readers’ homes

Matt and Kirstie Stevens have transformed a tired 1970s bungalow into a striking two-storey family home

WORDS DEBBIE JEFFERY

After 10 years of renting, Matt Stevens couldn’t wait for the chance to make a mark on his own property. “The timing to take on our own build had never been quite right, as I was always busy working on other people’s homes,” says Matt, who runs his own construction company However, when the Stevenses found out their landlord planned to sell their home, Matt seized the opportunity to start looking for his own project house. “We were forced into the decision because the owner of our existing place was selling, so we could finally design and build a house that would suit all our needs,” he says.

With three teenage daughters to accommodate – Bo, 19, Nina, 15, and Frankie, 13, Matt and his wife Kirstie turned their attention to the search. The pair also needed to consider their various pets, including three dogs, a tortoise, and a parrot. It was Kirstie who discovered the tired 1970s bungalow with reconstituted stone cladding that would eventually become their stylish modern home – though Matt was unimpressed at first. “However, after viewing a couple of properties we decided that the bungalow offered the best value in terms of space and outlook,” he says. “The views from the garden were fantastic, and we could really see the potential.”

PHOTOS SIMON MAXWELL

The open-plan living space comprises a kitchen, lounge, dining and garden room areas