Heather Turner had lived in a rural cottage in Shropshire for almost six decades. Here, she raised four children with her husband of 57 years, George. Eventually, their kids flew the nest and in 2013, George fell ill. For two years, Heather acted as a full-time carer, not only for George, but for their home and its sprawling garden. "Coping with all the work was very difficult," Heather explains.
Sadly, George passed away in 2015 and Heather gave herself a year to adjust to her new circumstances. "When 2016 came around, I knew it was time to move. I was rattling around in a big house. But it was home and I couldn't bear to leave." One day, Heather considered utilizing the land she already owned. "I thought if I built a place in the garden I could stay, but live somewhere more suited to my needs," she says. Heather soon identified a plot - in a quiet corner of the garden, set back from a country lane.
After making the decision to self-build, Heather subscribed to Homebuilding & Renovating to gather ideas: "I cut out images of properties I liked and created a mood board."
After she'd finished, Heather realized her collage was filled with Border Oak projects, so during a visit to the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the NEC, Birmingham, she found herself drawn to their stand. "I loved their designs, but I didn't think I could afford one of my own," she explains. Noticing Heather looking unsure, the company's director, Merry Albright, approached her and offered to help.
Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
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Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Back to black
Dramatic black finishes and industrial touches add impact to Charlotte and Sam Tisdall's extended end-terrace home
Change for good
A last-minute decision to build a kitchen extension instead of a general update turned out to be a wise move for the owners of this detached period property
High praise
After converting a run-down gospel hall into a unique 1930s-inspired home-complete with geodesic dome - Alice Deuchar and Daniel Schamroth pronounced it a resounding succes
Lifetime achievement
Replacing a tired 1960s bungalow with a bespoke prefabricated contemporary house allowed retired architect Helen Heslop Brunt and her husband Martin to fulfil a long-held dream
Self-build for beginners PART 13 PRE-CONSTRUCTION GUIDE
Make sure that your insurance, health and safety, build and cost schedules and all documents are all in place before kick-off
ECO LANDSCAPING
Creating a garden with green credentials isn't without its challenges, but there are plenty of ways you can reduce its impact on the environment, once you know how
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT PASSIVHAUS VENTILATION?
Heat and energy expert David Hilton explains the benefits, options and costs of this ultimate heating standard
HOW MUCH DOES EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION COST?
It's touted as an affordable home insulation method, but is external wall insulation worth the outlay and what are the lifetime costs? We look at the figures...
Open-plan kitchen DAVID HOCKNEY EXTENSIONS
From structural considerations and zoning to layout ideas and lighting, our practical guide to creating your new space has it covered
RENOVATING A GEORGIAN HOME
Known for their elegant architectural features, Georgian homes need to be restored sensitively to make them fit for modern life