As the cottage falls within Kenmare’s conservation area, a planning application was required to extend. “This challenge was in fact a benefit, as it forced a long-term vision for the project at the very initial stages,” Jane says. “The new addition enabled the doubling of the floor area while keeping the charm of the original cottage. On the first floor we added a third bedroom was added and adjoining bathrooms. The original cottage offered four cellular spaces. I wanted the extension to offer contrast to this with a light filled interior reflective of contemporary living.”
With the renovation, she also wanted to prolong the life of the original cottage. “Insulation and new windows were added to the original cottage to make it more sustainable. I feel the most successful aspect of the design is the flexibility it offers creating a house that reflects how we live now with light-filled interiors while also retaining the option to withdraw into the more secluded rooms of the original stone cottage. In the glass filled kitchen dining the sun provides passive solar gain to minimise the heating required. Another aspect of success was the integration of the new structure into the original house, respecting the scale of the existing protected terrace of Emmets Place.”