Imagine a family's journey to create their dream home, a journey that defies conventional wisdom. A story of gaining more with less.
Clementine and David Sellick, a couple with a growing family, found themselves in a predicament. Their charming 16th-century semi-detached home, with its four bedrooms, was becoming a tight squeeze. Clementine describes it as a house with 'beautiful bones,' but with four children, they were 'bursting at the seams.'
Unable to extend their current property, they considered moving. They wanted to stay close to their beloved village and the children's schools. Their search for a spacious six-bedroom period house proved challenging, with few options available.
But here's where it gets interesting... Clementine's sister-in-law, a practical woman, offered some wise words: 'Stop looking for the 16th century. Open your eyes to possibilities.'
Heeding this advice, they discovered a 1950s detached house with five bedrooms and a generous garden. Initially, it didn't appeal, but the potential was undeniable. The house had a single-storey extension, a breakfast room, and a conservatory, but it was in dire need of an upgrade. It was cold, damp, and the views were obscured by overgrown trees.
Despite the challenges, the couple saw an opportunity for a blank canvas. 'The living and garden space was massive,' David says. 'It offered us a chance to create something unique.'
When they moved in with their four children, the house had an unusual layout. The single-storey extension, connected to the kitchen, housed two bedrooms and a dining area, but it was an awkward space. The family rarely used it, and the dining room felt isolated and cold. Another issue was the repositioned front door, leading to a smelly manhole inside the house.
Clementine explains, 'The sewerage would stop due to a lack of proper drainage. I had to turn on all the showers and taps to create enough water flow and use a stick to unblock it. It was a monthly battle.'
Their initial plan was to build on the single-storey extension, creating a two-floor property with six bedrooms. However, due to planning restrictions in the green belt area, they faced challenges. The rules stated that any extension should not exceed the size of the original 1968 house.
And this is the part most people miss... The Sellicks decided to utilize permitted development rights, allowing them to alter and extend without full planning permission. Architect Benjamin Wells took on the challenge, redesigning the space within the existing structure.
His revised plans transformed the single-storey leg into four bedrooms with en-suites and bathrooms. The main house and the leg were connected by a stunning timber-framed dining hall, with a utility room and a sewing area. The upper floor of the main house became a luxurious master suite and guest bedroom.
Despite reducing the overall footprint by 17 square meters, the family gained more usable space. By demolishing unnecessary additions like the front porch, rear porch, breakfast room, and conservatory, they created a cohesive and functional layout.
Clementine and David admired Ben's exposed timber work and intricate craftsmanship. To maximize energy efficiency, they incorporated insulation, double glazing, and underfloor heating. The house now boasts fittings for future air-source heat pumps and solar panels.
The build process had its fair share of challenges. Unstable internal walls in the single-storey leg required rebuilding, leading to better-proportioned rooms. The family had to move out temporarily while the two halves of the house were joined.
Clementine recalls, 'It was an adventure. We stayed with friends and even caught Covid. But returning to our renovated home was magical. We felt like we were living in a brand-new house, even without a front door or a kitchen.'
The project, completed in January 2024, won an AJ retrofit and reuse award in 2025. The Sellicks created a bigger house with less floor space, proving that sometimes, less is truly more.
So, what do you think? Is this a bold move or a brilliant solution? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
