The Grade II listed windmill was built in c1860 in the Victorian style. Over the years it has had an interesting history, starting life as a wheat mill it then became a saw mill, then a chicken house and during the second world war it was used as an air raid observation post. During the 1970's a lean to extension was added which enabled the property to become a home but the extension is no longer fit for purpose. The building was given its Grade II listing in 1973 which included the windmill itself and the extension. The client was looking to sympathetically remove the extension and replace it with a larger building that complemented the windmill whilst creating a more luxurious dwelling.
The client brief was to review the plans and supporting planning documentation approved by the planning committee to determine if the space was being used to the optimum. The assessment extended to establishing if the rooms identified in the plans were located in the right part of the property and whether they catered for the client's requirements. Consideration was also given to ensure the windmill would appeal to a wider market when the client decided to sell the property in the future.
Feedback received during the planning application process was taken into consideration along with the restrictions on the number and placement of roof lights in the extension. The outcome of our review resulted in the introduction of a utility room, a revision to the placement of the snug and office and a reconfiguration of the master bedroom, ensuite and dressing room to accommodate a second bedroom in the extension. The proposed revisions were accepted by the client and submitted for planning approval. Supporting this piece of work we provided furniture layouts, lighting and radiator plans.
The client also required support in visualising the look and feel for the main rooms in the extension and the windmill. Presentation boards were produced for each of the spaces along with internal and external doors, plug sockets, switches, radiators, floor treatments, window treatments and an overview on the colour palette to adopt. Key to the design choices was ensuring the interior elements throughout the property drew on the heritage, character and charm of the windmill, its location and the proposed exterior façade of the extension. It had to be sympathetic to its provenance, providing a continual visual link between the two buildings with a timeless quality. The original windows and brickwork, black timber cladding and crittall windows were used as reference points along with the client's preferences for metal, wood in its natural state, concrete and fabric rich textures.
The client wanted a scheme that created a home with a wow factor. It had to be stylish yet lived in without being cluttered. It was to be cosy and somewhere they could potter. Consideration was also been given to the client's existing furniture to ensure it complemented the proposed “look and feel”.
A sample of the information provided to the client can be seen in the images above.
"Alexis worked on our Grade 2 listed Windmill Project on the interiors and was amazing. She really helped with layouts and product choices which we loved. We would happily use her services again"
Will, Hertfordshire