A Real Winner
Andrea, in June 2014, won the ‘Best Individual New Home’ title at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) awards for the West of England region for her work on this fabulous six/seven bedroom home, called ‘The Drift’, in Alvechurch, near Redditch, Worcestershire.
The Brief
Sadie and Ian Dykes had purchased an existing, 1970s four-bedroomed house called ‘The Drift’ in Rowney Green Lane, Alvechurch. However, they wanted more bedrooms for them and their four children to create a home for them all to grow up in.
Initially, the family was looking at building an extension to the existing house.
The Creative Solution
Working closely with the builder contracted for the job, Andrea agreed that it was possible to demolish the existing house and create a brand new home, exactly to the family’s specification, at very little cost difference.
This took into account that there is no VAT on new homes, whereas there is on extensions.
Andrea turned her hand to designing the family’s dream home, using the existing foundations, drainage and underground services for the new building, with a huge cost saving.
The Result
‘The Drift’ is now a fabulous, imposing, individual oak-clad home with Andrea’s trademark vaulted ceilings and trusses of walnut and stainless steel.
“Our family home is magical – fantastic. Andrea has created our ideal home for our family to grow up in”
Sadie Dykes, owner with her husband, Ian, of ‘The Drift’, a fabulous award-winning house designed by Andrea Millner.
“The Drift shows a lot of creativity and there was good teamwork between Andrea, the contractors and our building control service. The use of the existing foundations and services was a bonus for green conservation”
Adrian Wyre, Building Control Manager for the North Worcestershire Partnership of North Worcestershire Building Control.
