A contemporary barn-style home in Suffolk

After a five-year wait, planning policies changed under the new Government, so, still working with our team here at Oakwrights and Pete, updated plans were put forward for a similar oak framed home at the same site. During their five years, the Osborn’s children flew the nest, so their home design was amended to future-proof it. This application went to Planning Committee and was approved with an 11-1 majority. With full planning permission granted in January 2014, Rupert and Lindsay formally instructed our teams to start work on the finite design of their oak frame.

“We wanted a house that was easy to live in an open-plan – for it to feel light which the oak frame really complements,” says Lindsay. “In the end we had so long to plan everything and had the opportunity to thoroughly research every aspect of the project we knew exactly how we wanted it to look, both internally and outside. Our Oakwrights frame designer worked her magic to ensure we got what we wanted.”

Rupert and Lindsay then sold their original house to release funds for their build and rented a bungalow adjacent to the plot, allowing them to be on-site every day as they had decided to manage the whole project themselves.

On entering Rupert and Lindsay’s central hallway, a beautiful steel, granite and glass staircase grabs your eye and leads up to a mezzanine landing that enjoys a view over their informal seating area and dining room below.

The double-height seating area is simply furnished with leather sofas and provides a connection to Rupert and Lindsay’s garden, as well as the ‘wow factor’ of the vaulted oak frame up to the ceiling, which is filled with natural light from the full-height glazed gable.

Their kitchen is the social hub of the home with a Total Control Aga, a sleek island with quartz worktops and a breakfast bar along one side.

In addition, a master suite with a vaulted ground floor bedroom and large en-suite can be found on this floor, so their home is already future-proofed. A large, vaulted utility room with a traditional pully for drying clothes, a sitting room and a separate WC completes the downstairs layout.

The first floor features two large bedrooms, each with generously proportioned en-suites. The bedrooms feel extra spacious due to the vaulted ceilings, and fuss-free plantation shutters are a characterful alternative to having curtains throughout.

Pete Tonks’ design ensured the south-facing position of their home maximises solar gain for the property with huge areas of face glazing to the central gable. The full-height glazed gable pictured below has solar-controlled glass to avoid overheating, ensuring the furniture doesn’t fade but lets in all the sunlight.

Outdoor living space was key to Rupert and Lindsay’s design. Colonial-style verandas leading from the kitchen and living rooms on the south elevation of the property, allow Rupert and Lindsay to enjoy their garden year-round. There’s a large basalt terrace between the main house and the Cart Lodge for entertaining outdoors.

Rupert’s enthusiasm has ventured way beyond building their oak framed home. He now shares his passion by working within our Business Development Team covering the East of England, speaking with new clients who’d like to build their own oak frame home, and hosting open days for prospective self-builders!

“Our top tips for future self-builders would be to have a clear idea of what you’d like to achieve with your design and do lots of research; to be clear about costs vs budget, and don’t get carried away; and finally, we’d recommend buying good quality fixtures and fittings that’ll last,” concludes Rupert and Lindsay.