Renovating a much-loved family home in Hove
Hove, East Sussex
Overview
In Hove, East Sussex, we transformed a tired, patch-worked house into a warm, efficient and beautifully resolved family home. The brief carried real emotion: it’s our client’s childhood home, so every decision had to respect memories while fixing long-standing issues.
We replaced a cramped rear extension with a larger, better insulated one, rebuilt the failing loft storey with a new rear dormer, and delivered a full refurbishment inside and out. The result is calm, light-filled and future-proof, with solar plus battery covering the home’s needs on sunny days.
The challenge
- A poor original layout with a small, inefficient rear extension.
- A historic loft conversion that was literally pushing the outer walls outward.
- Rotten timbers in floors and roof, failing insulation and draughty fabric.
- The need to balance sentiment with clear-eyed technical fixes.
- A complete services overhaul, new heating strategy and meaningful energy gains.
The vision
Give the home its dignity back. Keep what matters emotionally, remove what doesn’t serve, and craft spaces that make everyday living effortless. Prioritise comfort, daylight, connection to the garden and low running costs. Make it feel like “home” again, not a never-ending project.
The solution
Structure and fabric first
- Rebuilt the compromised second floor and installed a new rear dormer, stabilising the shell and reclaiming safe, usable space.
- Replaced rotten timbers and strengthened key junctions to stop movement and extend lifespan.
- Swapped the old suspended timber floor for a solid, insulated slab with underfloor heating on the ground floor for steady, even warmth.
A better, bigger heart to the home
- Removed the outdated rear extension and delivered a larger, high-performance addition with proper insulation and airtightness.
- Installed bi-fold doors and level thresholds to connect kitchen, dining and lounge to the fully landscaped garden.
Light, layout and everyday ease
- Introduced electric/automatic skylights to bring fresh air and controllable daylight deep into plan.
- Remodelled the ground floor, adding a practical downstairs WC and generous storage.
- Glass and oak balustrades on a new timber staircase keep sightlines open and add warmth.
Services and sustainability
- Full rewire and replumb for safety, capacity and future flexibility.
- Solar panels on the extension roof paired with a battery system to maximise self-consumption; on a sunny day the house runs on solar.
- UFH paired with improved fabric performance for lower bills and consistent comfort.
Security, comfort and kerb appeal
- New porch with improved security, insulation and draught control.
- Full exterior upgrade including repairs, finishes and detailing for a crisp, long-life envelope.
- New driveway for easier arrivals and tidier frontage.
Finishes that feel like home
- Bespoke German kitchen tailored to cooking flow and storage habits.
- Herringbone timber floor to the ground level for warmth and character.
- New oak doors throughout for a cohesive, tactile finish.
Proposed materials
- High-performance insulation and airtight membranes to walls/roof of the new extension.
- Aluminium or timber-alu composite glazing to extension and dormer.
- Engineered oak herringbone flooring over insulated slab with UFH.
- Painted render and brickwork repairs externally for a clean, durable finish.
The outcome
The house is steady, warm and simple to live in. The plan finally works for daily life, the garden is part of the living space, and the upper floors feel safe and generous. Energy performance is transformed: solar plus battery, upgraded fabric and UFH cut running costs and carbon without fuss. Most importantly, the spirit of the childhood home remains, now supported by thoughtful architecture and solid engineering.
Why it works
- Fabric first: we fixed the structure and envelope before chasing finishes, so comfort is built-in, not decorative.
- Flow and light: the plan now supports real life, with daylight and garden links doing the heavy lifting.
- Quiet sustainability: solar, battery and UFH reduce bills without changing how the family lives.
- Consistent detailing: oak, glass and considered lines tie old and new into one calm whole.
Looking ahead
With robust structure, modern services and a flexible layout, the home can adapt as family needs change. Maintenance is simpler, energy use is lower, and every space earns its keep. It feels like home again, only better.
