Working With Heritage Homes

One of our favourite projects last year was a listed cottage in Staffordshire. Our design studio developed the extension and interior plans, secured planning approval, and our construction team began work toward the end of the year.

Heritage homes need a gentle, careful approach. Acorn cottage, complete with listed garden structures, required detailed heritage reports and sensitive planning. Installing pile foundations while protecting the original structure was a real test of precision, but these challenges are why we love this kind of work.

We’ve already been back on site this year, continuing with the internal works and extension.

Modern Leisure Spaces

At the other end of the spectrum was Ashbourne Retreat, a modern outbuilding with underground cinema, gym, home office and external landscaping including a hydropool, sauna, outdoor shower, and outdoor kitchen.

From structural calculations to soundproofing, it pushed our technical skills in all the right ways and involved close collaboration with all sorts of specialist teams.

The Year of the Bungalows

We definitely saw a rise in bungalow renovations last year - and we loved working on them. Project Winchester, Crewe, and Blythe View all focused around transforming single-storey homes into brighter, more spacious family spaces.

At Winchester Drive in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, we vaulted the ceiling and added apex glazing, turning a simple extension into a light-filled feature space.

Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Several projects focused on accessibility last year, from adapted bathrooms to sensory rooms. We worked closely with clients to understand their day-to-day needs and sourced specialist equipment where required. These projects have strengthened our approach to inclusive design across all our work.

Sustainable Choices

Sustainability continued to play a big role in 2025. We integrated solar panels, air-source heat pumps, upgraded insulation and efficient heating systems into a number of projects - from full renovations to smaller upgrades.

We secured planning approval for Pippins, a new-build eco home in Colchester. During the design phase we proposed features such as a living green roof, solar panels and an air-source heat pump to maximise sustainability from day one. We’re hoping to move this project forward into the next phase later this year, and we’re really excited to see it take shape.

More clients are prioritising energy efficiency, and we’re proud to help turn those goals into practical solutions.

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Commercial Design & Concept Development

Alongside our residential work, we also took on several commercial design-only briefs in 2025. These projects allowed our team to explore brand-led spaces, community environments and larger-scale layouts.

We developed concept and interior design proposals for a Manchester-based Greek restaurant. We also supported a school project with early-stage design and briefing work to help shape how the spaces would be used day-to-day.

Our ongoing work with Fellowship Village in Glasgow has been another highlight - a multi-use development centred around a church community, incorporating accommodation, shared hubs and landscaped outdoor areas. These projects continue to expand our experience across community and commercial environments, while strengthening the way we approach design at every scale.

Extensions, Renovations & Repeat Clients

Alongside the bigger projects, we continued working on the types of extensions and renovations that form the backbone of our work. Trinity Place in Congleton was a great example - a returning client we supported again in 2025 for their rear extension and loft boarding, which is always the best compliment we can receive.

Outdoor & Landscaping Projects

We also saw more garden and exterior projects last year, including a full landscape plan at Thelmadene (who we worked with a few years ago on their driveway and front landscaping). Many of these landscaping briefs followed on from earlier interior works, as clients asked us to continue the transformation outdoors.

Our biggest landscaping project last year though was mentioned earlier, at Ashbourne Retreat. Including retaining walls, decking, pool installation, outdoor kitchen and firepit seating area, outdoor sauna and shower - the full works!

We also had the pleasure of completing a double garage build with retaining walls in Cheadle Staffordshire.

What's Next in 2026?

As 2026 gets underway, projects like Acorn Cottage’s heritage renovation are progressing, new eco-friendly homes are in design, and more exciting plans are on the horizon.

Whether you’re dreaming of an extension, a full renovation, or something completely unique, chances are we’ve tackled something similar - and we’d love to help bring your ideas to life this year!

Take a look at our full project portfolio