Aylesford House – Ewshot
Kate and Andy, along with their two children and two dogs bought Aylesford House in summer 2015. It was a dated 1960’s dormer bungalow which didn’t respond to the site. The intension was to create a playful family house which exploits its fabulous site, sheltered by the woodland with far reaching views.
The design had to enable the family to remain in the property throughout the works, so whilst a huge scaffold roof was constructed over the bungalow, the family moved in to the downstairs rooms. The roof and first floor was completely removed and a timber framed, flat roof first floor was cantilevered over the ground floor walls to optimise the first floor bedrooms. A rear kitchen extension was added with floor to ceiling glass. The first floor had to be habitable before work could begin on the ground floor spaces.
The design maximises the 40 mile views which are framed by huge windows. From the roof terrace you are eye level with the buzzards and kites hovering over the neighbouring stables. Whilst able to spy on other neighbours including badgers, bats and deer….
Channel 4 feature the Aylesford House in an episode of Extraordinary Extensions Series 2, aired in February 2024. Tinie Tempah tours the house as a precedent for other home owners extending their properties.
The specification is high, with new cavity wall insulation, floor insulation with underfloor heating throughout. The timber frame is packed with insulation providing a very high thermal performance. The clever heating controls show how the house loses barely 1 degree overnight.
The house is clad in ‘Kebony’ which utilises a renewable softwood, treated with molasses, a by-product from the sugar cane industry. This gives it the chemical makeup of hardwood and makes it rot resistant.
Press coverage / TV
2024 – Channel 4 Extraordinary Extensions – Property TV show – Featuring Aylesford House
2021 – Self Build and Design – Aylesford House- ‘Out of the Woods’ (front cover)
2021 – TheSun.co.uk – Aylesford House / Finding Alice – ‘What a space!’
2021 – RadioTimes.com – ‘Where did they film the ‘smart house’ in ITV drama Finding Alice’
2021 – TheCinemaholic.com – ‘Where is Finding Alice filmed?’
2021 – Heart.co.uk – Is the Finding Alice house real? Inside the incredible ‘smart house’ featured in the show
2020 – ITV Finding Alice – Aylesford House – Principal location for 6 part ITV drama series with Keeley Hawes, Joanna Lumley and Nigel Havers. Red Productions.
2019 – The Times – Bricks and Mortar – Aylesford House sales listing
