Which plans do you prefer?

[Zebra]

My temporary plan for the next couple of years is to paint the flat roof extension a different colour so I can pretend it belongs to someone else.

:lol: :lol: I'd not thought of temporarily disowning part of the house!

 

[malcolm]

I prefer the half timbered look too.
I think it would look even better if the timbering mimicked the front elevation around the first floor window.

I've been fiddling around some more with plans and that seems a good idea. I think I might have man flu so can't go outside or insulate the loft or anything useful like that so have been messing around on the computer. How does this look? Does it work or offend in any way? (I've not actually done it - it is a pretend image a computer made for me.)

Profile seems to be key to making this arts and crafts stuff to work - a good 12 inch roof overhang and an oriel window are difficult to show in a pretend photo especially when you have man flu. I need to figure out the rules about overhanging a highway, but in Central Beds it normally just involves giving them more money. Can I argue they aren't maintaining the bits I want to overhang and thus haven't really adopted them if it's me that has to mow them?

This is how it looks at the moment if you have any other ideas. Pitched roof with fancy stuff won't be the cheapest option but the photo doesn't show how ugly the flat roof area really is. A pitched roof wouldn't be worth it just for an extra bedroom, it is for external tidying.

 

[88v8]

I like that.

Although if the bricks really look like the pic, I don't like the bricks, they look modern and cheap and I might be tempted to render them.
But the roof & half-timber, I like. Looks as if it's always been there.
So I hope you don't have trouble with Planning complaining it doesn't look 'of its time'. To me, it looks of the house's time, which is the best thing one can say about an extension, unfortunately one doesn't have the chance to say it very often.

Ivor

 

[malcolm]

Thanks Ivor. I have planning pernission for the shape already but not the detail.

The bricks do trouble me. Sunlight doesn't help in the photo. The main building is a dull yellow red mix and looks good. Below the half timber on the facade red bricks. On the side of the flat roof extension a yellow red mix of handmade bricks that attempted to match the main building but are much too bright even after 50 years. Maybe the new bricks on the front of the flat roof bit should try to match the main building more than the extension. Or perhaps go for reds. An artist impression in more neutral lighting should help.

 

[Zebra]

Sympathies with the man flu malcolm. I think I'm coming down with whatever the zebra equivalent is.

 

[malcolm]

Try some whisky zebra. I've been on it all evening and have forgotten all about the man flu. Kae has been in bed for 3 days with the flu. Perhaps I ought to put some insulation in the loft at some point.

 

[Lime]

I prefer the half timbered look too.
I think it would look even better if the timbering mimicked the front elevation around the first floor window.

I've been fiddling around some more with plans and that seems a good idea. I think I might have man flu so can't go outside or insulate the loft or anything useful like that so have been messing around on the computer. How does this look? Does it work or offend in any way? (I've not actually done it - it is a pretend image a computer made for me.)

Profile seems to be key to making this arts and crafts stuff to work - a good 12 inch roof overhang and an oriel window are difficult to show in a pretend photo especially when you have man flu. I need to figure out the rules about overhanging a highway, but in Central Beds it normally just involves giving them more money. Can I argue they aren't maintaining the bits I want to overhang and thus haven't really adopted them if it's me that has to mow them?

This is how it looks at the moment if you have any other ideas. Pitched roof with fancy stuff won't be the cheapest option but the photo doesn't show how ugly the flat roof area really is. A pitched roof wouldn't be worth it just for an extra bedroom, it is for external tidying.

Sorry in my late response.
The timbering looks better but it isn't exactly the same, is it?
The top horizontal beam on the front elevation is separated from the top of the window and, at least to my eye, gives the front a particular period look.

 

[livias]

Well spotted Lime. I agree now you mention it The top horizontal would look better spaced above the window

 

[malcolm]

Thanks for that - I'll amend the picture and try to fine tune.

There is a lot of profile in the gable on the front and I think it would be nice to try to replicate some of that on the new end gable. The new gable will be on the boundary so I'll need to ask the council what the rules are for overhanging a strip of grass on the side of the pavement with oriel windows, gutters and verges. I think I might not be allowed.

The wall below the new gable has a bend somewhere near the right of the window which might cause aesthetic issues too.

 

[chuckey]

I don't like the detail where the new roof crosses over the old end window. It will require a lot of wood and lead to work around it. Which incidently is not shown on the front elevation. Go on, real mock Tudor, nailed on bits of wood with painted render in between!
Frank

 

[malcolm]

Which window? The attic window needs work anyway - it is a cheap, leaking and poorly fitted window with no lintel. I was thinking about moving it upwards in the gable a little to match the pitch of the extension to the main roof.

There is something about nailed on bits of wood I don't like. Probably only that it tends to be badly done and applied onto non-breathable surfaces, but it is against the Arts and Crafts philosophy of the facade.

 

[Lime]

I think fitting in with an existing style, as long as it is done with thought and care, is acceptable.
The rather superior attitude taken by some of anything mimicking part of an old building only has merit when it is poorly carried out.
I think it is the lesser of two evils.
The choice AFAICS is either attempt to make the gable fit in with the existing façade or make it stand out as a new and rather stark modern addition and not necessarily nice to look at in comparison.
I know which I prefer.

 

[malcolm]

I prefer to match the building too, but nicely. Structural mock tudor probably looks better because it is structural so all the bits are in the right place.