Jason and Rachel’s extended Lincolnshire rectory balances period charm with contemporary design.
TEXT Alexandra Pratt IMAGES Andy Haslam
The Lincolnshire Wolds may not have the same star power as the Cotswolds, but don’t let that fool you; they have their own quiet magic. Think fewer tourists and a gentler kind of beauty that sneaks up on you. A limestone landscape shaped by ancient glaciers, the Wolds offer lush valleys, ancient woodlands, and picturesque villages. So, when Jason and Rachel saw a former rectory set in eight quiet acres here, “we immediately saw the potential,” explains Rachel. “We knew we could make it into the house of our dreams.”
The setting of the property cannot be faulted. Located next to the long distance walking path known as The Viking Way, the rectory ticks every rural dream; a wooded spinney, paddocks, mature gardens, and a pond, filled with wildlife. Yet the age of the home was uncertain, with several later additions, and there is some evidence it was rebuilt by the RAF after a plane crashed into it during the war.
“We knew we wanted to make changes, but we weren’t sure what they would be,” recalls Jason. The couple, who are now retired from careers in IT, are both “fans of contemporary style,” yet they had no fixed ideas when they met with local architecture practice ID Architecture. “We found them on social media, and we liked their style; minimalist, open spaces, lots of glass,” says Jason. “We only spoke to them, out of four or five choices.”
The project focused on reworking the layout and extending the home in a way that respected the setting while improving function and flow. The design added a second storey to an existing side extension, featuring vertical timber cladding in contrast to the original red brick. The removal of an unattractive uPVC conservatory allowed the kitchen to open into the garden, while an underused sitting room was upgraded and partially rebuilt with insulation and garden access.
Upstairs in the two storey extension, the vaulted master bedroom and ensuite are positioned to take in views of the gardens, with cantilevered windows and integrated solar shading designed to enhance both privacy and thermal performance. “We were blown away by ID Architecture. Their design was ten times better than what we had thought of,” says Rachel. “Especially our palatial master suite!”
Contrary to what might be expected in such a rural setting, planning permission for the changes passed without any issues. “We didn’t change the footprint, we just went up,” explains Jason. “It didn’t affect anyone.”
However, Jason and Rachel delayed the start of the project, as when they put the project out to tender in August 2022, Covid-related inflation had raised prices significantly. By 2023, however, they realised their architect was right when he pointed out that prices seldom go down. Biting the bullet, Jason and Rachel started work in April 2023 on a fixed price contract with Belvin Construction. Although the couple remained living onsite during the project, they don’t regret that decision.
“It was difficult occasionally, especially with water and electricity going off,” recalls Rachel. “But we enjoyed seeing it every day. Sometimes it changed significantly from morning to evening.”
Jason and Rachel decided to be hands off during the build, leaving their architect (who lives nearby) to project manage and work closely with their contractor’s site manager. This approach produced excellent results and kept the couple’s stress levels to a minimum. “Between them, they did a really good job. Our architect recommended having someone onsite full time, and it really made a difference.”
The two storey section of the extension was constructed using both timber frame elements and steel. These were needed to support the cantilevered upper level. Here, huge windows project the bedroom into the treetops, creating an immersive, floating effect. As this entire floor is solely the master suite, this space also boasts a large dressing room and a spacious bathroom, with corner glazing and a freestanding bath, which is perfectly positioned to enjoy the views. “I’m still getting used to all the open glass in the bathroom,” says Jason. “Even though we have no neighbours.”
“But I love sitting in the bath looking into the trees and watching the squirrels and the birds,” adds Rachel.
On the ground floor of this extension, the cantilever provides some passive solar shading to the large sliding glass doors in the kitchen below. “We would never have thought of that!” says Rachel.
The adjoining single-storey extension is technically not new, as it was already part of the home, although the space was cold and “too inefficient to heat,” says Jason. The couple had to confront an unexpected cost when this part of the building was found to have insufficient footings. “This part of the property was constructed on brick footings, so elements of the existing single storey brick structure had to be taken down and rebuilt with new concrete footings. This ultimately led to additional cost and some delays,” says Tom Williams, managing architect on the project.
This meant that their builders had to take down the brick wall at the front and rebuild it. The advantage was that this made it easy to add badly needed insulation. This is now a sitting room, which opens directly onto a new terrace and is Rachel’s favourite place. “From the sitting room easy chairs, I can look out of the windows onto the pond and watch the wild ducks, the rabbits, and the deer. It’s my happy place.”
Another challenge was a large hole underneath the property. Tom Williams explains, “the project as a whole went very smoothly, however, when the Principal Contractor commenced onsite, they discovered a large historic break soakaway beneath the existing slab of the conservatory. This ultimately meant further investigations had to be carried out by the engineer before diverting and backfilling with mass concrete.”
Here, at the back of the house, both new sections are clad in larch, a choice the Belchers made under the guidance of their architect, following their preference for timber that could be left untreated. And this wasn’t their only environmentally conscious choice.
The rural location meant that gas was never an option, so the couple chose solar panels instead, which are positioned on the older part of the house. These are connected to two batteries, manufactured by Solax. “It means we are almost independent of electricity and our daily spend is in the pence,” explains Jason. “We chose solar as we were not convinced by air source heat pumps.”
Downstairs in the new section is a spacious kitchen. Designed around a 15-foot-long island, the design is unusual, as no other countertops or splashback tiles are required. The bank of tall cabinetry against the walls is sleek, modern, and creates a huge amount of storage. Local company Sam Neal Kitchens supplied the timber cabinetry, and the island worktop is Dekton, which Jason and Rachel chose for its hard-wearing quality. The tiles on the floor are from Porcelanosa, and the couple chose a design that could be laid both inside and out, making the transition through the sliding doors onto the terrace seamless.
Fortunately, Jason and Rachel enjoy entertaining and, with one of their two children living nearby, there’s always a family gathering to cater for. “We’ve got the space, so we use it,” says Rachel. “Although I thought we’d never fill all the cabinets, it’s big, but it’s not cavernous.” The kitchen and the glazing make the rear of the house very contemporary, both in design and in lifestyle, and Jason in particular enjoys the contrast with the original parts of the house.
“I love that the front doesn’t ‘give away’ the back,” he says. “It’s very clever how the garden is now part of the house. We couldn’t see it before, but now it’s all part of the home.” Architect Tom Williams agrees. “I think the most successful element of the project is the relationship between the new extension and the established gardens. The introduction of floor-to-ceiling glazing at both ground and first floor ensures the different aspects of the grounds can be seen intermittently as you navigate through the property, adding interest and delight.”
Apart from a two month delay with the new aluminium-framed glazing, the build went very smoothly, and Jason and Rachel are thrilled with the results. “Our architects – Tom and James at ID Architecture – understood what we were looking for and delivered a house that gives us the lifestyle that we want.” This, of course, is the main advantage of a self-build or significant extension project. Rather than live with compromised spaces, a design can deliver.
“A house that is specially made for us. It just suits us. Even silly things like a built-in dog bed and dog shower in the utility room for Mickey, our Portuguese water dog,” says Rachel. “We often just sit in the kitchen with a glass of wine and look at the garden.”
“It is a lovely space to live in,” adds Jason. And who could ask for more than that?