At ground floor level, the extension introduces a generous open-plan kitchen and dining space. Vaulted ceilings and full-height sliding glazed doors maximise natural light and create a seamless connection between the interior and garden. The design encourages fluid movement and modern family living.

The first floor is extended with a striking gabled addition, providing space for a luxurious new master bedroom suite. The external palette features tonal timber cladding paired with dark metal detailing, delivering a refined and modern aesthetic that complements the existing architecture.

This project is currently in the planning phase (scroll down to take a look at the ‘before’ photo).

This transformative project on Wyvern Road in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, showcases how a modern extension and full renovation can completely reinvent a traditional dormer-style property, while retaining its original structure.

We reimagined both the interior and exterior of this home to suit modern family living. The exterior has been given a striking contemporary upgrade, enhancing kerb appeal and adding significant value. Internally, we reconfigured the layout to create larger, open-plan living spaces and improved natural light throughout.

The redesign also includes a new habitable loft level, providing additional bedroom space with dressing rooms and en-suites. The result is a beautifully modernised family home and one of the most desirable residences on Wyvern Road. Currently in for planning, we’re looking forward to sharing more news about this project soon. In the meantime, scroll down to see a ‘before’ photo that hints at just how dramatic this transformation will be!

Wyvern Road, Four Oaks on Instagram

This comprehensive design features a contemporary zinc-roofed ground-floor extension seamlessly connected to landscaped outdoor seating areas. In addition, the project includes a loft conversion with a striking dormer.

Situated within the prestigious Edgbaston Conservation Area and forming part of the historic Calthorpe Estate, this home required meticulous planning and attention to detail.

We handled every stage, from securing all necessary approvals to managing the tender process. We worked closely with the client and builders, providing a detailed set of construction documents to ensure a smooth transition from design to reality.

Ground Floor Enhancements
The ground floor will boast a grand entrance, offering striking open views from the extended kitchen straight through to the beautifully landscaped garden. New additions include a games room and a home gym, alongside separate lounges, creating a versatile and luxurious living space.

Upper Floor Transformations
On the upper levels, we’ve reconfigured the existing layout to accommodate bedroom extensions and additional en-suite bathrooms, delivering both practicality and comfort. The loft has been expertly converted to include a spacious bedroom, an en-suite, and a bespoke cinema room, perfect for entertainment.

Outdoor Space and Landscaping
The project also features carefully designed external landscaping, harmonizing with the home’s contemporary enhancements and providing a stunning outdoor environment for relaxation and enjoyment.

This project is currently under construction. Mercia have been appointed to deliver this project, and its great to be working with them again. 

The house occupies a corner plot within the Calthorpe Estate and was constructed in 1853, recorded under the Historic England Listing Entry as an Italianate 2 storey stucco villa. Given its listed status and general prominence within the estate, the building is regarded as locally important and rightfully so, the authority planning and conservation team and Calthorpe Estate itself were extremely conscious of approving a design which was sympathetic to the original building.

The client’s brief was primarily to create a new kitchen, linking-in to the living spaces of the existing house and also to the gardens. The consensus was to create a modern light filled space, whilst still maintaining the historic feel of the house.

Through our early meetings and discussions is became clear that an ideal solution would be to extend into the currently open courtyard on the west wing of the house. We also agreed that we should create the new work with as minimal intervention as possible and therefore we developed the concept of only linking to the building and courtyard perimeters with glass and this created a ribbon of glass running around the perimeter of the roof with a central solid zinc roof and this appears like it is floating.

We formed a limited number of new openings and introduced large pivot doors to link the new space to the original adjoining rooms (to create a dining room and snug with a two-way fire) and to the newly landscaped terracing, also designed by us.

Existing features like the archway to the rear of the original coach house were retained and we have integrated recessed LED lighting to highlight. The new space has a polished concrete floor with underfloor heating and the wider works incorporated an overhaul of the general exterior along with a new utility area, bootroom, bedrooms and bathrooms.

In the rear garden there is a new aligned lower terrace, leading to an upper outdoor cooking area with natural stone and salvaged brick paving.

The design harmoniously blends period materials with modern elements, preserving the character of the original home while introducing fresh, contemporary features. The interior was carefully furnished by the client with the assistance of an interior designer, complemented by high-end artwork.

The grounds were also transformed with extensive landscaping, featuring a terrace with an outdoor Morso oven, inset spa, and outdoor shower. We designed bespoke oiled iroko furniture to complete the outdoor setting, ensuring it is as functional as it is beautiful.

Much of the existing building is retained in order to spare resources and we have turning this into an advantage by creating a double height atrium through the middle of the new space in what was an external space between sections of the building before.

The project involved replacing an outdated conservatory with a contemporary glazed extension that seamlessly integrates with the character of the existing home. Inspired by the original architectural style, the new addition features a pitched roof with a striking glazed gable end, enhancing both natural light and visual appeal.

The extension creates a spacious, light-filled seating area adjoining a renewed kitchen. A large internal opening links this new space with the dining room, improving the flow of the home. The design balances innovation and harmony, delivering a structure that complements the property’s heritage while elevating its functionality.

Four Oaks Estate is celebrated for its prestigious properties, but its status as a conservation area introduces unique planning complexities. Using our extensive experience of working on projects in this exclusive location and surrounding area, we have cultivated a strong working relationship with the local planning authority. This expertise allows us to navigate the planning process effectively, ensuring that our designs meet both client aspirations and regulatory requirements.

Key features of the design include:

• Glazing and light optimization: Large sliding doors, a glazed gable, rooflights, and a vaulted ceiling maximize natural light and create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.
• Natural materials: Stained oak cladding adds a soft, organic texture, blending the modern elements with the surrounding environment.
• Streamlined detailing: Concealed gutters provide a clean, refined look.
• Outdoor living: A wrap-around patio, aligned with the internal floor level, extends the living space and enhances usability.

Our design revitalised and improved areas that had previously been altered in a substandard manner. We introduced a sympathetic yet contemporary rear extension, creating a spacious kitchen that connects to the existing living spaces. Additional rooflights and slim-framed glazed doors provide plenty of natural light and open the house to the garden, which features a yoga pavilion, also our design, at its centre.

From the outset, we provided a full design service, creating 3D visuals to help the client refine their vision. We managed the planning application as the appointed agent and took the project through to the technical design phase, including building control submissions. Additionally, we handled the tender process, inviting local builders to submit fixed-price quotes based on detailed working drawings, specifications, and structural engineer input, which we also coordinated.

The project was built and managed by Forge Construction.

This new-build house is located on a prestigious road in a leafy suburb in south Birmingham. At basement level there is a swimming pool and gym along with a changing room and shower area. The basement will include an additional subterranean area linked to the garage above to allow additional cars to be parked at lower level using a platform lift system. A lower terrace accessed from basement level has steps up to garden level. On the ground floor the double height hallway leads to a music room/library, study, formal dining room, and large open plan kitchen with living area and separate utility room. From the kitchen/living area, doors open onto a terrace with covered seating area. On the first floor a glass bridge leads to 5 bedrooms with en-suites and a 6th bedroom/playroom. The master suite and 2 additional bedrooms will have access to a balcony at the rear of the first floor. Another staircase from the landing will lead to the second floor which will include a cinema room and games room along with a WC and additional storage.

Externally, we have drawn up detailed proposals for a fully landscaped front and rear garden. At the rear, the terrace will step down to newly planted beds filled with grasses and semi-mature shrubs and trees. Further along are two seating areas, one with a pergola which overlooks the lower part of the garden, the other smaller seating area will be set within large rocks to provide a quiet space to relax. In the centre of the garden, two Japanese-style pools linked with a waterfall take advantage of the change in level and the lower pool will be surrounded by seating stones overlooking a ‘cricket pitch’ lawn at the far end of the garden. At the front, the driveway will be resurfaced and the garden will be replanted with new beds and a lawn.

Fit-out and interior shots courtesy of Interior Designers Faber.