Cottage Revival: Grade II Listed Heritage Transformation

EX3   |   Harmonising Modern Family Life with Historic Character near Exeter

A delicate challenge

A Grade II-listed cottage near Exeter posed an intriguing puzzle: how to unlock the potential of its beautiful garden while addressing compromised historic integrity resulting from 20th-century alterations. The property required thoughtful intervention to enhance both its heritage character and family functionality.

Understanding the brief

The existing property faced several key challenges:

• Impractical and insecure entrance configuration.
• Essential facilities inappropriately housed in the garage.
• Compromised bathroom arrangements affecting privacy.
• Deteriorating mismatched 20th-century joinery.
• Limited connection to the impressive gardens.
• Poor northern aspect visible from Ebford Lane.

Crafted solutions

Working alongside oak frame specialists, we developed a sensitive scheme that:

• Introduces a traditional porch with a draught lobby.
• Creates a meticulously detailed oak-framed garden room.
• Restores appropriate bathroom configurations.
• Enhances views through considered window placement.
• Employs traditional materials, including adobe/earth wall, natural oak, and local riven slate.

The oak frame feature

The new garden room stands as a testament to traditional craftsmanship:

• Hand-crafted oak framework with exposed beams and joints.
• Traditional slate-pitched roof.
• Natural materials create seamless integration.
• Enhanced visual connection to the grounds.
• Celebration of historic timber framing techniques.

Sustainable heritage

As certified members of the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA), our approach incorporates:

• Sensitive retrofit improvements using the 'whole house approach'.
• Historic England-supported assessment methods.
• Period-appropriate windows and doors, improving energy efficiency.
• Careful restoration of original features.

Future legacy

With planning and listed building consents secured, this project demonstrates:

• Successful transformation of challenging historic properties.
• Enhanced property value through sensitive intervention.
• Improved energy efficiency whilst preserving heritage character.
• Harmonious balance between modern living and historic fabric.

Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, marking another milestone in our commitment to thoughtful heritage conservation.

What clients say