Lindsey and Gordon needed an accessible house that will work for his or her daughter who has a uncommon situation (Image: Fisher German)
For Lindsey and Gordon Edwards, constructing their fantasy household dwelling concerned the transformation of a derelict five-acre former tree nursery web site right into a modernist retreat, with a multi-level 5,405sq ft home at its coronary heart, impressed by architects Mies Van Der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright.
However the putting five-bedroom glass, cedar and sandstone dwelling, in Oulton Heath in Staffordshire, didn’t simply fulfil their wildest design goals – it profoundly modified their lives, as nicely.
Creating an expensive but eco-friendly dwelling for his or her three daughters – Georgia, now 18, Siena, 12, and Gigi, 11 – with each fashionable tech trick, was excessive on the Edwards’ agenda, however on the coronary heart of the house’s design was accessibility to help Georgia, who was recognized with the uncommon genetic neurological situation Rett Syndrome on the age of 5.
As her dad and mom have been advised she would in all probability not be capable to stroll past the age of seven, bespoke ground-floor dwelling house was designed for her, together with outsized doorways and extensive walkways.
However The Edge, as they’ve named the house, proved to not simply be sensible, however extremely therapeutic as nicely.
‘On the day we moved into the home in 2013, Georgia mentioned farewell to the day by day panic assaults she had suffered from,’ Lindsey explains.
The house is all about gentle and openness (Image: Fisher German)
‘Her neurologist mentioned this enchancment may very well be because of the vibrant open areas, pure gentle and views over inexperienced fields. We’ve got all the time needed to defy the percentages, and have been decided to by no means let her cease attempting.
‘Extremely, Georgia has by no means wanted to dwell downstairs, and final September she climbed the staircase on her personal with out my hand for the primary time. It was an outstanding second.’
One-off, bespoke options have been included into the design. Sensing that the mild sound of lapping water would assist her really feel calm, the Edwards put in an indoor swimming pool, which could be seen by means of a glass wall within the kitchen.
The dwelling house is ideal for a household (Image: Fisher German)
‘Georgia is a implausible swimmer, however I needed to have the ability to see her. We have been initially advised that the kind of wall we would have liked doesn’t exist, however we had one specifically created and our design has since been utilized in quite a few different homes.’
Lindsey’s steely dedication to perfection additionally meant that she felt compelled to vary the ground plans for the home on the final minute – regardless of having spent years getting planning permission for this avant-garde construct in a Inexperienced Belt space.
‘The pool advanced was initially going to be at basement stage, however I realised the day earlier than the builders broke floor that having a pool right here simply wasn’t going to work for Georgia,’ she says. ‘Gordon agreed, and we began once more.’
The 12-month construct that adopted has resulted in what Lindsey calls her ‘Alice in Wonderland design concept’.
Past the largely glazed exterior of The Edge, close to the market city of Stone, between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, the versatile two-storey structure boasts a string of rooms opening straight onto terraces and balconies, offering jaw-dropping pure vantage factors.
‘Georgia is a implausible swimmer, however I needed to have the ability to see her.’ (Image: Fisher German)
Look skywards within the huge central atrium and your eye is drawn to a suspended glass balustraded walkway above, or to the bespoke walnut and glass ‘floating’ staircase.
In addition to the 5 luxurious en-suite bedrooms, there are two kitchens, a media room, wine room and residential cinema, plus underfloor heating and Sonos sound all through.
Sustainability was a key issue, with high-performance glazing, a floor supply warmth pump and two mechanical air flow heat-recovery techniques upping the eco-cred.
The house has two kitchens (Image: Fisher German)
Exceptional, actually, that it’s the results of sketched floorplans drawn up by Lindsey and Gordon one winter’s night – and all of the extra exceptional that it was project-managed by Lindsey, when her youngsters have been all below the age of eight.
Lindsey left her job as head of operations in retail banking to look after them, and analysis remedies for Georgia’s situation, and determined to use her experience in planning, danger administration and budgeting to the house.
Having purchased the overgrown plot for round £520,000 in 2009, and with a construct finances of £1million, they employed Manchester-based structure and design observe The Cave to make their dream dwelling a actuality.
Throughout constructing work, which started in March 2012, the household moved thrice, the ladies typically sharing a cramped bed room, however all the time inside strolling distance.
Enjoyable outside house was necessary for the household (Image: Fisher German)
‘I used to be on web site each day, and the stress was on,’ Lindsey says. ‘The builders have been fabulous, although I believe I used to be actually onerous on them about taking espresso breaks.’
Their unbelievable neighbours, too, says Lindsey, have been a lifeline.
‘The planning division acquired 15 letters of help from them,’ she provides. ‘And they’d typically pop on web site and provides me sensible recommendation each time I turned downhearted in regards to the scale of the mission.’
She says it’s onerous to call her favorite house in the home, the place a hard-edged modern look is softened with velvet Made.com furnishings, sheepskin throws and paintings by Cornish seascape specialist Nina Brooke.
The split-level sitting room, with full-length glazed wall and double-aspect sandstone fire, is nice for lounging, however sitting out on the main bedroom terrace with a glass of wine, or having a pool get together with the entire household is tough to beat, she suggests.
‘The Edge has been such an exquisite dwelling, and we have now so many particular reminiscences of events right here,’ Lindsey says, ‘singing across the piano on Christmas Eve, or internet hosting the ladies’ mates for junior dinner events and sleepovers.’
‘The builders have been fabulous, although I believe I used to be actually onerous on them about taking espresso breaks.’ (Image: Fisher German)
With Siena and Gigi now away at boarding faculty, nevertheless, and Georgia thriving in a residential setting with 5 different younger college students, the Edwards are actually seeking to promote up, for £2.35 million.
However the dwelling’s design has been so successful, they’re now planning to duplicate it, in Gloucestershire.
‘We’ve got reserved a brand new constructing plot and are excited to begin work once more,’ Lindsey says.
‘We’re additionally shopping for a cottage nearer to Georgia in order that we will maintain near her progress.’
Lindsey insists that she’ll be letting another person mission handle the construct this time. You may assure, nevertheless, she’ll be on web site frequently, ensuring all of the household’s wants are met for the subsequent chapter of their lives.
The Edge is on the market with Fisher German.
Do you’ve a narrative to share? We need to hear from you.
Get in contact: [email protected].
