Cotswold village house.

This Grade II* Georgian house, built in the 1720s, lies within both a Conservation Area and the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Originally the home of a clothier connected to the local wool trade, it is an exceptionally well-preserved example of its kind.

A projecting rear wing was added in the 1930s. Its end gable has a particularly strong character, with an elegant, tall Venetian window that gives the composition a powerful central emphasis.

Although the 1930s addition is generally sympathetic to the original house, its south-facing elevation was purely functional, with few openings and no sense of overall composition. A jumble of drainpipes came to dominate its junction with the old house.

Our clients asked for a modest, thoughtful intervention. They wanted the kitchen improved and enlarged, with more natural light and a stronger connection to the sunken terrace outside. Here, the evening sun falls, and meals are taken in good weather. Our aim was to make their home better suited to family life, while protecting and strengthening the site's distinctive character, heritage and beauty as a whole.

Our design took on the spirit of early Georgian architecture, taking details and idioms from the existing building — with particular reference to the Venetian window on the west gable.

Careful attention was given to the scale, proportions and choice of materials. The timber frame is well-proportioned, and the glazing bars were adapted to accommodate slimline double-glazing without losing their elegance. The cornice neatly incorporates the gutter within its profile, and the roof is covered in lead.

The simple and unadorned framework is influenced by the conservatory at Soane's Pitzhanger Manor, though its smaller pane sizes reflect eighteenth century models. This was combined with the west gable's Venetian window motif, to which we introduced a gateway opening the kitchen to the terrace.

The extension improves how the kitchen works and is used day-to-day considerably: providing much-needed space, bringing in natural light, and allowing a direct relationship between the kitchen, terrace and garden.