INSTANT CLASSIC
After struggling to find a suitable family home in their local area, Marie and Brian Carne realised the most cost-effective solution was to build their own
WORDS JENNIFER GRIMBLE
The property has a sense of traditional Georgian proportions thanks to the symmetrical window placement, but the wow factor glazing in the middle of the upper storey brings a contemporary twist to the style. The speckled bricks and grey-blue slate tiles bring further character and texture to the outside of Marie and Brian’s new home
PHOTOS RICHARD CHIVERS
Marie and Brian Carne are long-term residents of the London Borough of Barnet. Looking to upsize to a larger family home, they searched for local properties but soon realised that the state of the housing market wasn’t going to make the task easy. “The big family homes that were affordable for us were in a terrible state,” Brian explains. “The ones that were move-in ready were extremely expensive.”
After failing to find something that ticked all their boxes, they decided to take a different approach. “We realised it would be cheaper to knock down an existing dwelling and build another in its place,” says Marie. “We identified a road as being one of the nicest in the area. It was only two streets away from where we already lived.” The couple kept an eye out for opportunities on the quiet, residential road, which was filled with impressive homes with generous gardens.
FACT FILE
NAMES Marie & Brian Carne
OCCUPATIONS Accountant & lawyer
LOCATION London
TYPE OF PROJECT Self build
STYLE Traditional brick with modern details
CONSTRUCTION METHOD Brick & block
PROJECT ROUTE Architect designed and project managed, main contractor undertook building works
PLOT SIZE 1,000m2
LAND COST £1,200,000
BOUGHT 2018
HOUSE SIZE400m 2
PROJECT COST £1,304,483
PROJECT COST PER M2£3,261
TOTAL COST £2,504,483
BUILDING WORK COMMENCED December 2019
BUILDING WORK TOOK 70 weeks
CURRENT VALU E £3,500,000