Grand Designs Newcastle, House in Northumberland:
We are delighted to have played a major part in the conversion of a derelict mill cottage into a stunning contemporary home.
Stefan and Ania Lepkowski purchased the mill in 2006. There were three main components to the project, careful restoration of the mill cottage, reconstructing a "new mill" mirroring the cottage and finally a modern steel, zinc and glass atrium linking the two buildings.
With Stefan aiming to do as much work as possible himself and with no definite deadline it was almost six years before they moved in.
The Channel 4 programme "Grand Designs" filmed the process calling the story an "epic".
The programme was shown in September 2011.
Initially we were contracted to assist with the stonemasonry aspect of the project, however we ended up being on site for over two years!
Although Stefan was project manager his work commitments meant that we took on the day to day running of the site. Our first task was to construct the "new" mill. The idea was that this new structure should appear to be an old building with new zinc, glass and steel extrusions cutting through it.
The rear gable featured full height glazing, picture framing the external landscape and a glass roof section allowing natural light to flood the full height kitchen area.
In constructing the new mill, salvaged stone from old on site buildings was used, laid in the same style as the mill cottage. New quarried stone was brought in for the new window lintels, cills and quoins. We dressed this stone on site applying "border and punch" finish and carving window cills and kneeler stones, matching the cottage exactly. Quoins from the rear of the old mill were removed and relocated to the front elevation so a uniform appearance could be achieved.
The mill cottage was restored with quoins to the front elevation, chimney stacks refurbished and relined. The original roof structure was replaced with a steel girder and timber rafters allowing for open ceilings internally. Slots were cut into the gable allowing for "frameless" glass to be inserted forming part of the new link building. An engineered cast in-situ concrete lintel was formed in the gable of the old mill. This was formed to the exact rafter line, meaning an open internal walkway could be formed between the old and new structures.
The old cottage and new mill stonework was raked out and repointed with an appropriate lime mortar giving the two building a more uniform appearance.
Externally to the main entrance a stone faced block work dam was built. This directed the existing stream toward the house forming a pond. Oak sleepers were fixed to the top of the dam wall forming a bridge to the surrounding landscape.
During our time on site we were involved with a variety of tasks including joinery, concreting, plaster boarding and insulation. Together with Stefan and the architect, Kevin Brown of Sadler Brown and Peter Steinlet of Patrick Parsons the structural engineers, we assisted with many of the design and construction issues that arose.
The project proved to be very exciting and challenging, wondering how modern construction would blend with traditional techniques in a rural Northumbrian setting.
The finished building is a definite one off and having the Grand Designs team film the story makes this project one we are very proud to have been a part of. Over our time working together Stefan has become a friend and not just a client.
