Caro Somerset

The Grade II-listed high street property has been extensively reconfigured, refurbished and extended.

The architects wanted to retain the character of the existing building, with its intimate spaces and uneven surfaces, but also to avoid creating a ‘shabby-chic’ appearance. Instead it sought to place flexible furniture pieces into the rooms and to use original elements of the building, such as the fireplaces, niches and deep window reveals, for display. Materials and colours were chosen to compliment the existing character of the rooms: shady, welcoming and warm.

The existing shop-front was restored, revealing beautiful green tiling. Through this doorway, visitors enter immediately into the café where they can perch at the counter with a coffee and cake.

The historic arrangement of the rooms has been retained and visitors pass from one cellular room to the next, each with a different character. The nature of the furniture allows these spaces to be rearranged so repeat customers may discover a different place to sit, and certainly new things to buy, on their return.

The new rear extension provides a larger open-plan space for contemporary living. Externally, the mass of the extension has been broken down into three volumes to reflect the proportions and volumes of existing house, which has been added to many times over the years. Rather than an expansive glass box, we created an articulated volume with large uninterrupted framed views of the garden.

Upstairs, alongside the family’s three bedrooms, is the bed and breakfast guest-room with large ensuite bathroom. Guests enter through the family’s street entrance and past their living and dining spaces. Once in their suite they find themselves in a quiet and cosy private world.