Over the weekend I had an email from a developer called Martin Swatton. He’s a designer based in Sussex, whose talent lies in turning average properties into awe-inspiring contemporary living spaces.
The rear of one of Martin's bungalow projects, before and after
It’s not always practical, nor possible, to remodel your home in this fashion. That said, with the housing market the way it is, more people are deciding to stay put and build on what they’ve got, rather than incur the costs and stress associated with moving house.
The new bungalow is almost unrecognisable, but comes at a cost
The Home Show is a programme founded on this very principle. While architect and presenter George Clarke is usually unable to overhaul the facade of a property, his work on the interior architecture is right in line with Martin’s own aim of creating a flexible, usable and downright gorgeous living space.
A large detached house transformed
Whether or not such a drastic approach to home improvement can prove to be profitable is dependent on so many factors that it’s impossible to give a definitive yes or no answer. I seem to remember an episode of Property Ladder in Poole, in which developer Rebecca made stacks of cash on this type of total aesthetic overhaul. That said, she chose her properties exceptionally well, and was working in a rapidly rising market. For most homeowners undertaking this type of development, the motivation tends to be quality of life and creating a long-term family home, rather than turning a quick profit.
Like George Clarke, Martin's aim is to produce bright, stylish and practical interiors
If you’d like to see more examples of dramatic exterior overhauls, check out our exterior facelifts photo gallery, or visit Martin Swatton’s website.
Seen a great exterior facelift? Want to give your house the ultimate curb appeal? Share your thoughts by leaving comments below…
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I live quite close to the “suburban house transformed” and pass it often. The transformation was really quite extraordinary given that the original house was, without doubt, the ugliest in the city! Most people think that it was demolished and a new house built in its place! I’d be quite interested to know about how the houses were made more environmentally sustainable than the originals as well as stunning to look at and live in.
Thank you for your question Tony. As you point out, the house in Hove looks like a new build but of course it is far more environmentally benign to remodel an existing building than demolish and build from scratch.
When planning such a significant transformation such as the two examples you see on this blog, you have the opportunity to improve insulation, glazing performance, heating and ventilation systems, lighting etc. You will also have to comply with Building Regulations regarding insulation and energy use.
love the work that martin has done, those places look amazing. have had a look at his web site…what a clever man.
What an amazing transformation and I love the pond that runs behind the house! It looks absolutely amazing. We have been trying to figure out something to do with our backyard and I’m not sure we could do something like this, but certainly gives person some great ideas. We are looking at trying to do something ourselves rather than hire out. Other ideas we have found are on a website called http://www.yardshare.com where people can post their finished projects.
Hi Jess, check out our own Rate My Room pages ( http://www.channel4.com/4homes/rate-my-room/index.html ), including a Rate My Garden gallery ( http://www.channel4.com/4homes/rate-my-room/rate-my-garden-09-03-20_p_1.html ) for more inspiration. And of course, feel free to upload your own efforts!
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