How do you transform a ‘dark and uninspiring’ interior without losing the ‘rustic and traditional appeal’ of a home? That was the challenge facing architect Lydia Robinson, as she began a renovation project on two traditional miner’s cottages in Bristol, Somerset.
The brief wasn’t straight forward: make the most of the aesthetic beauty of the interior while adding a brighter contemporary finish. However, the result was a juxtaposition of new and old that resulted in the project being awarded Best Renovation Project in the Daily Telegraph Homebuilding and Renovating awards.
According to Lydia, the part natural light plays in turning a dark and seemingly small interior into a bright and open space cannot be underestimated, so she chose fixed flat roof lights from supplier, Roof Maker.
Period features offset against modern fixtures and fittings ensured a ‘cool, contemporary’ finish while a ‘real sense of the past’ is said to be ever-present.
Fixed flat roof lights and bi-fold doors have an immediate benefit, as the period features are enhanced while light from above enhances the original character of the kitchen. The fixed flat roof lights are offset against the wooden beams below on the kitchen ceiling to project the natural light.
Lydia said: “Roof Maker roof lights were installed in both kitchen extensions of our miner’s cottages. We placed them close to the original cottage wall and new extension in order to get light into the deep part of the plan and through to the centre of the cottages.
“The roof lights have both achieved and exceeded our ambitions by capturing an edited section of sky which provides delight and light. Looking up though the roof light from the contemporary industrially inspired extension back to the existing cottage provides an interesting juxtaposition between new and old.”
You can find out more about this award winning renovation here.
