"We built our dream home in our back garden"
From overgrown garden to modern eco home
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Self build aspirations
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The couple harboured their self build fantasy for 25 years, held back by the site's narrow access and the belief that they’d never get planning permission. However, when they learnt about package home provider Facit Homes, they decided to put their plans into action. "Here was a firm building with engineered wood, using computer-controlled building methods,” says Terry. Best of all, the company's homes are built from individual components that can be easily transported, helping them to overcome any access issues on their skinny plot.
Starting the process
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Terry and Mickey reached out to Facit Homes, and Bruce Bell – architect and managing director of the firm – came to visit the site. “He said it’d be possible to build here, and that’s when it all kicked off,” says Terry. However, to create an energy efficient home on the awkwardly-shaped site, they needed to demolish the studio they’d built back in 1992.
Design goals
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Watertight in eight weeks
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Speedy process
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Thermally-efficient
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For Terry and Mickey, creating an energy-efficient house was important. “The walls are deliberately thick, so we’ve got 300mm of insulation in there,” says Terry. “It makes the place look like a castle!” Packing in this protective thermal layer has allowed the couple to make significant savings on their energy bills since moving in. “In our old house, which was half the size, gas and electric bills were about £1,200 per year. Since moving in here, our costs have come down to £640 per year." Interested in sustainable living? These passive houses cost almost nothing to run.
Working to high standards
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Outdoor attraction
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Planning the layout
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Structural hurdles
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Light-filled kitchen
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Choosing products and materials
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The couple chose all the fixtures and fittings for the project based on recommendations from Facit Homes. “They’d tell us that the following week, for instance, we were going to plan out bathrooms and kitchens. They’d ask us to go to these shops and look at these types of products,” says Terry. “We’d go and shop around to settle on what we wanted, then go back to Facit Homes the following week for a design meeting." Redesigning your kitchen? These timeless trends won't go out of style.
Stylish living area
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Creating a cosy space
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Carefully-planned layout
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Interiors wish list
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Future-proof abode
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Practical workspace
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Work life balance
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Terry’s office is also positioned on the first floor of the house, ensuring that each of the property’s work zones is distinctly separate from the main living area downstairs. “When Facit Homes suggested an integrated live-work setup, Mickey said absolutely not,” says Terry. “She said she wanted to keep each of the zones completely separate – she didn’t want to be thinking about what she was going to cook for dinner whilst she was working in her studio.” Planning a workspace? These hardworking home offices don't scrimp on style.
Splashes of colour
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Sleek and stylish
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Positive result
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All in the detail
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Final reflections
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Now the scheme is complete, Terry and Mickey are delighted with the results of their self build – and they’ve learnt a lot through the process, too. “We’re very positive about the whole experience. We’d urge other potential self builders to go ahead with it,” says Terry. “Our advice would be to think about what it’s going to be like to live in the house, consider the details early on and try to get them right.”
READ MORE: "We built our dream home in our back garden"
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