1960s Family Home Upgraded with a Contemporary Renovation & Extension

Securing Planning Permission for the Renovation

MAD-Design applied for planning permission in stages, first requesting consent for the gym and sauna, which were to be located in a new outbuilding. “The structure was allowed under permitted development, so we got the go-ahead quickly,” Lucas says. Next, they submitted plans for the main house – a process that proved incredibly challenging.

“Despite the fact there were no issues of overlooking, the council rejected the design,” says Lucas. “It was a much bigger and grander scheme than the original, so the planners thought it was too different from the other houses on the street.”

Designed as a key part of the house, the garden is a tranquil oasis where the couple can enjoy their summers

Matthew and David amended the plans, reducing the scale of the property. However, the redesign was also refused. “For the third application, we removed the loft altogether but the council, once again, said no,” says Agnieszka. The couple also faced numerous objections to the build from their neighbours. “We had to try and convince the locals that we were trying to improve the most rundown corner house on the road and enhance the street scene, but they couldn’t see our vision.”

Seriously close to reselling the house, Lucas and Agnieszka decided to give it one final go, after some persuading from Matthew and David. “Luckily, we were assigned a new case officer and he really guided us,” says Lucas. “He showed us how we could amend the plans to something that would be permissible.” For starters, the elevations had to be finished in brick, to match the surrounding vernacular. “That was a key element for them. We also took the house down in size and tried to keep it as close to the neighbouring homes as possible.”

Lucas’s team created this smart and sophisticated kitchen. Entirely bespoke, it benefits from rich, walnut-coloured cabinets and Cosentino’s Dekton Domos marble worktops

Thankfully, after two years of back and forth, the couple received approval. “We didn’t anticipate how hard it would be,” says Lucas. “If I could go back, I might knock the house down and build from scratch, because we might have received planning much faster.” Luckily, in the end, the pair didn’t have to compromise too much. The final design for a modern, two-storey brick home featured an open-plan ground floor, with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors to connect the main living area to a beautifully landscaped garden.

Ensuring a Seamless Build Journey

The property was built in three stages, with Lucas’s company, Lucas Pulak Construction, beginning with some exterior landscaping and the construction of the gym and sauna at the back of the garden. “We finished this while waiting for planning permission for the house,” says Lucas. The couple were finally able to get started on the main build in December 2020. Lucas took on project management duties, overseeing the entire build, while MAD-Design provided technical support for the construction.

The home connects seamlessly with the garden via glazed sliding patio doors

Lucas and his team removed almost all of the main build’s existing walls, retaining only the facade and a side wall, which were wrapped in insulation. Strip foundations were laid before the new elements of the house were constructed from cavity block walls, finished with brick slips.

As professional builders, the team didn’t face many issues, but there were Covid-related setbacks. “We faced material delays and the price of everything shot up almost overnight,” says Agnieszka. Luckily, though, Lucas had planned ahead and pre-ordered a lot of the raw building materials, storing them on site. “Doing the work in stages helped, especially from a cash flow perspective,” he says. “Financially, we were prepared for a big build, and any unforeseen expenses, but after costs increased, we were lucky to able to finish the house.”

The couple rented nearby and moved in shortly before the work was finished. Once the main house was complete, Lucas and his team worked on the remaining landscaping, installed the swimming pool and erected a new detached garage. A gravel driveway was also laid at the front, with electric gates enclosing the front of the property.

Turning the Run-Down Home into a to Retreat

Once the most rundown house on the street, Lucas and Agnieszka’s home is now wildly impressive, yet still complementary of the neighbouring buildings. The front door leads into a double-height entrance hall, which is defined by a bespoke steel and oak staircase. The hallway flows through to the sunken living area, where a custom kitchen, dining room and lounge are located. A dual-sided fireplace connects the lounge to the media room. “If one of us is reading in one room and the other is watching a film in the cinema, we can both enjoy the fireplace,” says Agnieszka.

The garden’s focal feature is the swimming pool, which comes equipped with an outdoor shower and toilet, enabling Lucas and Agnieszka to freshen up without going in the house

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a dressing room. However, the garden is potentially the most enticing space. Ideal for whiling away the summer hours, it features a BBQ just outside the kitchen, which is connected to the mains gas; a gym with a sauna and hot tub; a swimming pool; and plenty of spots for soaking up the sunshine.

“When the weekend comes, we don’t need to travel, because we feel like we’re on holiday when we’re here,” says Agnieszka. The property also boasts air conditioning in key rooms and underfloor heating powered by a gas boiler. “The house has high-performance insulation, so the heating doesn’t need to be on much,” says Lucas.

While the planning process was stressful, the couple can see past it now. “As soon as the work was done and we could sit outside with a glass of wine, we knew it was worth it,” says Agnieszka. “We love the house and spend a lot of time in the garden during the summer.”

The master suite is a real sanctuary. With an ensuite bathroom and dressing room, it’s the perfect place to retire to after a long day

It isn’t just Lucas and Agnieszka who love it – they’ve received endless compliments from neighbours. “We’ve changed the look of this tired part of the street and people often tell us how nice it is,” says Lucas. As for taking on another build, it’s a matter of when, not if. “We complete a project every few years, so eventually we’ll move on. But for now, we’ll enjoy the house. It was designed to perfectly meet our needs.”