Generation game
Family ties and a determined approach brought the Gibbons closer together in their bid to create a cosy, characterful new home
WORDS IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI PHOTOS KATIE LEE/POTTON
The red brick and pantile finish was specified by the planners to ensure the house would fit into the local setting
THE GIBBONS FILE
NAMES Terry & Teresa Gibbons
OCCUPATIONS Engineer & retired
LOCATION Lincolnshire
TYPE OF BUILD Self build
STYLE Classic rectory
CONSTRUCTION METHOD Timber frame
PLOT SIZE 0.25 acres
LAND COST Already owned
HOUSE SIZE 191m2
PROJECT COST £240,000
PROJECT COST PER M2 £1,257
TOTAL COST £313,000
BUILDING WORK COMMENCED February 2014
BUILDING WORK TOOK One year
With four renovation projects already under their belts, Teresa and Terry Gibbons decided it was time to build their own bespoke home from scratch.“When you renovate, you never quite get what you’re looking for,” says Teresa, who feels their new house meets all their aspirations. “It’s very comfortable and is in a wonderful setting.”
In fact, their plot had been in the family for years. “We finally decided to build on it so that we could be closer to Terry’s parents, who are just next door, and help look after them,” says Teresa.
The couple knew that self building would be a real labour of love, so Terry took a sabbatical to allow him to get hands-on with the project. With a background in engineering and plenty of family and friends to call on for support, he was able to complete a significant amount of the work himself – although the Gibbons opted for a timber frame package to take care of the main shell of the house.
The couple’s renovation experience had also furnished them with the skills required to bring their ideas to fruition.
The open-plan kitchen-diner is complemented by antique furniture the couple has collected over the years