Sunnymeade - Epsom - Home Refurbishments
Status: COMPLETE
The Property :
“Sunnymede”, a 1930's mock Tudor house located in Epsom, Kent.
The Clients:
A retired couple.
The Brief:
The clients have modern tastes and as the interior had to be gutted, they have gone for a sleek minimalistic look with clean lines. The exterior facade of the house has not been modified to keep a sense of unity with other houses in the street even though they all have their own individual look.
The Work:
Special attention has been paid to:
Lighting - natural and artificial;
- Enhanced natural light: 3 walls have been knocked through to allow extra light to flow in throughout the day and to provide a sense of space and openness.
- Enhanced flow and views: Exterior door front kitchen has been removed from side wall and relocated to the wall facing the garden. The line of vision now follows straight through from the front door to the garden without any obstacles.
Energy Saving/Efficiency;
- LED lighting has been used in more than 95% of the total electric lighting. This includes low level LED wall lights in hallway, stairs, landing and bathrooms. These only use 1WATT of energy and last a life time.
- Insulation has been added to the walls where possible and under new floors ( including in the garage conversion) to prevent heat loss, saving energy and money.
- Under floor heating has been added in the kitchen, the bathrooms and also in the garage conversion improving the comfort of the house.
- Original wooden floors have been kept in the remaining parts of the house to avoid waste and preserve the house features. Therefore no under-floor heating has been installed in these areas.
- Carpets will be fitted throughout the first floor in order to retain heat and for added comfort.
- New boiler and 'Megaflo' system have been fitted. They provide better efficiency and greater water pressure without the need for shower pumps.
The Style;
The aesthetics have been kept simple with clean lines and 'strong' materials such as:
- Composite stone for kitchen worktops.
- Granite surround for the fireplace-which is also "flu-less" for efficiency and ”wall hung” to increase the feeling of space.
Tiles in the main bathroom and en-suite are the same on the walls and floors:
- It maintains a simple, non-fussy look while creating a more spacious feel.
- The bath faucet is also plumbed into the wall so as not to interfere with the bath edges/surround.
The WC in the downstairs shower room is wall hung, as are all the basins in the house to maximise floor space.
- LED wall light under each basin enhance the feeling of space and contemporary look.
Doors and windows in the kitchen have been moved:
- It provides the client with a defined “U” space for cooking, access to the kitchen sink, fridge etc.
- The units are simple and handle-less to keep the uniformity and sleek look throughout the space.
- The base units are dark, high gloss grey colour but the wall units have been kept white so as not to have to much over bearing a grey colour.
- The ceiling lights bounce off the glossy white surfaces and the white/grey composite work surface which will brighten the space and create a texture contrast with the other materials.
Future-Proofing;
As the clients are a retired couple, the house has been "future proofed":
- Should one or both of them find it difficult to ascend stairs several years down the line, a shower has been installed on the ground floor.
- There are two areas where walls have been removed to create an open plan living. If required, either of these can be easily reverted back to a separate room. These rooms may then be used as a downstairs bedroom/s while leaving enough living space.
Outside, the driveway has been widened and extended so that:
- Parked cars do not obstruct the look/view of the house.
- The clients are able to park right outside their front door in order to avoid rain or to bring in shopping bags and allowing easier access for the disabled