Follow one of our senior Architects in a series of posts, as they take on their own private project… Episode 2

We were open minded. We simply wanted a little more space both internally and externally. Well, this space had to face the right way, ideally with a view, not too hemmed in, close to a decent school, commutable, ideally with public transport, affordable... OK we had a list. We soon realised that our aspirations came with an aspirational price tag, so we cast the net wide - a semicircle with a radius of 10 miles centred on our current home, with the only limit to the north being the meander of the River Tyne. We looked and looked, and viewed and viewed, for months and months.

Whilst we would consider ourselves 'realists', we quickly realised not only that our aspirations list would likely be curtailed, but our 'basics' list seemingly too. The 'affordable' homes that we viewed, that eased the school run, or provided that valuable sunny outdoor space, offered less internally than we had, or the slightly larger homes were that little bit too 'far out', or incorporated a garden in permanent shade, or included a brand new kitchen that was 'just not us', but alas reflected in the price. The homes that 'ticked the most' were quickly snapped up - we were outbid on the homes we wished we could afford.

Whilst it is often said that 'you know' if it's 'right' more or less immediately when viewing a property. And whilst yes, I broadly agree, it was increasingly seeming that it was a case of 'it's a yes' ... 'but' - if only the planners would allow us to build that extension in the green belt to create that 3rd bedroom, or we could covert the garage into this and then extend that - It was looking more and more likely we would have to 'move AND improve'.

Episode 3 ‘Dreaming’ will follow soon… stay tuned!