Imagine a house that, despite having less floor space, offers more room and a better flow than ever before. It might sound like a paradox, but that's exactly what happened when Clementine and David Sellick transformed their 1950s home.
A Growing Family, A Cramped Home
Clementine and David, with their four children, found their 16th-century semi-detached house becoming increasingly cramped. Despite its historical charm, the house was bursting at the seams with a growing family.
"I adored the character of our old home, but with four kids, we needed more space," Clementine explains.
Unable to extend their current property, they decided to move and began searching for a larger, period home. But here's where it gets interesting: their search led them to an unexpected place.
A 1950s Detached House: Love at First Sight?
Clementine's sister-in-law, a practical woman, advised them to consider properties they had previously overlooked. This led them to a 1950s detached house with a generous garden and stunning views. Initially, the house didn't appeal to them, but upon viewing it, they realized it offered a unique opportunity.
The house had a single-storey extension, a breakfast room, and a conservatory, but it was in need of some serious TLC. It was cold, damp, and smelled unpleasant, with overgrown trees obstructing the views. Despite these issues, the couple saw potential in the property's generous living and garden space, and the fact that it was located in the village they loved.
A Blank Canvas and a New Beginning
In August 2016, the Sellicks moved into their new home with their children. The house had five bedrooms and five bathrooms, but the layout was far from ideal. The single-storey extension, which housed two of the bedrooms, was disconnected from the main house, creating an awkward corridor-like space. The dining area was rarely used, and the family often dined at a tiny table in the kitchen.
Another issue was the repositioned front door and porch, which led to a manhole inside the house, causing unpleasant odors and sewage problems.
"It was a challenge, but we were up for it," David says. "We saw it as a blank canvas, ready for us to create our dream home."
The Initial Plan: A Two-Story Transformation
The couple initially planned to build on the single-storey extension, creating a two-story home with six bedrooms and five bathrooms. However, due to planning restrictions in the green belt area, this plan was not feasible. The rules stated that any extension or alteration should not exceed the size of the original house as it existed in 1968.
"We wanted to make the house more functional and aesthetically pleasing, but the regulations made it challenging," David explains.
Revised Plans: A Retrofit Challenge
Instead of an extension, the couple decided to utilize permitted development rights, which allowed them to alter and extend within certain limits without full planning permission. This meant that the architect, Ben Wells, had to work with the existing structure, a much harder challenge.
Ben's revised plans retained the single-storey leg but redesigned the interior. He created four bedrooms with one en-suite and two bathrooms in the leg. The leg and the main house were connected by an open-beamed, timber-framed dining hall, with a utility room and a sewing area for Clementine.
The upper floor of the main house was transformed into a master bedroom with an en-suite and dressing room, and a guest bedroom with its own bathroom. Despite shrinking the overall footprint by 17 square meters, the new layout provided far more usable space.
The Build: Overcoming Challenges
The project began in July 2021, and the family appointed JVB Construction as the main contractor. The property was renovated in two phases, with the family moving into the main house while the single-storey leg was tackled first. There were several delays due to unexpected discoveries, such as unstable internal walls that needed rebuilding.
"It was a challenging process, but we were determined to create a home that worked for our family," Clementine says.
A New Home, A New Life
The project was completed in January 2024, and in 2025, it won an AJ retrofit and reuse award. The Sellicks now have a home that feels larger and more functional, despite having a reduced footprint.
"Every room is now utilized to its fullest potential, and the kitchen and dining hall have become the heart of our home," David says.
Clementine adds, "The flow is so much better. It's like we're living in one cohesive house now, not two separate ones."
And this is the part most people miss: sometimes, less is more. By reducing the floor space and optimizing the layout, the Sellicks created a home that exceeded their expectations.
So, what do you think? Could you imagine transforming a rundown house into your dream home? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
