The Brief – to restore and reconfigure the internal layout of an historic Grade II listed thatched cottage.  The historic cottage is a two-storey property originally constructed from rubble walls with plastered cob at first floor level and a thatched roof.  Originally there was a storage area to the north side with a lower roof line than the two-storey cottage.  In 1979 the roof was raised to the northern end to match the height of the original cottage. Internally the first-floor gable end between the second Bedroom in the original cottage and the Sitting Room was blocked up with a single skin of brickwork. The property enjoyed a full height Sitting Room in the northern end which was linked to the main house via a new doorway. In 1994 Listed Building consent was granted for a ground floor Bedroom and Bathroom with loft space over in this area. The timber floor was constructed with a steep and basic staircase that provides access to the first floor. At ground level, the Bedroom was not formed due to the new access stairs and the space is currently used as a Utility area and Shower Room.  

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The Design - the current property has two Bedrooms at first floor level, a Master Bedroom with Ensuite and second Bedroom. The second Bedroom uses the facilities of the ground floor Shower Room. At the moment, the attic room is used as loft storage space. In order to transform the cottage into a family home, the current owners would like to use the attic room to form a third bedroom. However, the current access to the third bedroom was not suitable as it is via the steep modern staircase. The separate staircase to the potential third bedroom means it was also detached from the main cottage which would not be practical or safe with children. Given the modest size of the cottage, it  was also considered that there was not sufficient space for a compliant second staircase. It was therefore proposed to remove the basic modern staircase and to provide access to the third bedroom via a first floor corridor accessed from the cottage using the main original staircase. This would involve a new stud wall in the second bedroom and the formation of a new doorway through the brick gable to give access to the third bedroom. A small window at high level in the northern end was proposed to provide both light and ventilation to the bedroom. The window would be single glazed to match the original windows.  

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Listed building consent was granted for the works and the internal alterations have been completed to form a fantastic family home within a historic thatched cottage in Mullion.

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Build Route - Self Managed

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Completion - June 2018