Turning a cottage into a forever family home
Nutley, East Sussex
Overview
Our client came to us with a clear goal. Take a recently purchased house and turn it into a forever family home. This cottage in Nutley had grown in bits and pieces over time. A workshop here, a conservatory there, and rooms that no longer worked together. We rethought the layout from the ground up, creating light, space and comfort while respecting the character of the house and its setting.
The challenge
- A layout shaped by add-ons rather than family life.
- Low ceilings and uneven floor levels that made rooms awkward to use.
- An unused workshop and tired conservatory taking up valuable garden connection.
- Two staircases that wasted space upstairs.
- A home heated by oil, with poor insulation and rising running costs.
- The need to modernise without losing the charm of the original house.
The vision
Create a warm, practical home where family life flows easily. Bring the garden into everyday living. Make the kitchen the heart of the house. Improve comfort, light and energy performance, while keeping the building feeling familiar and rooted in its surroundings.
The solution
A new heart to the home
- Removed the rear workshop and conservatory and replaced them with a timber-framed, barn-style extension.
- Created a generous open plan kitchen and dining space with two sets of French doors opening onto a new patio for outdoor dining and seating.
- Added skylights to flood the space with natural light throughout the day.
- Included a walk-in pantry and a separate utility room to keep everyday clutter out of sight.
Ground floor reworked for family life
- Added a new guest toilet and a welcoming front lobby.
- Turned the old kitchen into a cosy playroom and snug.
- Extended the main living room to absorb the former dining space, creating a calm area to relax away from the kitchen hub.
Upstairs made simple and comfortable
- Created a new principal bedroom suite with en suite and dressing room through a first floor infill extension.
- Removed the secondary staircase to free up space and improve flow.
- Improved ceiling heights by raising the ridge and eaves of the middle section to match the front of the house, making rooms feel comfortable and easy to move through.
- Delivered four good-sized bedrooms and a family bathroom arranged around a clear, logical layout.
Comfort and efficiency upgrades
- Insulated walls, floors and roofs to modern standards to improve comfort year-round.
- Reduced reliance on the oil heating system through a fabric-first upgrade approach.
- Replaced the suspended floors with insulated construction where needed to improve warmth underfoot.
A refreshed exterior
- Added white cladding to unify old and new elements of the house.
- Moved the main entrance from the side to the front, with a new open porch to shelter visitors.
- Replaced the existing garage with a new timber-framed detached garage providing secure parking and a separate work-from-home space.
- Kept the existing access from the road unchanged.
Materials and appearance
- Timber framing and barn-style forms to reflect local rural character.
- White external cladding to bring cohesion and freshness.
- Traditional roof forms and proportions that sit comfortably on the street.
- Large glazed doors to connect interior spaces with the garden.
The outcome
This family cottage is now a comfortable, light-filled family home that works for everyday life. The kitchen and dining space is the social centre, opening directly onto the garden. Upstairs rooms are easy to use, well proportioned and calm. Energy performance has improved significantly, and the house feels solid, warm and future-ready.
Why it works
- Clear layout: Every room has a purpose, and circulation is simple and intuitive.
- Light and connection: French doors, skylights and patios bring the garden into daily life.
- Respect for character: New elements sit comfortably alongside the original house.
- Comfort first: Insulation, ceiling heights and warmth were addressed before finishes.
Looking ahead
This project gives the family a home that will adapt as life changes. Spaces are flexible, energy use is lower, and the house feels settled and welcoming. It is no longer a collection of extensions. It is a single, well-loved home built to last.