Reimagining a Medieval Structure for Modern Living

A stunning project that redefines what it means to live within history. We were invited to develop the overall scheme and interior design for this extraordinary medieval Cotswolds Stone barn, located in the grounds of a listed Manor House. Fowler Architecture & Planning had achieved planning consent to convert the structure into habitable space, and the client brought us in to ensure the concept and detailing fulfilled the full potential of this ambitious transformation. The aim was to breathe new life into a long-disused agricultural building, while preserving its integrity and poetic simplicity.

Respecting the spirit of the original:
The key to the brief was balance: to respect the age, scale, and inherent character of the building while introducing a quietly modern sensibility. The design sought to honour the barn’s organic materials, its weathered limestone walls and hand-hewn timber trusses, without overwhelming them. Our approach was one of lightness and restraint: to let the building’s history speak, and to frame its beauty through proportion, texture, and natural light.

A sculptural centrepiece:
At the centre of the project sits a dramatic self-supporting sculptural staircase, conceived as both structure and artwork. The client had envisioned a statement piece in stone, and the collaboration with master stonemason Ian Knapper was a defining aspect of the process. Crafted from French limestone, each tread was individually sculpted, spiralling upward with grace. The rusted wrought iron balustrade sweeps through the space, catching light and shadow as it leads to a mezzanine lounge and home office beyond. This staircase gives the interior a sense of movement and permanence, a sculptural gesture that anchors the open volume.

Material honesty and craft:
We designed bespoke joinery throughout in band-sawn oak of random widths, echoing the barn’s agricultural heritage. The oak grain was left expressive, textured rather than polished, to retain a sense of handcraft and authenticity. Flooring in reclaimed oak follows the same principle, laid in random widths to avoid modern uniformity and to celebrate imperfection. These elements bring warmth and rhythm to the stone interior.

Light as a design material:
Lighting was a critical part of the design. We treated light not simply as illumination but as an architectural material, one that reveals surface, scale, and time. Carefully positioned fittings highlight the texture of the ancient stone walls, while concealed lighting washes the gable end and timber beams in a soft, atmospheric glow. During the day, large glazed openings draw natural light deep into the interior, tracing the passing of the sun across stone and timber. The result is an interior that feels alive, serene, timeless, and always in conversation with the weather outside.

Continuity between eras
Our design philosophy for the barn echoes much of what we explore in our residential work: the dialogue between heritage and modernity, between material permanence and the lightness of contemporary living. The barn’s original fabric was retained and revealed wherever possible, while new insertions were expressed honestly as contemporary layers. The suspended wood-burning stove at the heart of the main space embodies this duality as it is traditional in spirit, yet minimal and sculptural in form. The hearth of the fireplace is crafted from the same french limestone as the staircase, it’s design is a nod to a traditional mill stone.

The result is a project that unites architecture, craft, and landscape. It remains unmistakably a medieval barn, yet one that now feels inhabited, human, and alive again, a place to experience light, weather, and material beauty throughout the seasons.

Check out the very very special extra layer in this project here

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography

North Oxford Victorian Extension – A Dialogue Between Heritage and Modern Design

Celebrating Light, Craft, and Heritage:
This distinctive project beautifully balances traditional craftsmanship with contemporary architecture, which transforms a Victorian semi-detached home in North Oxford with a bold yet sensitive approach to design.

The centrepiece of the transformation is a dining-room extension built around an exposed oak-framed structure, enclosed by elegant sliding doors and clad in pigment brown/red VMZinc. At its heart, a large triple-glazed rooflight fills the space with daylight, while a sedum green roof surrounded by river-washed pebbles adds visual texture and ecological benefit. The result is a warm, light-filled space that feels calm, natural, and deeply connected to its garden setting.

Respecting Heritage and Context:
Situated within the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area, the project required a thoughtful and respectful design approach, working within the framework of local conservation guidance, and in consultation with Oxford City Council’s Heritage Team, we carefully balanced historic context with contemporary ambition, ensuring that every new element, both architectural and within the wider landscape, enhanced the home’s existing period character. Scale, detailing, and materials were refined to ensure the new structures sit harmoniously alongside the original Victorian architecture. The combination of zinc, oak, stonemasonry and handcrafted metalwork offers a tactile contrast to the traditional brickwork, uniting historic craftsmanship with modern expression.

A New Bay and Victorian Details Reimagined:
To the rear of the house, we introduced a new three-storey brick and Bath stone bay window designed to mirror the proportions and detailing of the original Victorian bay at the front, with stone mullions and beautifully crafted from carefully selected Bath stone. The new bay adds depth, light, and architectural rhythm to the rear façade, creating a strong dialogue between old and new.  All of the windows are replaced with now high performance double glazed traditional sash windows, and a new gabled window dormer was added to the 4th storey. Complementing these architectural additions, we also designed bespoke cast-iron railings that echo the fine detailing of the original Victorian metalwork. Handcrafted by local artisans, the railings complete the composition—preserving authenticity while subtly reinterpreting traditional design language.

Connecting Indoors and Out:
The extension maximises natural light and opens the home to views of the landscaped garden and the Oxford Canal beyond. Large sliding glass doors create a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces, blending contemporary clarity with a calm, natural palette.

Reimagining the Lower Ground Floor:
A previously converted basement required significant improvement, with the existing windows all below ground level. We carefully lowered external ground levels to draw natural light into the lower storey. These changes transformed once-sunken windows into open outlooks and introduced a new stepped approach to the original porch and front door, bridging a concealed storage area and lightwell that serves the lower level. The result is a brighter, more integrated living environment that flows effortlessly through every level of the home.

An Integrated Design Collaboration:
Delivered in close collaboration with KD Design, Rogue Designs provided a comprehensive architectural, interior, and landscape design solution. The project was managed from concept through to completion, with construction by Belmark Nightingale. The result is a home that unites heritage and innovation, light and structure, and architecture and landscape—a timeless reflection of how thoughtful design can enhance both function and beauty.

A highly glazed extension to a Grade II Listed property dating from the 16th Century in West Oxfordshire.

The design for this development required particular sensitivity as the historic property is also situated a Conservation Area, and at the boundary of the Benedictine Eynsham Abbey, a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

We achieved Listed Building Consent with this careful, sensitive design which allows the original features of the property to be appreciated, by removing a series of unsympathetic late 20th Century additions, and creating this clear, light filled and transparent single storey extension to the host dwelling. Huge sliding doors with ultra slim framing can be pushed aside, opening whole walls out to the private rear gardens beyond. Orignial features are allowed to come to the fore, and stonework carefuly exposed. The timber cladding in sustainable British grown sycamore is a modern but sympathetic nod to the random width joinery of the pre-industrialised period.

This entire project was managed from initial concept through to building handover, which allowed us to achive the high quality design and finish which this historic property deserves.

Photography by Lucy Walters

A joyful brief for a growing young family to completely restore this North Oxford Edwardian property inside and out, implementing energy saving measures, using sustainible and reclaimed materials wherever possible and bringing colour throughout!

Architecturally we worked within the existing footprint, but internal spaces were completely reimagined and reconfigured. A new staircase was designed to wind up through the centre of the house, creating a series of linked yet private spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms. With careful thought, doorways throughout were tweaked or re-oriented, to improve every room and make the house flow seamlessly, and allow for the mutual feeling of privacy and connection.

Windows throughout were replaced with thermally efficient double glazed new joinery, bespoke faithful interpretations of the original single glazed design. Original stained glass was carefully dismantled and restored. New window and door openings in the kitchen dining area make a close connection with the garden which was previously missing. New rooflights above the stairwell on the second floor allow light to flood throughout the house.

Wet system underfloor heating was installed to the ground floor, whilst other energy improvements included internal insulation, roof insulation, replacement boiler, solar panels, and a heat recovery system.

Reducing the carbon footprint of the entire project, materials were carefully sourced to be recycled, upcycled and re-used wherever possible, or chosen for their inherent low carbon credentials, such as the kitchen worktop which is made from waste wood, and the recessed lighting which is a circular product.

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography

Following the original renovation work of this much loved Oxford landmark, we got back together to complete a dining room extension. A sympathetic addition, with a glazed link from the original building. The initial designs and planning of this historic and listed site was by Anderson Orr Architects, the owners then set up a fresh collaboration with adapted construction phase design and project management by Laura Donald Architecture, and creative interior and exterior by Rogue Designs. Construction was beautifully executed by BarrBuild, who had completed the successful 2016 renovation.

We worked collaboratively with the owners to bring a palette that takes cues from the main buildings interior and registers them in a slight updated but cohesive ‘continued’ language. Bespoke furniture was designed and workshop made to perfectly fit the space. The result is fresh, and punchy but with added heartwarming elements.

Photography by Lucy Walters Photography, courtesy of BarrBuild

Scroll all the way down to see the computer model animation of our design for the building and interior whcih assisted the proprietor in understanding exactly what would be possible within this new build space. Attention to detail and a meticulous approach to decision making made this client / designer collaboration exceptionally strong.

Our mission for this fantastic Jericho townhouse was to increase the connection with the garden, and to maximize light, and bring out the character of the building. Before we started the house had been stripped back of its former glories, as previous owners had deleted all evidence of the property’s history by stripping out plaster covings and period features throughout. For the first phase we undertook a sensitive restoration project over 4 storeys, as a fully managed turn-key service, decorating, restoring, installing plaster covings, period doors and oak chevron flooring.

The second phase was to deal with the basement kitchen and dining room. Originally conceived as a basement extension, after extensive consultation with the clients we decided to work within the existing footprint, re-working the layout, lifting the ceilings and reducing the size of structural columns, and re-imagining the staircase. We achieved Planning Consent in the Conservation Area with some sensitive removelling to the existing fenestration. Internaly, balustrades and handrails were bespoke in slatted oak, allowing the light to pass though and creating and airy transition. New French doors and a box balcony were installed to the upper ground floor, and the back wall opened up below to allow for insertion of a Fabco steel door screen. A gorgeous kitchen by Kitchen Architecture makes the most of the space.

We managed this project from concept to completion, and it was a real pleasure to work with the construction team from Belmark Nightingale.

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography

This is a place to see sky, to see the weather and to bring the potager garden close and to experience all of this throughout the year in style.

The main dwelling is a traditional Victorian property in brick and stone, over five split floor levels, canal-side in Jericho within Oxford’s historic Conservation Area. The building is oriented East/West with gardens extensing to the Oxford Canal. The new extension has a West facing aspect and nested in a long narrow rear garden on the lower ground floor. The development to the rear of the property creates and extends a kitchen diner and garden room. It is light-filled via a large frameless glass lantern where the summer sun, overhead, floods the building with light, and low-lying winter sun is caught via full height minimally framed sliding glass doors. The detailing of the corner posts and the facade panels (below window), to the side elevation (lower half) were of Bath stone to match the cills, headers and mullions of the main building, and tying in with a Oxford-appropriate architectural material. Aesthetically these ashlar panels make the building seem much lighter and up on its toes, open and at one with its surroundings.

Often the orientation, volume and high Victorian garden walls to these types of houses create dark voids. With the design approach we rectified the associated issues and created a structured space that brought light in and around. It’s a simple form but perfectly shaped with a carefully detailed zinc roof for permanence and a seamless glass lantern from Maxlight glazing. The pitch and alignment of the glazed lantern all were closely tailored to the main building. Views from the 1st floor weren’t hindered, in fact the apex aligned nicely with the elements of the window and there is still generosity to the height of the interior. The light weight nature of the extension belies its overall mass and welcomes the garden that visually pushes up against the building without being overwhelmed by the build volumes. The extensive use of glazing makes sure that light penetrates right through the structure. A sleek storage wall by Kitchen Architecture extends from kitchen seamlessly into the new space.

For the mitigation of excessive heat build-up in summer, we installed mechanical trickle ventilators. Being much cooler in the main body of the house, the cold air is displaced by the warm air and the cooler air is drawn down to the extension. This also keeps the dynamic of the house more fluid, useful and evenly handed. As part of the surface water control measures, we used a 1600L water harvester with integrated pump for future proofing the gardening irrigation without drawing on useful mains supply. A water attenuation tank of an equal size was connected alongside. The system is designed to be gentle but highly effective on the old mains connection. What was an ‘garden store room’ housing the boiler before, became internal space for storage fitted with a very practical heat recovery fan. The installation of a drain, pipework for a radiator allows for future adaption, one day perhaps a bathroom.

Practical lighting to the space is very discreet with a small number of led downlights sitting alongside a pivoting super large cantilever light by FLOS that serves the dining table.
The internal decorative finishes are kept to a simple palette. The floor was matched to the existing small profile slate floor of the kitchen albeit oriented at 90 degree to align with the sliding doors. Lightly textured lime render to the rear face of the old brickwork allows breathability and maintains a light touch approach.

All in all, a sensitively upgraded addition to the main dwelling that draws the whole house and garden together as one.

Devised and managed from concept, through planning and construction phase to handover alongside KD Design.

Photo credit Keith Barnes Photography

Reimagining an Arts & Crafts Home in Oxford

Working in the traditional vernacular of the Arts & Crafts style, we undertook a wide-ranging architectural intervention to transform this beautiful suburban home in Oxford. The challenge was to expand and modernise the property while preserving its distinctive character, enhancing its relationship with the surrounding garden, and creating a home that flows effortlessly from one space to another.

The first step was to remove an existing single-storey extension, which felt boxy and disconnected from the garden. In its place, we introduced a purposefully designed link to the rear landscape, including a light-filled garden room and a traditional lead-roofed study. These additions create a seamless connection between interior and exterior, bringing the beauty of the garden into the heart of the home.

Working closely with KD Design, we increased the overall volume of the house by approximately 30%, carefully integrating the new spaces with the existing architecture. On the first floor, a luxurious master bedroom suite was created, complete with a dressing room and a cantilevered ensuite bathroom that captures stunning views over the gardens.

The second storey included a loft conversion, designed as a self-contained bedroom suite with its own living area, dressing room, and ensuite bathroom. Meanwhile, we reconfigured the existing parts of the house to maximize habitable space, adding a series of new ensuite bathrooms and dressing rooms. These changes improved circulation, enhanced the home’s functionality, and created a sense of spaciousness throughout.

The project was meticulously managed at every stage, from initial concept and planning consent to construction, interior design, and final curation. Every detail, from architectural proportions and material choices to interior finishes, was carefully considered to ensure the result is both harmonious and practical. The outcome is a home that respects its Arts & Crafts heritage while embracing modern living, offering a perfect blend of character, light, and luxurious comfort.

To see more of the interior design elements of this wide ranging project please take a look at the link here.

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography and Rogue Designs

Sustainably remodeling and extending this property to include a vaulted, light filled music room for an Oxford University Professor of music. The emphasis is on eco-friendly sustainable design and climate neutral materials.

Photo credit: Keith Barnes Photography

The brief was to create a music room, level access guest room and bathroom, sustainably extending and improving a 1960s Oxford home. From the outset this project aimed at the reduced reliance on conventional building materials and was designed for less waste with managed material use, a focus on repurposing or reconditioning for reuse, and sourcing new products that had low carbon embodiment.

The main addition is a bold, large extension that wraps around 2 aspects of the existing building terminating in a full double height glazed gable incorporating solar glass, behind a brise soleil in a cedar aerofoil shape which is pinned to the Glulam double framed structure. The extended room became a fabulous music room and was kitted out with musical functionality and connectivity, and the centrepiece is a bespoke organ in maple. The structure is designed around the accoustics: a lofty vaulted ceiling and projection windows to echo the kind of sound quality found in ecclesiastical spaces - perfect for an organ room.

Furniture was handmade and simple; full width open slatted seating in sustainable English maple, echoed on the external bench with larch slatted seating for summer seating use. A double fronted inset wood burning stove punctures the oroginal brick chimneystack, the former main living room becomes a book lined piano room whcih can be converted into guest accomodation.

To improve of the main entrance we created a new porch, maintaining the architectural language of the music room, and an generous new thermally efficient front door.

Renewable enegy is provided by a new a solar PV array on a new tiled pitched roof to the garage, which replaced an old flat felted roof at the end of it’s lifespan. The garage doors was replaced with a thermally efficient insulated door. Solar PV panels were a positive installation from the off. Two batteries were added to the system for the storage of 6kw of energy in total. Installing the garage roof at the front end allowed SPV to be generating energy during the build itself for the build teams requirements.

Glazing: we chose to work with high performance glazing that exceeds standard building regulations. Whilst not all the windows in the house were upgraded many on the ground floor were.

Flooring: The existing living room floor is a hardwood five finger block parquet which we wanted to retain and exactly march for the extended space. Social media platforms helped in sourcing an identical profile (used extensively, but not often available). In a damp garage in Slough, we found the exact match! They were dried and cleaned up. The whole floor sanded back and flawlessly finished to marry right through. The overall effect is tremendous and very satisfying. In the main extension we’ve used a complimentary cork flooring which is climate plus rated – pvc free, multi layered, highly durable, cork flooring with click fitting meant less waste, simple laying process combined with a warm comfort. The cork is sourced from the bottle stopper industry. Even the smallest bits are granularized and layered back into the process. No waste. The cork also adds sensory warmth and nods subtly back to the 60’s.

Handmade tiles: A wonderful product handmade in the UK from recycled Welsh slate dust, glazed and then re-fired to produce super durable tiles for internal and external use in a dark weathered bronze finish that looked like treacle.

Bespoke Organ and AV: a state of the art Genelec sound system was installed for extensively configurable surround sound alongside the custom made organ which includes a digital console and Hauptwerk combination. The audio was configured as 4 + 1 to work with Hauptwerk’s surround sound perspective mixing. The organ was handcrafted in Maple by Romsey Rogan Works wiht a keyboard in Grenadilla naturals, Maple sharps with Mineral caps.

Lighting: Fixed and recessed lighting is by Orluna Lighting who set extremely high standards for their sustainability and use of recycled and recyclable material. Their Led luminaires with long operating lifespans are composed of components which can be uniquely disassembled and changed rather than replacing an entire fitting.
For the amazing sculptural light in the music room we were delighted to commission sculptor Charlie Whinney to create a steam bent sculptural ash lamp. The ash is sourced from his Lake District coppice. Approximately 1m in diameter, a piece that has a mathematical composition, drawing upon the clients interest in Pythagoras with a Mobius strip contribution to the larger outer strip.

In the garden and surrounds: A re-landscaped, mixed habitat garden with a planting scheme carefully designed to encourage wildlife and pollinators. Native woodland species provide edible berry cover and texture. We used recycled peat free topsoil and supplemented with organic material to assist and balance the overall composition.

It’s not often you get to work with such great bones as this house has - but it’s such good fun! This interior design commission has developed stage by stage, and along the way some really special spaces have been created, augmenting the original features of the house and adding new features where original ones had gone missing, such as the bespoke fireplace in the drawing room, a new library room in steely blue, and bronze column radiators throughout. Furniture was curated gradually, selecting items piece by piece with care over a period of time, along with artwork and accessories, which is one of our favourite ways to work. The spaces are so light and connected with the garden that this house can handle colour, and with a wonderfully enthusiastic client we attained an expansive palette!

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography

This was an architectural commission to completely re-image a property which was set expansive private grounds. We were given license to go full tilt with the architectural reconfiguration and redesign, and produce a masterplan for the estate whcih included proposing to knock down a single storey bungalow structure and replacing with with an oak framed building. The existing building was all of red brick with white UPVC windows, we designed a completely new palette of materials, mixing and matching a variety of different materials, tile, Cotswold stone, zinc and lime render to create the effect of a natural, historically staged agglomeration, as you would typically find with a rural farm property. In the main house, walls were removed throughout to ground floor to create huge open plan kitchen and living areas, and windows and doors open up with the gardens. On the first floor, vaulted bedroom suites are created, each with full height windows opening onto an oak and glass balcony. The new oak structure included a private guest suite and gymnasium.

It was great working with KD Design on this technically demanding project, and we were pleased to get full Planning approval and full Building Regulations plan approval before our clients commenced building this impressive development. We were able to hand over a compelte package of works for our clients to complete the build. A strong emphasis on sustainability, as well as cutting edge technology, enhanced this project, including installation of a ground source heating system.

This North Oxford villa is an absolute gem, and happily we were involved right from the beginning at house-hunting phase. An architectural and design project with a full turnkey service for clients who were living abroad, once we’d found this gorgeous 1920s property complete with its own tennis court and tennis store, we were working against the clock to get plans made up, drawn up and the build realised so that the family could move over to the UK. Dream clients were great to work with and trusted in our design concepts from the outset, so working together was incredibly smooth. We kept them regularly appraised via online conferencing and photostreams, and they had complete trust in our ability and commitment to realsie their dream.

Extending the property, and re-configuring the layout was swiftly worked out, with a new vaulted ground floor extension and linking Orangery, then relocating the kitchen to the garden side of the house to enjoy all that gorgeous south facing sunshine, whilst using the rest of the ground floor layout to create a self contained annexe, a dining room and a grown up snug / movie room. Upstairs we created a new master bedroom suite with walk in wardrobes and a luxurious spacious bathroom, alongside colourful and characterful bedrooms and bathrooms for the rest of the family. The whole of the house was taken apart and re-done to some extent. The ground floor was dug out and a new underfloor heating system was distributed throughout.

A pleasure to work alongside Keith Durham of KD Design as always, his meticulous detailing and careful thought into the joinery elements was especially lovely when realised, and the whole process of design and planning permission granted and building regulations schemes approved was remarkably smooth. With construction by BarrBuild, we managed the project for the whole duration through to completion/ handover.

The aim, which was so satisfyingly achieved, was to make this a modern family house for 21st century living, and yet retain all the charm and character of its original period features and flavour.

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography courtesy of BarrBuild, with additional photography by Rogue Designs

We devised a fantastic new scheme to add space, value, and bring light into this classic north Oxford Victorian terrace, whist keeping intact it’s period charm.

On the ground floor, a single storey side extension creates a fabulously airy and spacious new kitchen and family room. The kitchen itself is sleek and functional, but traditionally crafted and painted in muted period colours. The glazed roof to the side extension flood the space with natural light, whist connection to the garden is improved with new french doors, and a carefully authentic sash window over the sink.

Working with KD Design we took care to meticulously match the existing brickwork, and detailing the new joinery to complement this heritage Victorian property. We designed a gnerous loft conversion with ensuite bathroom (with a great view!), which allowed the first floor to be significantly reconfigured. We modified the layout of the bedrooms, adding an impressive master suite with walk through dressing room and ensuite bathroom.

At the same time, existing single glazed sash windows were upgraded to improve thermal and acoustic performance, and the property also underwent full redecoration inside and out.

The project was fully managed from the very initial conception through to completion, we obtained planning consent, detailed the construction and technical aspects, and managed the build as a turn-key service whilst the property owners lived elsewhere.

Photo credit: Keith Barns Photography

We were so pleased to be given the opportunity to recreate the much loved Mamma Mia restaurant in Summertown, in completely new premises! A real treat to work once again with a great team of owner Jon Ellse, architect Laura Donald, and Barr Build - it’s a successful recipe! BarrBuild describe the project incredibly eloquently here

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography

Part of the internal configuration of the Arts and Crafts 2 story extension - of which you can see more here - was to maximize the living accommodation in this lovely property, and improve the design of some of the existing house.

This was a wide ranging brief of new work and careful restoration. So in addition to the architectural brief and managing the building works for the extension and renovation, this project required all of the traditional interior design elements, such as bespoke furniture, upholstery, soft furnishing and fabrics, lighting design, detailed bathroom design, sourcing of furniture and artwork, and unique touches, such as commissioning stained glass windows and carefully restoring the original oak front door. We designed five bathrooms, including finding space for two new en-suites and two new bespoke walk-in dressing rooms.

We designed this project from initial conception and project manged it through to construction completion and interior curation.

We’ve included an animation at the bottom of this post of our computer design work, typically we’ll produce a 3D model of our design to allow our clients to have a complete ‘walk through’ of the proposed space.

Photo credit: Lucy Walters Photography and Rogue Designs

We devised the architectural design for this modernist addition to an Oxford home, working with KD Design from an early stage to transform the ground floor space of the property and extend across the back with a sleek glazed box in zinc and glass.

Overall the extrusion allowed several rooms to be brought into the same space yet retaining distinct zones for various uses, creating a more dynamic and functional space for the owners allowing a unity of 2 rooms, and creating an expansive connection to the garden.

The exterior was lightly worked with some fringe paving in large granite slabs that allowed a small table and chairs to sit in the garden.

It can be challenging for a family who have been resident in their home for a number of years, with all the memories and family connections which that brings, to radically re-invent a familiar layout. However, with a series of careful design renditions, and visual modelling, they bravely went ahead, and are blown away by the results.

We are very pleased with this project in all its details and we were grateful to KD Design, who we worked with again very closely to help make this a project of real finesse.

Great construction skills again from the team at BarrBuild, the finishing and detailing is 'exquisite'.

Photography by Lucy Walters Photography

A beautifully peaceful Cornish house, during this interior design project the property was carefully curated at a reflective pace. Particular emphasis was placed on gentle colours for the first floor sitting room overlooking the creek and fields outside. A diptych of works on canvas by Sandra Blow was purchased during a magical visit to her St Ives studio and the paintings are hung for maximum effect. The lighting design for this space features vintage film lights alongside pieces by Arturo Alvarez and Karboxx, Marset, Atelier Areti and Ango World, all chosen for their stunning sculptural and tactile qualities. A bespoke side table in polished concrete and ash was made in our workshop, it emulates a river washed pebble.

On the ground floor a snug living room with fireplace wall in Cornish slate is encased by comfy sofas dressed with bright screen printed cushions and some very special lamps. A pair of tables designed and made in our workshop are made from local English walnut and power coated steel.

Outside, the ever strokeable stone sculpture 'Blue Backed Angel II' in Ancaster Weatherbed by sculptor Dominic Welsh sits gently within the encompassing landscape. With thanks to On Form for introducing us to this wonderful artist.

Photography: Charlotte Holmes

When we were first invited to look at this project, we found that a rather unprepossessing brick garage dominated the entrance to this otherwise beautiful Arts and Crafts property. Our mission was to improve it aesthetically, whilst also creating space for a double garage, storage, workshop space and a spacious and functional home office. Moreover, although we elected to adopt a traditional style - carriage not garage doors - the technical brief was that the doors should be fully automated. A very rarely accomplished feat, we designed and constructed these beautiful solid timber automated carriage doors - to see them in operation check out the video here.

A rather fitting home for a gorgeous Austin Healey we think, we also address practicalities of homeoffice, workshop and storage spaces, and bin storage.

On the first floor, via its own double height light filled entrance, is a timber boarded home office / studio which comfortably accommodates desk space for two or three. Lead cheeked dormers are fitted with beautifully constructed flush casement timber windows. Exterior landscaping details clay pavers in graduated designs to manage several changes of level.

A lovely project collaboration with KD Design, from concept scheme to planning phase, through fully managed build phase and to completion, you can see more of the property development and two storey extension to the main house here

The animation at the foot of this post shows our scheme design stage as presented to the clients to help them visualize the proposed design.

Photography courtesy of Salisbury Joinery with additional photography by Lucy Walters Photography and Rogue Designs

This is an architectural project that fully embraces the beauty of open spaces with warm tones and a gentle touch. Allowing a great deal of light in and giving a quality of scandinavian cool. The brief was to design a substantial ground floor extension that would work in both contrast and harmony with a traditional Edwardian North Oxford house, creating an expansive social space for indoor / outdoor entertaining.

We were invited to take on this project after the clients had been granted planning permission for an outline scheme, which they wanted us to develop and make more dynamic. We worked up the ‘basic box’ which had achieved planning, and applied thought into the flow, dynamic, and how to achieve the maximum amount of light ingress. The development of this design was carried out over a long period of consultation with the clients, to get the maximum quality to the space whilst working within a specific budget. The project was devised alongside an extensive internal refurbishment, remodeling and redecoration, including creating of a new master suite and ensuite.

A roof-light running the length of the extension floods it with light whilst reducing glare, the ingenious roof design allows for a high vaulted ceiling within planing restrictions. Soft plaster rolls eliminate any harshness, the walls float into the ceiling.

A bespoke table from rogue designs workshop in solid ash, extending to 12 seats sits in the living space alongside a bespoke vintage industrial daybed from rogue designs workshop.

Photo credit: Jamie Simmons

This interior architecture project was the most enormous pleasure to work on: fabulous clients, fantastic BarrBuild construction team, we were all on the same page, and you can tell, the end result: totally harmonious! We transformed this rather exhausted granny (grotty?) maisonette, last updated circa early 1950, into a cool spacious apartment, restoring and accentuating lost period features, and re-distributing the space by knocking though a warren of rooms to create an open plan kitchen, living space and dining room at the front of the property (overlooking the park) and cosy bedrooms and bathrooms with clever built in storage and dressing table to the rear. The we helped our clients to invest their budget wisely, structural work was essential, but also dealing with damp, replacing all the windows - to bespoke box sash double glazed units - and completely rewiring and installing new central heating throughout. And the achievement? A lovely space full of flair and charm, they say 'it's AMAZING', we say, a total pleasure.

Photography by Lucy Walters Photography, courtesy of BarrBuild

A beautifully peaceful interior design project for an adventurous client.

features: lighting designs from the phenomenal David Weeks Studio, New York, alongside FontanaArte, Catallani and Smith, and Ilide. Inset stove with black steel frame, floating glass hearth and lime washed floorboards. Bespoke floor to ceiling bookshelves by Rogue designs. Furnishings from Vitra and MDF Italia

Photo credit: Jamie Simmons

Part of complete refurbishment of this beautiful historic five storey property in Oxford's Parktown. Working closely with our client, the brief was to restore and rejuvenate the property, whilst being sensitive to its history and age, taking a gentle approach so as not to lose any of its historical character.

Inspired as 'new' arts and crafts, a bespoke kitchen handmade in solid maple with hand carving and brushed brass detailing, leading to a through living room with relaxed seating and bespoke alcove shelving with relief carved doors. French doors open on to the gardens, each one with a hand painted mural where the completed picture is revealed when the shutters are closed, of abstracted hellebores in the living room and fennel heads in the kitchen, also used to decorate the illuminated splash backs designed for the project. Lighting is suspended to avoid puncturing the original lathe and plaster ceilings. in the living room, a floor lamp crafted by Ango World is made up of hundreds of natural silk worm cocoons acts as a reading light over a vintage chesterfield daybed upholstered in Marimekko fabric. 

A handcrafted kitchen in solid maple was made by rogue-designs, lighting by Album, Secto and Ango World, furniture by B+B Italia and Hans Wegner.

Probably one of our favourite projects we’ve ever worked on, the property, and the clients really deserved the ‘hands on’ approach to craft which this design called for!

Photography by Rogue Designs and Jamie Simmons

Working with exacting property developers Belmark Homes, we created some breezy and inviting styles for their exclusive developments.

We worked with our lovely clients on this splendid North Oxford Victorian Gothic property over a number of years, to realise the full potential of this family home.

Although it’s often more cost efficient to commit to a whole renovation in one phase, sometimes that simply isn’t practical, so in this instance we worked together with the family to structure the work into different stages: firstly the essential interior renovations and layout modifications, including all the practicalities such as electrics, heating, new bathrooms, and internal layout changes. Following that, we designed a complete basement remodelling including relocation of the kitchen, and a lower ground floor extension to form a dining room.

The final stage in the complete renovation of this five story house was the exterior landscaping. We designed and obtained planning for a new Victorian porch in North Oxford Conservation Area, alongside tiered planting beds that echo the bay window of the house and with new thin hand made dutch clay paver driveway in a curving design that creates a subtle flow and harmony, whilst allowing for drainage and providing a sustainable choice of material. We took the outline of the original porch, recycling and restoring the arched door surround to more than double the interior space, whilst allowing for access though to rear garden.

It also features a specially made iron railing with a rogue-designed motif that adds to an underlying curve-linear design.

To the rear of the property, following on from the complete internal refurbishment, it was time to bring the garden in to meet the architectural commission for a North Oxford basement extension with curved copper roof and curved stone steps up from a sunken terrace that creates a harmony and flow through a beautiful leafy natural old English garden.

The project opened up the whole basement from the front to rear of the house, housing a living area to front, central kitchen, and dining area linking though to the outside garden space. An excavation is made easy and breezy with a careful and considered approach. Light is found from all angles to open up the basement. Copper outside works with deep iroko hues to the decked area, again adding warmth and softness to the junctions between red brick and its new partners, sparkling white render reflects light and finishes all with a crisp clean modernity.

We were delighted to work with repeat clients again on this last phase of a whole-house project, where over a period of time we have restored and renovated their 5 storey North Oxford property from top to toe.

A classic Oxford Victorian house was brought into the 21st century with a new light filled side extension devised with KD Designs, which dramatically increases the ground floor space, and houses the kitchen and dining spaces, which were moved from the formal front rooms of the house.

Alongside the extension and kitchen shown here, our brief was to apply a smart townhouse aesthetic throughout in a refurbishment of the whole property including its bathrooms and its exterior, and included a full range of design services from space planning, to furniture and lighting design and specification.

Photo credit: Jamie Simmons

Restoration and refurbishment of this landmark Grade II listed country inn in Binsey Village, Oxford, which required a sensitive overhaul, following a devastating fire and some initial rebuilding works.

We worked really closely with the wonderful owners of this much loved pub and restaurant to achieve a gentle, appropriate aesthetic which would allow for a quirky charm, but principally let the simple elegance of the countryside to shine through. Architectural design was by Anderson Orr, and the project was sensitively executed by BarrBuild.

The garden also features our lovely little pop up “shed bar”, a sweetly designed outdoor kitchen and bar where in gorious sumer months you can order drinks and food from the lush willowy gardens, but which can be shuttered up tight to withstand inclement weather.

Principle photography by Lucy Walters Photography with additional images by Rogue Designs

http://the-perch.co.uk

Well, a porch really, but a great example of a side return that is so much more. Although a lot of North Oxford housing stock is very tall which tends to create dark moments in and around the architecture; however, we managed to design a side return that incorporated plenty of light. We built right up to the boundary line with permission from the adjoining neighbour, to maximize the internal aspect of the structure. Small can be beautiful, and sometime when the space isn’t huge, it’s all about finding the cleverest architectural solution to manage it. This project involved obtaining planing consent within the Conservation Area, and we managed the scheme from conception to completed construction.

A complete refurbishment of this beautiful listed building bringing it back to a proper local hangout and a seriously cosy and cool place to be!  A long lead in of the design phase, made it possible (just about!) to turn this place around from over-modernised minimal to quirky and cosy charm in just 10 days. With huge thanks to a great team and the support of the all locals and friends of this village pub who pitched in to help, and brought such a wonderful sense of community into this project.

Scroll down the the bottom of the post to see an animation of the proposed design which we produced as a computer model, to help the owner fully understand the whole space and see all of the design choices before the refurbishment began.

Photo credit: Matt Pitt

We were asked to contribute an architectural design for the conversion of a swimming pool building, into an artists studio that would in its own right be a self contained space. The exterior would remain untouched, but the interior competely reimagined. A place for quiet reflection, unhindered by daily noise. In that regard we devised a scheme that applied a lightness of touch featuring various screening elements – moving sliding and pivoting screens that were part open, revealing elements through. The whole aspect was designed to diaphanous, adaptive yet simple.

A key design concern and driving force was the need (if necessary) to be able to take away the whole interior should the client wish to move on from the property and return to its former state i.e. swimming pool.

The structural aspect coupled with some height restrictions and the requirement for storage space led to a removable box like structure (beautiful in its own right) made from southern yellow pine 90mm section – made into cubes. These formed the sub structure and a floor level, set within the swimming pool itself. Given the height restrictions we managed to tailor the boxes to house storage units or removable sliding floors that could hold paintings. Or art ephemera.

The dynamics were very interesting. We didn’t want the space to be corridor like and so we divided the space neatly into areas with the ability to extend that area via the screens and/or close off areas.

The material involvement was kept to a minimum. Bronze, glass (light), slatted cedar/white wood and flamed basalt.

A paired down aesthetic helped to focus on the quality of the space and kept visual clutter to an absolute minimum.

A key delight for us is the bathroom with the Basalt finish. A Hinoki style bath – with bronze and ceramic structure echoed in the main storage/staircase space, which formed a handrail. A picture window that when all screens are open – becomes an infinity window i.e. the window at the end of the corridor, visible from the studio through the spaces through the rear of the building.

It was a real pleasure to work with the creative energy and imagination of Neil Clarke at NCA Architecture

We fully explored the concept in 3D modelling -Please scroll all the way down and sit back and enjoy the video animation!

An exciting design journey to significantly extend and transform a rather unloved thatched cottage in West Oxfordshire into a fabulous family home complete with games room, home gym and swimming pool.

The conceptual and feasibility phase looked to examine the existing footprint, increase volume without excess, enliven the whole site whilst maintaining a low-level format to belnd into the rolling Cotswold countryside. The result is very dynamic, very bold and very engaging, linking spaces, buildings and landscape and allowing a great deal of transparency and flow, and curating a material palette to connect this historic dwelling with its Conservation setting and building history.

A fabulous launch pad for the next stage in this hisotirc property's history, bringing a probematical building into the next century and making the most of it's unique heritage and exceptional rural location.

Making is an integral part of our creative process, and often an essential component in achieving our unique and bespoke designs. Paul comes from a background of fine furniture making, and whilst we mainly use this expertise to design bespoke furniture and cabinetry to be produced by others, we still like to be involved in the materiality of things and can be tempted to get the tools out from time to time to achive this!

A whole house refurbishment for a DJ and fashion stylist couple, this property featured as the cover edition for Living Etc magazine. It was a really early project for Rogue Designs, but we think it’s still standing the test of time!

Solid black walnut flooring, walnut joinery and alcove cupboards made in our workshop, eclectic 1960s vintage lights combine for a funky disco aesthetic. Bespoke handmade kitchen, In-situ Cast concrete fireplace, cast concrete bathroom vanity, and concrete kitchen walls with volcanic glass

Custom made DJ deck in red gloss finish made in our workshop. Specialist paint effects by Charlotte. 

Photo credit: Matt Pitt