Intro - how it began...

Not again, we decided, firmly, having lived in building sites at three lovely locations. This time, we shall take our time and find a house we like as it already is, then relax. But it wasn't to be. Even looking significantly upwards of our price range (just for the hell of it), we were unable to find our ideal house in the location that we needed. We caved. Once more unto the bricks ... and here we go again!

Background

The house we lived in for eight years was purchased as a single storey, four-room shell. Whilst renting elsewhere, we appointed an architect, acquired planning permission and appointed our trusted builder who worked for us on a similar project a few years earlier (see below).

We don't have any photographs of work-in-progress but, basically, at the front of the bungalow, we kept the two front rooms, built a porch to accommodate a cloakroom and replaced the bathroom with a set of stairs. At the back of the house, we kept the kitchen and extended the lounge into the garden. 

The bungalow became a chalet-bungalow by removing the shallow roof and replacing it with a higher pitch, which enabled us to accommodate four double-bedrooms, an en-suite and a family bathroom.

After we moved in, we added a small side extension that provided a study and W.C. (easily accessed by a side door) and a utility room. Oh yes, and we added a pool. Here are some photographs from when we sold it ... 

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The previous house that we renovated with the builder mentioned in the next few posts was purchased with no heating!!! It was a two-storey, three bedroom house with a litchen/diner and lounge, untouched for many years but with great potential. 

We developed it twice. The first time was just a ground floor extension and the second time added an upstairs so that's another 'story' haha! Below are some before, during and after photographs; the first and last are about ten years apart.

Moving on to the next post...