Old meets NEW

Anna and Joel Loader brought their period house into the 21st century with a modern extension and striking interior

When Anna and Joel Loader made the decision to move out of London, the couple set their sights on a small village in Berkshire, close to where Anna had grown up. ‘We came out of the station and there was the feel of autumn – the smell of woodsmoke and mist over the canal,’ says Anna. ‘The setting sold the village to us. We knew it would be a lovely place to live.’

By 2008, they thought they had found their dream home, only for it to be sold straight away before they even had a chance to view it. But, as luck would have it, the deal soon fell through and the estate agent got back in touch with them to arrange a viewing. ‘It was a lovely house, so we put in an offer immediately,’ says Joel. It was the period features that particularly attracted the couple. ‘The Victorian frontage was attractive, but there was also a Georgian property behind, so it had the best of both periods. Plus, it was light and spacious, and it reminded me of my childhood home,’ says Joel.