1805    Cleveland Cottage

When a young family moved into their semi-detached cottage in West Norfolk, they quickly realised that the home, though full of charm, wasn’t suited to modern family life. Over the years, a series of ad-hoc extensions and conservatories had left the rear of the house disjointed, dark, and cut off from the garden. The living spaces were cramped and centrally located, with no clear flow or connection to the outdoors.

Working closely with the clients, we set out to simplify and reimagine the home — creating a unified, light-filled space that works beautifully for family life. Our design replaced some of the existing extensions while retaining and reconfiguring others, wrapping them together within a single, cohesive form. The kitchen was moved to the sunny, south-facing front of the house, while the north-facing rear was reshaped with a striking saw-tooth roofline. This created generous rooflights facing east and west, filling the new living areas with morning and evening light and giving the interiors a sense of height and openness.

Inside, the new ‘broken plan’ layout offers distinct yet connected spaces for living, dining, and cooking, alongside a playroom, utility, and WC. Reoriented stairs and a reimagined entrance improve circulation and storage, turning awkward corners into practical, welcoming spaces.

The result is a home transformed — from a jumble of disconnected rooms into a cohesive, characterful family space that feels open, balanced, and deeply connected to both light and landscape.