Re-engineering 1980’s houses.

Nursery Gardens has been a really interesting project for our team in the way it highlights the changes in housing lifestyle and aspirations that have taken place in the last thirty years. Comparing a 1980’s house with a current 'show-house’ in a magazine or new estate there are some obvious differences:

• Rooms are larger now to accommodate the bigger beds in bedrooms and the appliances we now regard as essentials in kitchens.
• Families want more ‘together’ space whether it’s relaxing in a family room or having a BBQ on a terrace.
• They want more personal space in bathrooms - a family bathroom and a downstairs loo are no longer enough - Mum and Dad want the additional privacy of an en-suite.
• Cars are larger - and although we don’t actually put them in our garages - we want the ability to do so even if it means moving out all the bikes etc!

• We put many more demands on our ‘systems’ whether it’s points for power, TV or internet or a heating system than can adapt to our working lives.

When the team at LaForet had the opportunity of buying two adjacent 1980’s houses in Nursery Gardens, we decided to 're-engineer' them to reflect these factors. Many of these types of houses have been ‘improved’ bit by bit over the years - conservatories have been added; windows replaced with UPVC double glazing; kitchens replaced etc but very rarely have they been systematically re-furbished, keeping the sound structural elements but totally renewing the ‘systems’ and adding extra space that fits in a coherent design.

The Nursery Gardens project is still ‘in-progress’ and we will update our ‘before' and ‘after' pictures as it evolves. We plan to market the houses in the Summer and are confident that the quality of our work and the great location that is both peaceful but within easy walking distance of the centre of Tring and with close proximity to Tring School will mean there will be strong demand for them.

Re-engineering 1980’s houses.

Nursery Gardens has been a really interesting project for our team in the way it highlights the changes in housing lifestyle and aspirations that have taken place in the last thirty years. Comparing a 1980’s house with a current 'show-house’ in a magazine or new estate there are some obvious differences:

• Rooms are larger now to accommodate the bigger beds in bedrooms and the appliances we now regard as essentials in kitchens.
• Families want more ‘together’ space whether it’s relaxing in a family room or having a BBQ on a terrace.
• They want more personal space in bathrooms - a family bathroom and a downstairs loo are no longer enough - Mum and Dad want the additional privacy of an en-suite.
• Cars are larger - and although we don’t actually put them in our garages - we want the ability to do so even if it means moving out all the bikes etc!

• We put many more demands on our ‘systems’ whether it’s points for power, TV or internet or a heating system than can adapt to our working lives.

When the team at LaForet had the opportunity of buying two adjacent 1980’s houses in Nursery Gardens, we decided to 're-engineer' them to reflect these factors. Many of these types of houses have been ‘improved’ bit by bit over the years - conservatories have been added; windows replaced with UPVC double glazing; kitchens replaced etc but very rarely have they been systematically re-furbished, keeping the sound structural elements but totally renewing the ‘systems’ and adding extra space that fits in a coherent design.

The Nursery Gardens project is still ‘in-progress’ and we will update our ‘before' and ‘after' pictures as it evolves. We plan to market the houses in the Summer and are confident that the quality of our work and the great location that is both peaceful but within easy walking distance of the centre of Tring and with close proximity to Tring School will mean there will be strong demand for them.

Re-engineering 1980’s houses.

Nursery Gardens has been a really interesting project for our team in the way it highlights the changes in housing lifestyle and aspirations that have taken place in the last thirty years. Comparing a 1980’s house with a current 'show-house’ in a magazine or new estate there are some obvious differences:

• Rooms are larger now to accommodate the bigger beds in bedrooms and the appliances we now regard as essentials in kitchens.
• Families want more ‘together’ space whether it’s relaxing in a family room or having a BBQ on a terrace.
• They want more personal space in bathrooms - a family bathroom and a downstairs loo are no longer enough - Mum and Dad want the additional privacy of an en-suite.
• Cars are larger - and although we don’t actually put them in our garages - we want the ability to do so even if it means moving out all the bikes etc!

• We put many more demands on our ‘systems’ whether it’s points for power, TV or internet or a heating system than can adapt to our working lives.

When the team at LaForet had the opportunity of buying two adjacent 1980’s houses in Nursery Gardens, we decided to 're-engineer' them to reflect these factors. Many of these types of houses have been ‘improved’ bit by bit over the years - conservatories have been added; windows replaced with UPVC double glazing; kitchens replaced etc but very rarely have they been systematically re-furbished, keeping the sound structural elements but totally renewing the ‘systems’ and adding extra space that fits in a coherent design.

The Nursery Gardens project is still ‘in-progress’ and we will update our ‘before' and ‘after' pictures as it evolves. We plan to market the houses in the Summer and are confident that the quality of our work and the great location that is both peaceful but within easy walking distance of the centre of Tring and with close proximity to Tring School will mean there will be strong demand for them.