Photographer Alice Deuchar and her musician husband, Daniel Schamroth (known as Shammy), were despairing of ever being able to buy their own home when they came across a disused gospel hall that had just come onto the market in the small Devon town of Bradninch.
"We're both self-employed and the mortgage offer had fallen through on a chapel conversion at the start of the pandemic," says Alice. "We only had enough money to buy a tiny flat, and so were looking for a renovation or conversion project in the area." P The couple had searched for a while without finding anywhere they liked but were the first people to view the former gospel hall, designed in 1930 by Sir Oswald Archer, which was later used by the Salvation Army. "The last service was held there about four months before, but the building was in a sad state, with carpet stuck over floorboards and dead flies everywhere," recalls Alice. "Despite its dilapidated condition, I instantly fell in love with the light and space, and we were lucky enough to have our sealed bid accepted."
PLANNING THE SPACE
The derelict lower-ground floor meeting room and toilets were damp and hadn't been used in years but overall, the brick building was dry and solidly built, with a fairly new flat roof.
Using CAD software to play around with options and draw up the plans herself, Alice could quickly envisage how to make best use of the large double-height hall and smaller rooms at the rear.
Bu hikaye Homebuilding & Renovating dergisinin August 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Homebuilding & Renovating dergisinin August 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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