Kevin O’Mahony and Claire Edwards joined forces to overcome supply issues and build a striking brick-and-block home on a greenfield site

WORDS & PHOTOS KEN PRICE

The first-floor timber balcony extends across the gable end, with a smaller balcony at the second floor level

Kevin O’Mahony and Claire Edwards wanted to cement their new relationship by building on Kevin’s existing experience (he completed a self build project in 2016) to create a home together. “I wanted to feel that it was ours, not just Kevin’s” explains Claire. Self building can be intense, sometimes bringing strain to relationships, but Kevin had been there and done it before, which took some of the stress out of the process. “I’ve got this down to a tee, so it’s been much easier,” he says. For them, the shared experience has forged a closer bond.

Both Kevin and Claire worked full time, so location was key, and the plan was to find a plot within a 10 mile radius of work. On the first weekend prospecting nearby sites, they’d given up for the day and were on their way home when they happened upon this one. It was a serendipitous find: the only plot left in a development of 20 or so on a greenfield site. “We took a shine to it and went for it,” says Kevin. Th ey started planning their new home on the north facing plot, backed by a wooded hillside. Balconies would give glorious views over the valley below and a retaining wall of steel beams and railway sleepers could support the bank behind to create a level patio area and garden.

The rear elevation of the house faces southeast, with a first floor timber balcony to the master bedroom to enjoy the morning sun. The outdoor space overlooks the garden and wooded hillside beyond

Laying out plans

Th e couple worked up a design in consultation with an engineer for structural calculations, using their chosen room layouts and sizes. Due to the size of the room, the open-plan ground floor livingdining-kitchen area had to be split up to create areas of interest within the overall layout; reason enough for spending £5,500 on a gas fire, setting the TV into the wall and having a bookshelf door leading to a cinema room. Five bedrooms, all ensuite and two with balconies, occupy the first and second floors. There’s also a second sitting room with balcony on the first floor, and the master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe.