A New Lease of Life: November Cottage’s Transformation

At ASJ Design, we love helping our clients see the hidden potential in a house, and November Cottage was full of it. Nestled in the Cranborne Chase National Park, it had all the right ingredients: large rooms, glorious views and a peaceful setting. But inside? Let’s just say it needed some serious rethinking.

Located within a conservation area where new extensions would face heavy scrutiny, it quickly became clear that the smartest and most sensitive solution was not to build out, but to remodel within, unlocking what was already there and reworking the layout to create light, space and coherence.

With construction costs continuing to rise, this project perfectly demonstrates the growing shift toward reconfiguration over rebuild. Where once a tired property might have been demolished, it now makes far more sense to look closely at the bones of a house, particularly when the location, plot and proportions are already so strong. Often, the missing ingredient is simply vision.

The front door opened straight into the kitchen (next to the sink, no less), the stairs were cramped and tucked awkwardly into the same space, and past extensions left the whole house feeling a little disjointed. The kitchen had become the home’s main thoroughfare, leaving little room for storage or proper preparation space. Elsewhere, a large rear extension felt detached from the rest of the house, while the converted garage called study had the temporary feel of an afterthought. Externally, a poorly executed extension and tired elevations left the cottage looking rather unloved.

So, what convinced our client to take it on?

Quite simply: the village, the peace and the view. A Londoner who had fallen in love with the landscape and slower pace of life, she saw beyond the flaws to the potential of large rooms, open outlooks, no traffic and no overlooking. The fundamentals were there. She just needed the right team to help her bring the rest to life.

Her brief was clear: to create a contemporary take on a country cottage that was light, uncluttered, and beautifully connected to its surroundings, without losing its character.

We started, as we always do, with the big picture. We spent time understanding how our client likes to live and what she wanted from each space. From there, together, we reimagined every corner, relocating the entrance and staircase to allow the kitchen to be its own distinct space, and a calm corner with panoramic views, perfect for a quiet morning coffee or a culinary adventure. A proper entrance hall was created with a bespoke oak staircase. From here, a glazed screen frames the views straight through to the terrace. The dining room gained real character, flowing seamlessly into a light-filled sitting room and out to the newly designed outdoor spaces. Beautifully detailed visuals helped her see how the house could flow and gave our client the confidence to move forward full steam ahead.

Of course, no transformation comes without surprises. Peeling back the old layers revealed a failing roof and electrics, the kind of “discoverables” that can quickly test a client’s resolve. It’s why we always encourage building in a sensible contingency from the start, so these bumps in the road don’t derail the bigger vision. But with some tenacity, careful planning, and a few deep breaths, our client pushed through, and the results were more than worth it.

Despite delays caused by weather and unforeseen work, the site gradually began to transform. With strong communication and steady progress, the disruption faded, and the vision became tangible.

The new layout has completely changed how the house feels. The kitchen is now its own generous space, no longer doubling as corridor and stairwell, and enjoys uninterrupted views across the landscape. The dining room has gained warmth and character, flowing naturally into a light-filled sitting room with doors opening onto the newly designed terrace and garden. The biggest change of all is the entrance: now a dedicated hallway with a beautiful oak staircase and a glazed screen beyond, offering views straight through to the outdoors and drawing you inside.

Outside, the tired façades were given their own transformation. At the front, we stayed true to the village’s greenstone; at the back, we introduced sleek Canadian timber cladding and striking anthracite steel windows to flood the interiors with natural light. Even the car barn got a rebuild now framing a courtyard-style terrace that’s made for sunny afternoons.

The result? A home so transformed that visitors and neighbours alike have asked if it was completely rebuilt.

To us, that says everything.

It’s projects like this that remind us why we love what we do: unlocking the potential of a home and creating spaces that feel both timeless and made for real life.

To see more of the finished result of the project, please visit the project profile.