Open-Plan Turnkey Self Build House

Winner of Best Turnkey Home at the 2024 Build It Awards

When actor Harry Van Gorkum moved back to Britain after 28 years of living in the US, he knew that he wanted to build his own home in Norfolk – scene of many happy childhood holidays on the Broads. Along with his two daughters, Harry found the perfect site; a farmer’s field that had been split into six serviced plots.

As luck would have it, a Dan-Wood house was being built next door. Harry was so impressed, he engaged the company for his own project – his first self build. Among the attractions of Dan-Wood’s approach was the transparent pricing (guaranteed for a year); speed of construction; build quality and energy efficiency; and the ability to tailor and upgrade its house models.
Supported journey

The design is based on Dan-Wood’s 1.5-storey, three-bed Point 150E house, which has an open-plan kitchen-dining-living zone. Changes included flipping the floorplan 180° to suit the plot, ensuring bedrooms are not overlooked. Harry also chose upgrades such as underfloor heating and a heat pump (now standard to the Dan-Wood package). “When I was looking to build my own home, I had no idea where to start,” he says. “Dan-Wood’s agents guided me, a total novice, through the process – helping me create the home I have always wanted, to my taste and requirements. Handover was on the agreed date, almost exactly 12 weeks from delivery, and the finishes and quality of work are perfect.”

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