Lucas Pulak and Agnieszka Zala didn’t anticipate a two-year planning battle when they decided to turn a dated dwelling in Bromley into a striking family home

WORDS JENNIFER GRIMBLE

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Above & left: Designed as a key part of the house, the garden is a tranquil oasis where the couple can enjoy their summers. The focal feature is the swimming pool, which comes equipped with an outdoor shower and toilet, enabling Lucas and Agnieszka to freshen up without going in the house

As experienced renovators, Lucas Pulak and Agnieszka Zala can spot a good opportunity. So, in 2018, when they bought an old-fashioned 1960s house in Bromley, they were confident they could transform it. The couple were living in Crystal Palace but, in search of more space, began looking further afield where they could get more square footage for their money. “We came across the house via an online listing site and arranged a viewing,” says Lucas. “We saw its potential straight away and put in an offer. It had a 1,000m2 plot, so we could extend it without compromising external space.”

The two-storey detached house had three bedrooms and was liveable, but it hadn’t been modernised for about 50 years. “It was extremely dated. It had a blue bathroom suite and old-fashioned kitchen,” says Agnieszka. Abuilder by trade, Lucas knew they had two options; they could either knock it down and start from scratch or undertake a major renovation. “We considered submitting an application for a new build, but due to the complicated rules around U-values, we thought it would make the process more difficult,” says Lucas. “So, we opted to extend and remodel instead.”

Lucas called in Matthew Baker and David Grinaway of MADDesign, whom he has worked with on multiple projects over the years. “We get along well and they knew what we were after, so they could easily put our ideas onto paper,” says Lucas. The couple also hired interior designer, Studio 152, and landscape gardener, James Lee, to create a modern, open-plan home that was perfectly integrated with the garden. “Our jobs don’t allow us to travel during summer,” says Agnieszka. “So, we wanted to create a place where we could enjoy our summers and almost feel like we’re abroad.”