OLD CHAPEL, STOKE FLEMING, DARTMOUTH, DEVON:

Formerly a Methodist chapel dating from the mid-1800s, then a small school in the early 1900s, and more recently a boat store, The Old Chapel kept hidden secrets which suggested a much longer history: underneath the ground floor lay a series of ancient arches (see photos), as well as arrow-slit windows. This sizeable, fascinating space allowed us to create a sub-ground floor level, thus extending the internal layout over four floors, which included the characterful attic space and its old oak structural roof trusses.

Glass ‘Juliette’ balconies invisibly fixed against the Devon granite exterior walls were incorporated to take in the dramatic sea views stretching out southward towards Start Point. Giant paned ‘feature doors’ bring the balmy West Country air into the house. All the windows are framed and shuttered internally using European oak.

High point of the build: Finding the original hardwood French pair of solid panelled front doors abandoned in the cellar, refurbishing them and seeing them re-hung at the entrance.

Some before shots

The after shots