Bolo's Cottage is a C18th thatched cottage in a rural village located along the northern escarpment of Salisbury plain. It was the family home of our client and with it came with a plethora of memories and emotions.
Our brief was threfore simple in words, but complex in delivery...
“To ensure this long-held family home is protected, renewed and adapted for a new custodian, where entertaining and bringing people together in a comfortable and beautiful space which reflects the local landscape is a priority”
The outcome we believe is a sympathetic extension and renovation to a modest thatch cottage using a palette of traditional materials, in a contemporary and playful manner with a muted attention to detail.
The existing cottage had been extended and 'knocked about' by previous generations, some of these adaptations we wanted to embrace, some we were keen to overcome and remove (i.e the concrete floors and cement). We also needed to re-orientate and connect the house to the rear garden and the views over the fields beyond. We also convinced our client it wasn't a bonkers idea to actually have a bathroom upstairs and perhaps a two storey extension might soften the massing of any new extension.
We then set ourselves simple rules for materials (clay or oak) and to take every opportinity to maximise daylight in the new spaces to contrast with the darker, exsiting cottagey rooms.
It was a great to have a client with a passion for design and a trust in their designer. We were also lucky to have a contractor and site manager with a commitment to deliver the project.
"I thought I knew what I wanted for my family home but by working with CHALK, I instead now have the most wonderful space that was beyond my imagination, in a home that has been lovingly renovated for the next generation. Working with Jonny and the team at CHALK was a fantastic experience - Jonny took inspiration from the village and the varied life of the cottage itself, and has delivered not only a kitchen and bathroom beyond my dreams, but a beautiful piece of architectural design where materials, light and respect for harmonising the old and the new has delivered a breathtaking space. Throughout the build Jonny was an ally, an advocate and an architect for me - I trusted him implicitly. He was both adaptable and fastidious, patiently answered my multitude of questions and always remained focused on achieving the best possible result. And what a successful result that has been" - Lucy, Client
