of rooms, washing up in the bath and cooking on a portable hob. We had a six-month-old baby at the time, which, as you can imagine, created additional challenges!’
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT Now, the open-plan kitchen and dining room looks onto the garden and sunshine streams in. ‘Our bedroom is accessible through a secret sliding wall – which adds a fun element,’ says Dominic, ‘and the overall layout means we can spread out if we need to. It’s perfect for us all.’