A Grand Adventure
- Owner: David & Prue Furse Roberts
- Location: Buckinghamshire
- Property Size: 3000 sqft
- Land Size: 1 acre
- Build Time: 1 year
David and Prue Furse Roberts have been living in their oak frame house for four years and have no regrets about building in oak. In fact, they rather hope that in doing so, their house might have its own place in history one day.
"It's fun to imagine that a house constructed in oak could still be standing here in 400 years time"
The Furse Roberts decided to build their own home back in the early 2000s. But it took the couple the best part of two years, and journeys right across the Home Counties, before they found a plot just ten minutes from their house.
But this was in an idyllic countryside spot next to National Trust land so understandably the sale attracted the attention of a lot of other buyers too.
"The purchase was by sealed bids, we later learned that we had won by just £1,000."
The land was sold with planning permission to build a red brick and white stucco house but this was far from the style that the Furse Roberts wanted. Their heart was set on a timber frame house, which they felt was much more in keeping with the historical and rural location.
David and Prue’s interest in oak was prompted after visiting the Homebuilding and Renovating Show many years before, and where they chatted to Co-Director, Paul at Welsh Oak Frame. At this point the conversations were all hypothetical because they hadn’t secured a plot.
When the deal for the land went through, the couple went back to some of the firms to discuss designs and costs, and got quotes from four.
"We chose Welsh Oak Frame because they really listened to what we wanted, and more or less did what we wanted, they had a very different approach to other companies who came up with designs that were nothing like we discussed."
Once the decision had been made, designer, John visited the site and helped the Furse Roberts to craft
a design that suited their lifestyle. Then it was time to approach the planners.
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“Getting planning permission was a difficult process because we wanted to change the style that had been agreed on the original plans,” says David. “John was super – he really supported us by coming to the meetings and explaining the design to the planners.”_
It took a year for the final plans to be approved. Welsh Oak Frame spent two weeks erecting the frame then David and Prue continued the project management of the build thereafter.
The couple have created a timeless home by waxing the exposed beams inside the house and leaving the wood to weather outside. The timbers have now turned a silvery colour, which against the sandy coloured render suggests a house much older than it is. So much so the house has fooled some passers-by, says David.
“When we were building, people would stop and ask if we were renovating an old building. For us, there really is no better accolade than that.”
