Case Study | Sussex
Sharon Hornsby, founder of the category award-winning interior design and styling blog Hornsby Style, has undertaken significant interior and exterior renovations of her property in the picturesque village of Cuckfield, in Sussex, to create a unique family home that really stands out from the crowd.
The nineteenth century property, which was formally a garage and mechanics apartment to the nearby manor house, was transformed from a dark and gloomy three-bedroom house to a light and stylish five-bedroom family home.
Previously featuring a tired interior and unpractical layout, Sharon and her husband Jim added a single-story rear extension across the width of the house and extended over the flat roof to create two additional bedrooms.
Sharon reconfigured the downstairs layout of the house and created a spacious open plan sitting area off the kitchen, visible from the entrance hall. With this in mind, one of the key influences when designing the space was to allow an abundance of natural light to flood the property, which Sharon achieved with the innovative use of roof glazing.
She chose a fixed flat rooflight at 2m x 1m, from rooflight manufacturer Roof Maker, for the internal open plan area that otherwise had no other light source.
Speaking of the transformation, Sharon said: “When we first viewed our house we were looking at it as a renovation project so we knew we would be changing it a lot. One of the first things that struck us was how dark and gloomy it was and I knew bringing lots of natural light in was going to be a big part of the project.
“I had seen Roof Maker roof lights in a home interior magazine and having done a lot of research online it seemed that they offered all the features I desired for the most competitive price. I wanted to open up the space and let in as much natural light as possible, leading me to choose Roof Maker’s fixed flat rooflight, which doesn’t have a chunky frame like many of the other options available.
“The difference the roof light has made is honestly staggering. Jim initially said we didn’t have money in the budget for the rooflight but I was adamant we were going to have it and I’m so pleased I stood my ground as our home just wouldn’t have the same amount of natural light giving an open, airy feel without it.”
Sharon styled the open plan space with a statement velvet sofa, large cosy rug and an array of statement wall prints and hanging plants, so opted for Roof Maker’s Solar Performance glazing to help protect the furniture and flooring from bleaching in the harsh glare of the sun.
Sharon finished: “I absolutely love laying on the sofa looking at the sky through the rooflight, it’s such a relaxing place to be whether its chasing clouds or looking at the stars. The use of glazing has made the internal part of the house even more special.”
Are you considering looking for rooflights in Sussex or roof lantern for your home anywhere in the UK? If you are, call Roof Maker on 0116 269 6297. Our rooflight experts will help you to choose the right solution for your needs. Alternatively, get a quote online.