readers’ homes
MID-CENTURY MAGIC
Claire and Chris Lunt gave their 1950s home an awardwinning sust ainable renovation and extension on a budget
WORDS ALEXAN DRA PRATT
The new extension has transformed the connection between the house and garden, by making the outdoor space more accessible and showcasing the rural views
PHOTOS SIMON BURT
Claire Lunt instantly fell in love with the possibility of renovating a shabby, ex-rental, 1956 detached property. “But I had to spend time convincing my husband, Chris,” she says, as she could see its potential as a place for their young family to grow. The location was ideal, too – close to Letchworth Garden City with views to the Chiltern Hills.
Although the couple knew they wanted to make substantial improvements to the property, Chris and Claire – who confess to being obsessed with home renovation TV shows – admit that they probably had a somewhat unrealistic view of the process. Once the purchase was complete, they expected to live in their house for six months before starting work, but finding the right architect, a main contractor and getting planning approval proved more challenging. Plus, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, increasing costs and timelines.
“We were both working at the dining room table, and one had to leave if the other had an important call,” says Chris. “But we knew we wanted something a little bit different,” says Claire. Their priorities were an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, a second shower room and office area, all with tough sustainability criteria. Initially, the couple considered putting a two-storey extension onto the back of the house, which benefits from a long garden. “We met several architects who suggested standard extensions, then we found Michael Collins, and we loved his vision,” say the couple. “We spent a lot of time talking with him about how we live in the house, and as a result began to think differently about the design, realising that the extra bedroom for occasional guests, which we had initially envisioned, wasn’t necessary. At the same time, we had to face the reality of our budget constraints.”