Our clients acquired a small house within a rural village in Madeley, Staffordshire. Their aspirations were to increase the size of the property to a much improved size creating an appropriately proportioned family home. Their tastes were modern in nature, although the 1939 front elevation of the existing property was to retain the characteristics of the original building. The result was to balance the modern proposals for the extensions and refurbishment with the traditional rural design of the existing property. This was achieved by using predominantly the same materials throughout, and varying the form of development to enable a modern yet sympathetic addition. Internally features include ceiling height doors and glazing, open plan designs, a timber staircase with glass balustrades, oak timber features and flooring. Sustainable approaches to the mechanical designs for the services include solar hot water, under floor heating, wood burning appliances, high levels of insulation to roofs, floors, walls and glazed elements.