From the ground up

Why remodel when you can rebuild? Lauren and John Conroy scrapped a dingy bungalow and used the land for their dream home, complete with living spaces that open to the garden and a basement swimming pool

When Lauren and John Conroy spotted a ‘For Sale’ board outside a bungalow during a Sunday afternoon drive, they were quick to arrange a viewing the next day. ‘We loved the spacious plot, views and proximity to good schools, but the layout didn’t work for us,’ says Lauren. ‘It had been extended several times over the years and you had to walk through one bedroom in order to get to another.’