A home that was meant to be
Lavenham is one of the most iconic towns in Suffolk, synonymous with the region’s rich history and packed with colourful, characterful buildings. The Paddocks in Lavenham is a landmark development that was designed to fit in with the town’s vernacular by creating individually designed homes that would stand the test of time.
One of these homes is particularly special, having been custom-built by local residents Bill and Gay Clegg.
Having lived in Lavenham for over 20 years surrounded by close friends, the couple had no intention of ever leaving the town. When a sign appeared advertising a new housing development it was purely out of curiosity rather than intention that they made enquiries. This was when the seed of an idea to move from their large, rambling house began to germinate.
When Bill and Gay made the decision to move out of their gorgeous Georgian property, friends thought they were mad. However, their minds were made up, and with support from their grown-up children they never wavered in their determination to create a home that would suit them into the future.
“It’s fantastic living here and we haven’t regretted our move for one minute. The location is great, being able to walk to the High Street, and we love that every house is individual. Our house is warm, efficient and economical whilst having bags of character,” said Gay.
The couple bought one of the 25 plots in The Paddocks in February 2022 without looking at a single other house. Buying off plan was a savvy move, giving them a free rein to customise the build precisely to their requirements.
There was plenty of choice, but the Cleggs opted for an edge of site location with incredible views over the surrounding countryside.
Working with in-house architect, Richard Dilley, they made multiple changes from the original design to suit their needs and tastes.
These included:
- Changing the exterior finish from brick to render;
- Removing a ground floor bedroom and bathroom to create an additional sitting area;
- Adding a separate artist’s studio to front of house;
- Installing an internal lift;
- Moving the master bedroom to the back of house to make most of views;
- Removing doors downstairs to make an open plan living area; and
- Fitting cutting edge lighting.
Lavenham is one of the most iconic towns in Suffolk, synonymous with the region’s rich history and packed with colourful, characterful buildings. The Paddocks in Lavenham is a landmark development that was designed to fit in with the town’s vernacular by creating individually designed homes that would stand the test of time.
One of these homes is particularly special, having been custom-built by local residents Bill and Gay Clegg.
Having lived in Lavenham for over 20 years surrounded by close friends, the couple had no intention of ever leaving the town. When a sign appeared advertising a new housing development it was purely out of curiosity rather than intention that they made enquiries. This was when the seed of an idea to move from their large, rambling house began to germinate.
When Bill and Gay made the decision to move out of their gorgeous Georgian property, friends thought they were mad. However, their minds were made up, and with support from their grown-up children they never wavered in their determination to create a home that would suit them into the future.
“It’s fantastic living here and we haven’t regretted our move for one minute. The location is great, being able to walk to the High Street, and we love that every house is individual. Our house is warm, efficient and economical whilst having bags of character,” said Gay.
The couple bought one of the 25 plots in The Paddocks in February 2022 without looking at a single other house. Buying off plan was a savvy move, giving them a free rein to customise the build precisely to their requirements.
There was plenty of choice, but the Cleggs opted for an edge of site location with incredible views over the surrounding countryside.
Working with in-house architect, Richard Dilley, they made multiple changes from the original design to suit their needs and tastes.
These included:
- Changing the exterior finish from brick to render;
- Removing a ground floor bedroom and bathroom to create an additional sitting area;
- Adding a separate artist’s studio to front of house;
- Installing an internal lift;
- Moving the master bedroom to the back of house to make most of views;
- Removing doors downstairs to make an open plan living area; and
- Fitting cutting edge lighting.
As a prolific artist, it was essential for Gay to add on a sizeable studio. After pondering the location, it was decided to position this at the front of the house, with an external door for visitors and internal access through the sitting room. By planning before footings were even dug this addition could be easily accommodated.
Hartog Hutton provides high quality but neutral fixtures and fittings, to give its customers a blank canvas. However, Gay and Bill spent much time and energy sourcing their own finishes to reflect their characters and personal tastes.
“We wanted a wow factor,” explained Gay. “As an artist I love colour and wanted a vibrant feel throughout the house. With a bright red kitchen island, modern tiles, carefully curated lighting and glass internal walls the result has surpassed our expectations.”
“The quality of the build has been fantastic. We looked at other examples of Hartog Hutton homes and felt reassured that the quality would be good. From the joinery to paintwork and even the shelving in our garage. Everything has been completed to the highest of standards,” said Bill.
Outside landscaping was as important a consideration as the internal layout of the house. Local garden designer, Janey Auchincloss, designed an outside space that would be low maintenance but beautiful. It was a challenging sloping site, but the different levels provided the opportunity for separate garden ‘rooms’ to be created – including a seating area on the same level as the kitchen and a lower-level space incorporating a hot tub, all tied together with prairie planting.
“Everyone was so lovely and we felt really well looked after throughout the whole process. Having never done anything like this before we appreciated the advice we received and the flexibility to accommodate our specific wishes. It feels like it was meant to be,” said Gay.
Asked how they would advise someone thinking of buying a plot they said be prepared to spend time, get lots of samples, visit trade shows and go for it.
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