Perseverance, patience and a lot of graft were key to the success of Mark and Jane Caterer’s stylish self-build – a romantic holiday retreat on a stunning Cornish sea-view plot

WORDS SOPHIE VENING PHOTOS PAUL RYAN-GOFF

The stepped garden landscaping features traditional dry stone walls and flourishing subtropical planting

Achange of career was the catalyst for Jane and Mark Caterer’s relocation to the south west of England. The London company they worked for, and were equity partners in, was sold in 2015, prompting them to leave their roles in financial services and seek a new life. “Jane had lived in Newlyn, close to Penzance, about 15 years ago. It was really about coming back to Cornwall for her,” says Mark.

FACT FILE

NAMES Mark & Jane Caterer

OCCUPATIONS Company owners

LOCATION Cornwall

TYPE OF PROJECT Self-build (plus renovation of granite studio)

STYLE Contemporary

CONSTRUCTION METHOD Timber frame

PROJECT ROUTE Self-managed

PLOT SIZE 500m2

LAND COST £252,000

HOUSE SIZE 92m2

PROJECT COST £403,000

PROJECT COST PER M2 £4,380

TOTAL COST £655,000

BUILDING WORK COMMENCED Jan 2016 BUILDING WORK TOOK 62 weeks

CURRENT VALUE £700,000

Armed with the money from the sale of the business, the couple decided to hunt for a house in Cornwall with the intention of renting it out as a holiday let. “We were looking at all sorts of properties – not necessarily a building plot,” says Mark. “But as soon as we saw this site for sale via an online auction we knew it was the one.”

The property, which already had a 1960s brick-and-block house and granite studio on it, was in complete disarray but was set in an amazing location. It had spectacular views out to sea, plus it was only a short jaunt from the harbour and just a two-minute walk to the centre of Mousehole, a charming fishing village.

Built for two

Mark and Jane were keen to create a stylish, high-end vacation home capable of comfortably accommodating two people. Before the sale went through, the couple invited Studio West Architects and a main contractor – both of whom Mark had worked with on a previous house renovation – to visit the property to get their views.