“One of the most pleasing aspects is that you’ve got this olde worlde feel but you still have the convenience and delight of a modern home”

“One of the most pleasing aspects is that you’ve got this olde worlde feel but you still have the convenience and delight of a modern home”

Paul and Jan’s story began when they spotted a derelict stone cottage nestled on a Welsh hillside in Powys. The couple fell in love with the old cottage with its stunning countryside views and they decided to take a closer look. “I was taken aback by the outstanding, south-facing views over the Severn Valley,” Paul recalls. The former smallholding with eight acres had belonged to a local postman but had been left neglected and unoccupied after he died. Paul managed to track the postman’s relatives in Liverpool and had made seven offers over the years. “Our last conversation ended with them saying they would never sell,” says Paul.

“I was driving home one day when Jan rang to say that the cottage had just come on the market” says Paul, “At the time, I knew we couldn’t afford it but I had to grab the opportunity while I could and worry about financing it later.” Being in an idyllic location in mid Wales, the cottage naturally attracted a lot of attention, having over 30 viewings in the first two weeks, “I phoned the estate agents every day harassing them” says Paul. In the end Paul thinks that people were put off by the amount of work required to make it habitable and the cost to do so. Also, the access at the time was via a half-mile rough track. The offer of the full asking price was accepted and the 20-year labour of love began.

The couple’s goal was to renovate the existing cottage then replace the old barn that was next to it with a barn style, oak frame extension.

Paul managed and completed a lot of the renovation work himself along with the help of a local stonemason. The restoration of the old cottage took around four years to complete with the work being carried out in the evenings and at weekends.

The couple moved into the newly renovated cottage and then spent the next three years planning and preparing for the final stage of the project, the addition of the 4,000 sqft oak-frame extension. They wanted the extension to be built at an angle with extensive glazing to frame the dramatic views and maximise the natural light throughout the day. They also wanted the extension to be sympathetic to the original cottage, taking into account the scale and proportion as well as being in keeping with the local vernacular, using local materials wherever possible. Paul had already accumulated some of these, including stone from a demolished barn and old flagstones purchased from reclamation yards.

However, shortly after the plans were submitted, the couple hit a speed bump when the planning was rejected by the local council for being too big. This didn’t stop Paul and Jan for long as they had heard of similar projects in the area being successful and put forward Cases of Precedent. The couple sought the support of a local councillor who sat on the planning committee. “Because the cottage is not within view of too many places and the design was not imposing, it finally went to the committee and was approved”.

The oak frame was designed and manufactured by Welsh Oak Frame and was erected and made watertight within 12 days. The oak external cladding nestles the extension within the beautifully landscaped grounds and sits harmoniously beside the original cottage. Internally, the oak frame takes centre stage with all the theatrical features associated with oak frames, including braced king post trusses, tied king post trusses, wind braces and more. Handcrafted detailing on the frame adds character and finishes it off beautifully. The open plan layout creates a sense of space and the glazing and bifold doors allow the natural light to flood in. The staircases lead to two mezzanine areas where the oak frame can be appreciated from a higher level.

And how does it feel to actually live there, “Oh, it’s just wonderful, so peaceful. I feel I am on vacation. One of the most pleasing aspects is that you’ve got this olde worlde feel but you still have the convenience and delight of a modern home. As for Jan, who was very attached to our first matrimonial home in her parents’ orchard, I don’t think we could shift her now.”