1960s Bungalow renovation

7 years ago

We've just bought a single storey bungalow that we would like to update.

It currently has 2 double and a single bedroom. There's a workshop built outside the house, which could be joined to the house.

The plot shape is not rectangular, so an extension on the right hand side wouldn't be rectangular either.

Plan view

Front view

Plot's shape

The Garage has a flat roof (left hand side) and the Workshop can be seen in the back of the garage, which has a pitched roof.

A utility room and an entrance hall would be ideal, but a second bathroom is a must.

There is plenty of garden space to extend into at the back.

Any ideas for how to improve the front exterior would be appreciated - render/clad/something else? We are not keen on wood that turns silver when weathered.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

PRO

McCann Moore Architects

7 years ago

Hi Ella

Heres a quick doodle / suggestion if money wasnt an object

its bit of a radical departure from whats there at present but this layout provides you all the accommodation that you need and will give you a fantastic house that embraces the back garden more fully

What i propose is extending to either side of the front bay to create extra bedrooms/bathrooms/storage and moving the entrance to the centre of the plan (not too dissimilar to Johnathonb suggestion) and combining the 3 rooms at the rear into one be family space. I have deliberately sited the new entrance opposite the dining room so that you see through this and out to the rear garden as soon as you enter the house - always a nice feature

Ideally you would remove the pitched roof from the front bay and have one long coherent elevation combining the two extensions and the existing walls. You could have a flat roof or pitched roof over this.

Anyway - food for thought!

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Comments (12)

Isidora Markovic
7 years ago
Hi there!

A few ideas for the front exterior - you could replace the windows/doors with those in a more contemporary style, for e.g. anthracite grey uPVC. Or you could just freshen them with a lick of paint and ensure the door/garage door and windows are all the same colour. You could add spotlights and some planters either side of the front door. You could replace the roof tiles with those in slate grey and add wood cladding or render the whole house white.

Something along these lines maybe:

Contemporary coastal new-build · More Info

Tanglewood · More Info

Outspan, Widemouth Bay, Bude, Cornwall · More Info

Chigford Contemporary Large Garden · More Info

Hope this has been of use in terms of ideas - would love to know what others think!
Ella Gon
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi Isidora, many thanks for your suggestions. I was thinking about something similar to the first picture that you added!

The only thing I'm not so sure about is that all the new or renovated houses are starting to look a bit similar with the grey windows and the wooden cladding.

I just can't think of a way to make a front of a house to look contemporary and still keep looking fresh as the time goes by.

I was thinking about Cotswold stone cladding instead of wood as this place is near the Cotswolds, so it would look like it surrounding.
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Ella Gon
Original Author
7 years ago
Below are a few different options of the layout I'm thinking about for this place.

Listed from simple (cheaper) to complicated ( expensive)

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Any feedback from Architect, builders, etc would be appreciated!

cheers
Jonathan
7 years ago
Personally I think the easiest thing to do is make the front bedroom the entrance then build an extra wide garage on the side with room for a washing machine and then a new ensuite bedroom behind it. All other rooms would stay the same.
Lastly I would be careful about introducing an exterior finish not found in the street. Most likely they are this brick and render. Personally I would render the front and change the shape of the front window so it is less wide but deeper which would update the look
Ella Gon thanked Jonathan
Ella Gon
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for that Jonathan!

I think that moving the entrance is a interesting idea that allows the house layout to be a bit more flexible.

The only thing I'm not sure yet is what to do with the workshop we have in the garden, as it's just a shell building with windows and doors, but not to a living standard on the inside.

Should we just ignore for now and maybe in the future make a summer house or a small guests house?

Some pics from the detached workshop below.

Garage door is on the left side of the wall.
Jonathan
7 years ago
As far as the workshop goes I think that I would knock it down.
Firstly I think it will obstruct the window of the room I suggested as an ensuite bedroom.
Also looking at the aerial view I imagine the workshop is sat in the sunniest part of the garden so personally I would want the garden furniture there.
Ella Gon thanked Jonathan
Michael Heery
7 years ago
i have a 1961 bungalow on1 acre, wish i had lots of money, i do not know where to start mmm.
Jonathan
7 years ago
Micheal- you should start your own post with pictures and ask for specific help.
Ella Gon
Original Author
7 years ago
Now I need to win the lottery! I love the idea of that space - thanks for the idea; it is definitely food for thought...
madsadmum
7 years ago
Have you considered a loft conversion. It looks like there is a lot of room up there.
PRO
Decopierre Stone GB
7 years ago

We often transform 1960.s property to look like local stone. Big advantage is that Decopierre is breathable and we can add sills and quoins etc without extra cost. This one was concrete faux stone and bricks changed to Ham-Stone. Lopen in Devon.