Tiny Ibthorpe bungalow transformed into £800,000 home

A property that looks like a hum-drum bungalow from the front but has a huge modern extension hidden at the back has gone on the market for £795,000.

The 1920s bungalow has been transformed by engineer James Kater and his TV producer partner Georgina Wilson who were looking for land to build a house on in 2011.

They were inspired by the attitude in their native Australia to build on what was there rather than knock down and start again.

This 1920s bungalow has been transformed by engineer James Kater and his TV producer partner Georgina Wilson who were looking for land to build a house on in 2011 when they purchased it for £400,000 

The couple spent £150,000 over the course of nine months transforming the old bungalow into a new modern space

The couple spent £150,000 over the course of nine months transforming the old bungalow into a new modern space

The new 32ft by 26ft extension has an open-plan kitchen, living and dining room, utility room and bathroom

The new 32ft by 26ft extension has an open-plan kitchen, living and dining room, utility room and bathroom

The spent £150,000 and nine months turning the old bungalow into four bedrooms, with an en suite in the master.

The new 32ft by 26ft extension has an open-plan kitchen, living and dining room, utility room and bathroom.

Their clever extension doubles the floor space of the bungalow that is in Ibthorpe, near Andover, Hampshire, but is completely invisible from the street.

The couple had to completely renovate the existing house with new electrics, plumbing and insulation as well as adding the extension at the back.

They also renovated and extended the garage at the side too so it now offers an additional guest bed/sitting room with an en-suite shower room and a separate veranda.

The property also has an air source heat pump with under-floor heating in the extension.

Ibthorpe is a hamlet in an area of outstanding natural beauty and both extensions take full advantage of the stunning countryside views with 10ft-high folding doors that open the extension up to the garden.

The couple installed 10-foot high folding doors which allow views towards the village of Ibthorpe in Hampshire 

The couple installed 10-foot high folding doors which allow views towards the village of Ibthorpe in Hampshire 

The couple also converted and extended a garage to provide some additional guest accommodation in the property 

The couple also converted and extended a garage to provide some additional guest accommodation in the property 

The main house has four bedrooms while the extended garage has a further bedroom for any guests The property also has an air source heat pump with under-floor heating in the extension.

The main house has four bedrooms while the extended garage has a further bedroom for any guests staying overnight 

The massive extension, pictured, is completely hidden from the road and is often a surprise to visitors to the property

The massive extension, pictured, is completely hidden from the road and is often a surprise to visitors to the property

Despite the massive extension, the property still has an extensive garden at the rear overlooking the nearby rolling hills

Despite the massive extension, the property still has an extensive garden at the rear overlooking the nearby rolling hills

Georgina, 48, said: ‘We were looking for land to develop when we found this bungalow, the fact it hadn’t been altered was desirable to us as we could see it had so much potential.

‘We’re from Australia so we decided to do the Oz thing of building the extension off the back with a combined kitchen and dining space that made the most of the view.

‘People seemed surprised when we did it, they assumed you would have to pull it down and start over.

‘It’s in a conservation area, so the council were happy we were keeping the facade, although we didn’t have to.

‘We thought there’s nothing wrong with the facade, we like that you can’t see the extension from the road and you have the modern juxtaposed with the old.

With so many windows the property is filled with natural light unlike many bungalows dating from the 1920s 

With so many windows the property is filled with natural light unlike many bungalows dating from the 1920s 

The original property was completely renovated by the couple, including the fitting of new plumbing and electrics 

The original property was completely renovated by the couple, including the fitting of new plumbing and electrics 

The couple kept the original facade to the front of the property so there is no obvious sign of the transformation 

The couple kept the original facade to the front of the property so there is no obvious sign of the transformation 

From the front of the bungalow in Ibthorpe, Hampshire, there is no sign of the massive transformation to the rear

From the front of the bungalow in Ibthorpe, Hampshire, there is no sign of the massive transformation to the rear

‘There’s lots of lovely thatches in the area so I think it’s nice that it disappears behind the roofline.

‘Everyone is absolutely stunned when they realise the extension is there, it’s a bit of a wow factor. People who have no idea just can’t believe it.’

Jamie Armstrong, director of estate agents Evans & Partridge, said: ‘The ‘Tardis-like’ transformation has left many a delivery driver open-mouthed.

‘The original front door to the bungalow leads along a corridor to the open-plan room hidden behind.

‘It’s an inspired extension, which provides a breathtaking living area, with spectacular views through the double glazed folding doors across the garden to the countryside on the other side of the Bourne Valley.’ 

There is also a large garden area with a decking looking over the Bourne Valley to the rear of the bungalow 

There is also a large garden area with a decking looking over the Bourne Valley to the rear of the bungalow 

The work has managed to double the floor space in the bungalow without having any visual impact outside the home

The work has managed to double the floor space in the bungalow without having any visual impact outside the home

The house has solid fuel heaters as well as an air source heat pump with under-floor heating in the extension

The house has solid fuel heaters as well as an air source heat pump with under-floor heating in the extension



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