Old Mill House - Renewal, Renovation and Rationalisation

Derbyshire Mill – Rationalising a Family Home Layout

This exciting home renovation project took us further afield from Bath to an Old Mill Building in Derbyshire. The structure, having undergone numerous extensions and alterations over time, presented a highly challenging layout with multiple staircases and confusing routes. The homeowners were looking for a more rationalised layout to suit their growing family.

Our design studio focused on creative remodelling to update the house in phases, carefully timed to suit the client and minimise disruption. This first phase concentrated on the circulation and core functionality of the home.

The initial challenge was removing a tiny, dark, and cramped staircase and its adjacent damp bathroom. We replaced this with a central, feature staircase that was more in keeping with the character of the house and gave the space the presence it deserved. The new staircase, crafted with beautiful oak, instantly improves the functionality of their home and acts as a key design feature.

This crucial renovation allowed us to create more space elsewhere. The removal of the old stair facilitated the installation of a good-sized family bathroom, two adjoining rooms (ideal for a young child’s bedroom), and a dedicated home office in a separate, quiet space.

Future phases will focus on kitchen & utility alterations, including adding larger windows and doors to bring in extra light and take advantage of the green countryside views. This project demonstrates how thoughtful residential architect services can transform challenging heritage buildings into bright, practical, enjoyable, efficient spaces for modern life.

More images on the way soon.