“We love being creative and imaginative with our clients, re-imagining and redesigning houses into homes that make better use of the space, create views and allow a family’s lifestyle… to be enjoyed for years to come.”
Oliver Burgess, Managing Director
See for yourself before and after photos and find out how we achieved the homes they dreamed of…
Have you ever heard people say they’d like to pick their house up and move it to somewhere else? They love the house but want it somewhere else. But what if it’s the house that’s the problem and not where they live.
Maybe their location is fantastic but their house isn’t. Maybe there’s a place you love but not the house.
For some of our clients, renovation, major refurbishment, extension or restoration might be the answer, to keep or get them where they want to be but in a home that perfectly suits their lifestyle and design tastes.
We can do a lot with an existing property – although in some cases we do suggest knocking down and building a new home (see New Home Design & Build).
Where we see potential to keep an existing dwelling, there are 4 main options:
Older homes, neglected properties, disused properties – these are the ones we usually work on to bring them back to life.
Our design team can look at a variety of new layouts, door and window placement, exterior look, style (traditional, modern, contemporary) and a complete refit of what is currently there.
We’ll design a home that suits how you want to live, what you do and with a flow that works for you, plus we’ll also take care of the planning application with the local authority; major renovation often requires it.
Whether you are looking for a major refurbishment to add value for a resale or to create a home of your dreams, we can be your partner for the whole project, from design to planning to build.
The technology we use allows us to take an identical 3D image of your current house, which means we can virtually knock down walls, play around with layouts, see inside and outside. It gives you the opportunity for a virtual walkthrough – immersive like you were actually there, looking up, down and around.
We can add in, take away and remodel, showing you the cost and time implications for each change – much easier than changing your mind just as the bathroom is being tiled and you wish it was bigger!
“One of the things I love is the staircase; we had two in the original property, but they turned it into one and it’s a lovely feature that connects the barn to the house.”
View our refurbishment projects…
Going up or out is a good consideration for some clients – it can sometimes be a very cost-effective way of creating a home that suits you and gives you the space and layout you need, without moving home. The upheaval and legal costs can be off-putting and prohibitive but if you have a large garden, conservatory, outbuildings that can come down to make way or a single storey to build up onto, then an extension could create you significantly more space.
Our design modelling software will allow you to design and view in 3D, many concepts before you decide on the final one.
We will also take care of planning permission that will inevitably be needed – you may have old, inherited or failed planning plans that you’d like to revisit; we can work to revise those or start again.
Bringing back to life old, run-down or former agricultural buildings such as oast houses, granaries, barns, stables, or others such as chapels or schools, requires big vision – and we can certainly help with that. Come to us with your ideas, and we’ll develop them with you, give you some more and create some imaginative and exciting plans for you.
Our 3D technology means you can be transformed to your new home before its even built – it allows you a virtual walkthrough inside and out, to test out different layouts, looks, window and door positions, plus you can gain perspective on light and space too.
The full project is managed by us with you, from design, to planning applications to build – using our own team on-site to bring your ideas to life. Conservation, heritage and historical sensitivity is at the heart of any restoration so that the days gone by live on in those to come.
“Originally, our two outbuildings were a cow shed with a sand and mud floor that needed a full refurb, and the other was a farm building that already had a concrete floor but was just used for storage. There was no insulation, heating or electricity in either.
“The actual Oast hadn’t been refurbished since around the 1980s. Now the build is finished, we have a cottage for family and friends to stay in when visiting, and the other outbuilding is one big room which my wife uses as a yoga studio, and my son plays his drums in there too. The house itself is awesome; we love it.”
View our restoration projects…
Read Our Brochure
Hear from clients whose homes we have restored…
You may already have designs or a planning application that we can look at and take inspiration from, revise or start again with. This plan might be what you’d like but has been rejected by the local authority or isn’t achievable in your budget, or you might have inherited it with the property and it’s not what suits you.
We will work with you to create a design you like and suits your way of living, which we are confident will be passed by the local planning officers.
Inside works won’t usually need planning permission – but we will advise once we know the scope of the project.
Yes, we have a lot of experience revising previously rejected applications and seeing these new ones approved.
Sometimes, there are major changes sometimes there are minor tweaks to be done – we balance what our clients want with budget and local planning authority requirements.
Yes. If you have existing planning permission, whether it’s your own or inherited with a property, we can help revise the designs to better meet your needs without compromising the approval
Yes – we can work with you to find out what’s not working and how you imagine living in your home, so that the designs meet your needs.
The technology we use allows us to give clients a 3d walk-through, to get a feel of layout and flow – it’s at this stage when changes are made if they realise a room isn’t big enough, or the layout still needs a tweak.
Generally not – internal work often falls under permitted development, but we can confirm based on your project. If you need planning, we can take care of it, submitting it on your behalf to the local authority.
Yes – we can advise on insulation, glazing, renewable heating options and other upgrades that work with older buildings. We’ll always look at this as part of the overall plans.
If you are thinking of buying a property or have one that you are considering renovating, restoring or extending, we can work with you to look at designs, costs and timescales that will help you to make a decision whether to take on a project or whether a demolition and new build would be a better idea.
See more on our blog:
https://www.vernacularhomes.com/blog/7-reasons-to-knock-your-house-down-and-start-again/
We like to preserve as many old buildings as we can, and although some may seem beyond saving, there might be elements that can be saved if not the whole lot.
If a property hasn’t been lived in for a long time, there will be modernisation and structural work to carry out, but it won’t stop us from updating it and transforming it into the home you want to live in.
We will also always work with clients to look at what’s needed, costs and timescales before work starts.
We balance restoration with modern standards, preserving character where it matters.
Any extension can be designed by us – one-storey, two-storey, adding a floor, conservatory, orangery, for example.
We can advise – some extensions fall under permitted development and others require full planning permission. We’ll advise when we know the project scope.
Yes – we’ll design the extension to blend seamlessly or contrast intentionally, depending on your preference. Materials can be used that will weather, like we used on this new build:
https://www.vernacularhomes.com/our-work/new-build-home-east-sussex/
Yes – we have vast experience working with heritage buildings and are knowledgeable in the requirements of local planning authorities.
Yes, Vernacular Homes provides both design and build services offering a full project management service.
We take care of everything from initial planning to the final build, so you only have one point of contact throughout the entire project. We organise everything needed for a renovation, restoration or extension.
We specialise in planning and designing new builds, extensions, renovations, restorations, and barn conversions. Our experience includes working in heritage, conservation, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), balancing preservation with modern living.
We’ve worked on old stables, disused agricultural buildings, former granaries and oasts, and barns.
We use 3D design and Matterport scanning technology. These tools allow us to provide accurate measurements, design options, and even virtual walk-throughs of a future home before construction begins.
It means that our clients have the opportunity to step into their home, experience the space, make changes, and get a clear idea of how the final build will look and feel as they walk around inside and outside.
Take a look at a recent project to see how it works.
We are experienced in working within conservation and heritage projects, carefully balancing preservation with modern design. We work closely with local authorities to ensure all guidelines are followed while creating a home that meets your needs.
Take a look at our work on the listed Linton Park Estate, set in a conservation area.
The timeline depends on the complexity of the project, from planning permissions to the scope of the build. We ensure that every step, from design to completion, is carefully managed to stay on schedule and within budget.
We communicate regularly with our clients to let them know where we are in the process.
Sometimes – it depends on the scope of the work. We’ll help you plan around it and minimise disruption. For some projects, we have gained planning permission for temporary accommodation on the site during the project, but we will find the best solution with you.
Yes – we work with clients on the property regardless of future plans. We may approach things a little differently, but this will be discussed.
For example, the spec might be higher for sale, or the landscaping will be completed in the first build phase rather than later.
When required (typically by a customer’s lender) we can offer third party structural defects insurance.
Contact us for an initial consultation – we’ll discuss your goals, visit the property if needed, and outline your options.
For an informal conversation about your project please call us on 01233 861177 or email us using the form. Your data is not used for marketing – only to contact you.
If you have documents - previous designs, plans or photos, please send them to us via email: enquiries@vernacularhomes.com
