A couple who designed their own dream home in London managed to shave £400,000 from the cost of the project by overseeing it themselves.
Neurologists Penny Talelli and Mark Edwards had been quoted £1million by builders for a new-build on the sloped site of a derelict guardhouse in Haringey, which they’d paid £725,000 for.
In a bid to save money, the Penny and Mark decided to put their heads together to come up with their own design, settling on a statement, zinc coated ‘box’ that combined their respective passions for new and old architecture.
While modern art lover Penny got her statement exterior and yellow steel staircase, Mark was allowed to incorporate elements of the ‘magical’ crumbling guardhouse into the new design, which took two and a half years to complete.
Bright and airy: Neurologists Penny Talelli and Mark Edwards had been quoted £1million by builders for a new-build but saved £400,000 by overseeing the project themselves. The living space features huge windows that let in plenty of natural light
Touches of character: The couple created a modern kitchen but paid homage to 19th century designs with their cabinets
Ultra-modern: Penny’s pride and joy was this bright yellow steel staircase that she designed herself for her new home
Stylish: The lavish and spacious bathroom features a skylight, eye-catching blue tiles and his and hers sinks
Their home features on Wednesday night’s episode of Grand Designs on Channel 4.
‘I love modern architecture,’ Penny says on the show.
‘You can express yourself via the building. You get yourself a plot and say “I’m going to build a house that’s me.”‘
Before Penny and Mark bought it for £725,000, the sloped plot housing the old guardhouse had remained untouched for 30 years.
Now, thanks to the doctors and the team of builders they hired, it is home to a striking contemporary home housing an array of statement design features.
Before: The couple bought a derelict guardhouse in Haringey, North London, for £700,000 after Mark fell in love with its ‘magic’. They wanted to build a new home on the sloped site but were quoted £1million for the project
Comprimise: The couple cut costs by taking on the project themselves. The final result, pictured, combines their separate tastes for old and new architecture, featuring this new build home coated in zinc panels
But the modern property is not without its nod to the plot’s past.
Mark, who fell in love with the ‘magical’ old guardhouse, initially attempted to build the new property around it, but the foundations were too weak and it had to be destroyed.
The couple, who also balanced looking after their two children with the project, eventually settled on rebuilding the derelict home, and erecting the modern ‘box’ design beside it.
It proved costly, as Mark insisted they save the windows from the old building and spend £3,000 restoring them – which was double the cost of replacement windows.
Original: The couple ordered custom art and kept the house completely unique, even in their children’s bathroom, pictured
Penny and Mark say their house combines their respective loves of old and new architecture
They added windows that were part of the old derelict guardhouse that had stood on the site
The children had a large bedroom that featured retro-inspired furniture but kept up with the quirky theme with a swing in the middle of the room
The new building was coated in zinc and given thick walls to keep out the sound from the busy road nearby.
Inside the home they kept up with the old and new theme, choosing to have a 19th century style kitchen with cabinets that were deliberately chipped to look old.
Penny designed a bright yellow steel staircase that stood in the centre of the new home.
The practicalities of such an unusual building proved difficult, with a foundation for the house requiring 42 pillars and £150,000 expenditure.
Mark rebuilt a derelict old guardhouse to pay homage to the building that stood untouched for 30 years on their land
Penny says she wanted her house to show off her personality, while Mark had a love for traditional architecture
It took a total of two and a half years to make but the couple were thrilled with their quirky new home.
Mark said: ‘It shows you what is possible, I think, by doing it yourself. We’ve invested so much time and thought into all the different bits in it that when you see them it does something good for you inside.
‘It has an internal consistency because it’s the story of us, the story of both of us., somehow it’s all in here.’
Grand Designs airs tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm