Selfbuilder & Homemaker – July – August 2019

leaving us” – which caused another few months
delay.
As well as project managing herself – “it’s not
my first time and I’m quite hands-on” – Athena
and Mark lived in the house, which she admits
was challenging. “We just moved from room to
room, we didn’t unpack anything,” she says.
They had sold most of their furniture with their
previous property, something Athena often does
as it enables her to “start afresh”, but they “still
had a lot of stuff.”
They were without hot water for a long time so
were using neighbours’ and friends’ showers.
“You’ve got to love it to do that,” she says, and
does recommend living offsite if the budget
allows. “But I wanted to be here, there’s
decisions to be made every day. Builders are
good at their trade but they’re not designers,
and they don’t have your vision – you have to be
around.”
Athena says she doesn’t recommend project
managing for first timers. “The point where the
architect leaves and builders join is the most
dangerous,” she says. “It’s where everything can
go wrong and end up spiralling.”
Having overcome the setbacks, they’re hugely
pleased with the finished result. “It’s a really
lovely, social space,” says Athena. She says one
of the biggest compliments is that their children,
24-year-old Tyler and 22-year-old Kaya, “want
to come here instead of going down the pub! It’s
nice to have created spaces people want to be
in.”
She also regularly receives positive comments
from passers by. “The locals love what we’ve
done. From the other side of the harbour you
now can’t see the house so that’s a value added
to the area.” The project’s ‘environment-first’
approach is something she’s very passionate
about. “If it’s all about the house you feel like
you’ve somehow taken a selfish path,” she says.

“I’m most happy with the fact it has blended in

well with the local area.”

Athena credits the overall success of the

project to team she had around her. “I’m very

grateful for all the support – from my father Terry

who lent his building skills, Mark for his patience,

the encouragement of the neighbours and Paul

for all his support,” she says. “It’s always about

great teamwork.

Despite the hiccups, Athena is already looking

forward to her next project. “You get the chance

to explore something different,” she says. “It’s

all an adventure! It’s nice to be able to create

your own environment.” 

WARM & COSY

The home’s three bathrooms

have underfloor heating to

keep it warm and cosy

CONTACTS/

SUPPLIERS

ARCHITECT

Paul Cashin Architects

paulcashinarchitects.co.uk

KITCHEN

Hubble Kitchens

http://www.hubblekitchens.co.uk

ROOFLIGHT

Staka

roofaccesshatches.co.uk

INSULATION

Celotex, Rockwool

http://www.celotex.co.uk

http://www.rockwool.com

MEMBRANES

DuPont Tyvek

http://www.dupont.co.uk

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Polypipe

http://www.polypipe.com

LARCH CLADDING

Russwood

http://www.russwood.co.uk

PAINT

Farrow & Ball

http://www.farrow-ball.com

72www.sbhonline.co.uk july/august 2019