Crown Estate

A large-scale refurbishment and construction project undertaken on the Crown estate in Oxshott, Surrey.

The Maples

A modernist timber box transformed this 1950s brick-built bungalow into a spacious, four-bed family home.

The complete refurbishment of this 8000 sq ft house - built by Runnymede homes in 2008 - included new wiring and AV systems, new hard wood floors and doors to the ground and first floor, complete redecoration throughout, and all new soft furnishing to the house interior. Perkins also constructed a new, 3500 sq ft wing, comprising seven bathrooms, eight bedrooms, two kitchens and a study/cinema room. It was important that the new wing blended seamlessly in with to the existing house, which was achieved through the careful selection of materials and the highest quality craftsmanship. In the grounds, a beautiful outdoor dining room was also constructed, along with a children's hobbit village.

The Maples is a brick-built bungalow in Hampton Wick, unchanged since it was constructed in 1955. The owners wanted to turn it into a home big enough for their family of four, and working with Duncan Foster Architects, came up with a two-phase plan for the house. The first phase, which Perkins Builders undertook, added a timber-framed and timber-clad box to the existing house. Cantilevered out beyond the old walls, the space created was considerably larger than the small house below, and provided four bedrooms, a family bathroom and two ensuites, as well as a galleried office area at the top of the stairs. Phase two - which will involve rendering and painting the original brickwork, relocating windows and doors and reorganising the downstairs space into an open plan layout - can be carried out at a later date.

Cladding: Thermowood supplied by Champion Timber.

Involving the partial demolition of the existing property, the renovation of this substantial home on the Coombe Estate included removing the existing roof to allow for a new third floor, major structural alterations to allow for an open living space on the ground floor, and all new floors, windows and doors. Perkins worked closely with the owners and their team of designers to see the project through from start to finish, transforming the property into the beautiful home it is now.

Preserving the many architectural and decorative features of this beautiful old house was a priority for the clients. But with two children, they needed to reconfigure the layout to allow for extra bedrooms and to bring light into the darker corners of the house. Adding a two-storey extension over the position of the former garage, and extending the kitchen at the back allowed for a complete transformation of the living space. The added light also ensured that the original features which had been sensitively restored could be properly seen and enjoyed.

Architect: Steve Webbe, Springwheel Associates.