In this instalment of a series of interviews with other self builders, I’ve been talking to Karen & Rhys who’ve built a 5 bed house on Graven Hill’s Roberts Drive.
You can listen to the interview here.
Karen & Rhys were looking for somewhere to suit their home-working lifestyle, and with limited options in the standard housing market saw the opportunity for something bespoke at Graven Hill.
Their hearts were fully set on a large corner plot, which would allow them to build the ground floor layout they wanted – separate office spaces and plenty of room for entertaining guests. The clever part of their design was to allow for future adaptions – offices could become living spaces for example.
The style of the house is contemporary, with plenty twists, such as the varying roof-lines. There is also the eye-catching full height glazing in the entrance/stairwell, which helps to flood the open plan kitchen/diner with light.
About as savvy as it’s possible to be as self builders, Karen & Rhys went full turn key, but still carefully managed the process to ensure it stayed on track. They faced plenty of perils, including their turnkey company running into financial problems, but were able to complete by their intended target of winter 2018 – which is just as well because they had the date literally carved in stone!
They are thrilled with the result, making the effort truly worthwhile. Now, Graven Hill just needs a pub to complete the dream 🙂
Info
[kleo_grid type=”3″ style=”box”][kleo_feature_item title=”Plot 40″ icon=”location”]View on MapView Plot Passport[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Bedrooms” icon=”bed”]5[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”GIA” icon=”resize-full”][/kleo_feature_item][/kleo_grid][kleo_grid type=”3″ style=”box”][kleo_feature_item title=”Design & Planning” icon=”pencil-1″ icon_position=”center”]
- Architect: Sylva
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- Project Manager: Sylva
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- Main Contractor: Sylva
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Images
Highlights
[kleo_grid type=”3″ style=”box”][kleo_feature_item title=”It’s Do-able” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=175″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”[we thought] self build is something you do on Grand Designs…but when we heard what Graven Hill had to say…it suddenly felt really doable”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Turnkey” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=538″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”with the turnkey option…you’re paying someone else to have the agro”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Keeping on Top of Things” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=586″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We kept on top of the turnkey company – we were up here every day”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Choosing the Plot” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=810″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”This was the only plot we were interested in, to give us the ground floor space”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”House Style” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=905″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We wanted a contemporary design with a classis twist”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Pinterest” href=”https://www.pinterest.co.uk/rhyswilliams01/_saved/” icon=”pinterest-circled” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”Pinterest is very useful and something we’d definitely recommend in the early stages”See Karen & Rhys’s Pinterest board here…[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Making Decisions!” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=1132″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”There is a danger of getting swamped with things as mundane a door handle…”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Getting Inspiration” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=1301″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We spent two and half years of our lives doing nothing but going to home shows and exhibitions”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”The Wow-Factor” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=1444″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”The staircase is our wow-factor…”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Keep a Record” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=1789″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”It’s really important with a main contractor – make sure you record, or minute the discussions”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Site Meetings” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=1829″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We had a site meeting every Friday morning at 8am”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Be Proactive” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=2053″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”Don’t wait to be told when to make a decision – be proactive”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Check…” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=2210″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”Check the key measurements yourself…”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Fixed Price” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=2324″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We agreed a fixed price”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Making Payments” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=2383″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”Don’t pay up front, unless you have to (like the timber frame)”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Insurance” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=2639″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]Would you recommend insurance against contractor insolvency?
“we would strongly recommend it”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Moving In” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=2819″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We were ecstatic to actually have the house – we’d moved into an AirBnB”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Dream House” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=3010″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We haven’t gained a massive amount financially through the process, but we’ve got a dream house”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Lots of Light” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=3233″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”The light is the key thing – we wanted lots of light”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Thrilled” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=3600″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We’re thrilled with the end result – we would definitely do it again”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”Unique House” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=3622″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”I would urge everyone to look at self build…your house is unique to you”[/kleo_feature_item][kleo_feature_item title=”On Graven Hill” href=”https://youtu.be/BrcHvm3IXw4?t=3640″ target=”blank” icon=”youtube-play” icon_color=”#dd3333″]”We’ve got a fantastic community on Graven Hill…we knew everyone before laying a brick”[/kleo_feature_item][/kleo_grid]