PHOTOS WILLIAM GODDARD
FACT FILE
WE LEARNED…
Useful contacts
Floor plans
On the lookout for an eco home project, when Jan and Diana Thompson spotted a small gate-lodge for sale, they imagined how wonderfully a new property would sit within the glade on the opposite side of the wooded plot. The building, named The Small House, was in the middle of a village. However, it was also in a conservation area.
NAMES Jan & Diana Thompson
RESEARCH MAIN CONTRACTORS as thoroughly as possible. Always ask to see examples of their previous work and talk to old clients of theirs.
ARCHITECT Hayward Smart Architects 01608 661 000 www.hsarchitects. co.uk RENDER Parexwww.parex.co.uk ZINC ROOF Q & M01452 611777 www.qandm.co.uk FRONT DOOR Urban Front 01494 778787 www.urbanfront. com WINDOWS & GLAZED DOORS Velfac 01536 313 552 www.velfac.co.ukUltraline 0121 550 3066 www.ultraline.co.uk ROOFLIGHTS The Rooflight Company 01993 833155 www.therooflightcompany.co.uk JOINERY Kevin Roper Interiors 01772 882805 www.kevinroper.co.uk METAL STAIRCASES RJ Kingston Engineering 01789 205008 www.rjkingstonengineering.co.uk MVHR & AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP Total Home Environment 0345 260 0123 www. totalhome.co.uk PLUMBING Gaswise 07735 230360 www.gaswise-plumbing. co.uk KITCHEN Harvey Jones 0800 389 6938 www.harveyjones.comMagnetwww.magnet.co.uk BATHROOM Hyde Park Bathrooms 020 7935 9909 www. hydeparkbathrooms.comBathstore 0333 241 2701 www.bathstore.com TILES Porcelanosawww.porcelanosa.com STOVE Nordpeiswww.nordpeis.co.uk LANDSCAPING Paul Williams 07799 645723 ABORICULTURAL WORKS Acremans’ Arboriculture 07980 270511 www.treepro.co.uk COMPOSITE DECKING Havwoods 01524 737000 www.havwoods.com STONE Goode Stone Supplies 01608 730924 www.goodestone.co.uk
House plans re-created using Build It 3D Home Designer software. www.buildit.co.uk/3dsoftware
The Small House was built in 1937 and the story goes that the owner had planned to build a bigger property, but sadly was killed in the war. “It seems there was not a single tree on the plot back then, but the next owner, an arboriculturist, planted hundreds from seed - so thickly, in fact, that there was too much competition and now the better quality trees were suffering,” says Jan. “I could see this would make a fantastic spot for a new and bigger house, but we can’t believe the hoops we had to jump through to get there.”