Funny, but we still call post-war houses "modern". This refers to "all mod cons", when back in the day, everyone wanted new kitchens, bathrooms, inside toilets.

Now we look for space and light, easily found in 1960s houses, an ideal blank canvas. Great for multi-purpose zoning, perfect for family living. Zoning allows a multitude of activities without cramping anyone's style. Don't dismiss that boxy, tired old house - they have amazing potential.

Ugly space is a term commonly used by George Clarke, TV presenter, architect and designer who specialises in renovating unattractive, "modern" boxy houses into amazing family homes. So the blueprint is well established. Finding a 1960s house overdue for an update within walking distance to Frome was not difficult. We quickly found an ideal candidate, spacious, not overlooked and with plenty of potential.

First project was to replace the old creaking conservatory with new kitchen extension. If you have an old conservatory, you know its freezing in winter and boiling in summer. When it rains, its like being on board ship, so loud it used to frighten the dog!

The new extension runs the entire length of the back elevation, taking up dead external space. Wide sliding doors take advantage of the south facing garden. The old kitchen remodelled into a new shower/utility/boot-room. Perfectly placed to shower muddy dog before letting into the house!

The living room was not so straight forward. We removed the wall dividing the living area from the old dining room (more dead space with a door in every wall!). Opening up the space created an area for our large sofa and additional L-shape study/media area. Another problem was the hall cupboard which housed the original electric warm air system (long gone) but the other half of the cupboard protruded into the living room. The cost of steel and foundation work to demolish was not justified, so decision made to live with it. We turned it into a feature bookcase.

The living area has flat north facing light. Mostly used in the evening, so a moody blue decor works well. Being sympathetic to the original build I wanted to reflect a retro look, more a nod to the decade in a contemporary way. Balancing with warm metallic accessories, bold colours and fabrics in textiles, velvets and tweedy weaves.

Most people find it very hard to visualise spaces, how will it work for my lifestyle? 3D floor plans created from room dimensions are a fantastic way to see if your original vision works for your lifestyle. This also means you can freely experiment with no commitment. No working purely on imagination!

Working from my visualisations above, it was easy bringing it all to life in reality. If you would like a free consultation about your 60s/70s house, please get in touch!