renovation & building

PART 1 THE DESIGN PHASE

Self builders Ryan and Emily Breslin have opened up their site to give us a unique insight into the ins and outs of creating a bespoke home. This month, we’re taking an in-depth look at the planning and design phase, and all the decisions it can bring

Here at Build It, we’re lucky enough to see the results of hundreds of readers’ home building projects each year. We normally feature these in the magazine after completion, giving you the chance to see how all the design choices knit together and understand the finished build costs. So, we were intrigued when Ryan and Emily Breslin invited us to visit their self build midway through.

Having shared our own journey creating the Self Build Education House (buildit.co.uk/ourhouse) back in 2019, we thought Build It readers would be interested to explore another live project. So, Build It made a site visit in September 2022 to see Ryan and Emily’s progress first-hand and understand the challenges they’re encountering on their journey to a bespoke home.

The couple bought a tired old rectory on an acre plot in a picturesque Cotswold village in August 2020. Whilst the house lacked charm or potential, the views were spectacular, so they decided it was a perfect place to build a new home in which to bring up their three children.

While this is their first self build, Ryan owns a leading glazing company (Cherwell Windows) so has the benefit of having helped hundreds of self builders with at least part of their journeys. “I also knew some trades I trusted, plus others I wouldn’t want anywhere near my own home,” he says. So, the glazing options should have been easy, but how did the rest of the design phase progress?