
VIRGINIA LODGE
A full refurbishment and sensitive reconfiguration of a Georgian home.
PROJECT TITLE: Virginia Lodge
LOCATION: Berkshire
COMPLETION DATE: March, 2025
PROJECT TYPE: Heritage Restoration
ARCHITECT: Mailen Design
DESIGNER: Customer/Self designed
Virginia Lodge is a handsome Georgian home that underwent a sensitive yet transformative refurbishment, incorporating a permitted development scheme designed by Mailen Design. The project scope included a new sunroom, car port garage conversion, and a full interior refurbishment that brought this characterful property up to a modern living standard while preserving its original charm.
As with many period properties, we encountered unexpected issues along the way—including a leaking roof and areas of rising damp. These were swiftly addressed with long-term solutions to ensure the integrity and comfort of the home for years to come.
DESIGN AND APPROACH
The design approach focused on enhancing the property’s period charm while introducing contemporary comfort and functionality. We balanced heritage details with clean, modern interventions—carefully selecting finishes and layouts in close collaboration with the client to ensure a home that feels both timeless and personal.
KEY FEATURES
New sunroom with garden views - A newly built sunroom created a bright, welcoming space that connects seamlessly to the garden, flooding the rear of the property with natural light.
Full internal refurbishment - We began by taking the property back to its bare brickwork, allowing us to address underlying structural and environmental issues.
Heating and electrical systems - A new heating and electrical system was installed throughout, forming the backbone of a complete modernisation of the home.
Garage conversion - We also converted the existing car port on the side of the house into a new living area and a practical utility room, maximising the property’s footprint without extending beyond the original envelope.
Large open-plan kitchen and dedicated utility spaces - The kitchen was reconfigured to include a large central island, becoming the heart of the home and a hub for socialising and everyday life. Alongside this, we upgraded the ground floor WC, created a functional new boot room, and introduced a cosy snug and a dedicated wine room.
SITE CONSIDERATIONS AND PLANNING CONSTRAINTS
As with many Georgian properties, the structure revealed hidden challenges once works commenced.
Leaking roof - Identified early and addressed with a full repair and insulation upgrade
Rising damp - Managed through comprehensive damp-proofing measures
Sensitive integration of new and old - Careful planning was required to introduce modern services and features without compromising the home’s character
No appointed interior designer - Required a highly collaborative approach with the client to ensure the finish was cohesive and tailored to their vision
“We bought Virginia Lodge almost 3 years ago. Virginia Lodge was a beautiful but very old property with a myriad of tricky issues. Tom and I had never done anything like this before. The task at hand was daunting at best and sometimes outright terrifying. For almost 2 years we searched for the right builders to partner with our fantastic architects at Mailen Design. We needed professionals who would guide us through the process - ensuring we were being as cost-efficient as possible, whilst also delivering on the best quality possible. One Oak construction have not disappointed. Ken and Josh have dealt with the many many many issues our project has turned up with calmness and always ensuring we had a solution that not only worked practically but also within our financial means. I was pregnant for the majority of the build and the One Oak team were always mindful of our personal circumstances. We have now just moved back into our beautiful renovated home and could not recommend Ken, Josh and their team enough. We are now in the snagging stage and their attention to detail and client care is second to none. We will, without a doubt, work with One Oak again.”
— Luda & Tom
A Collaborative Finish
This project was a true collaboration between our team and the client. Without an appointed interior designer, we worked closely with them throughout the process to curate the final interior finishes, ensuring the home reflects their vision and lifestyle.
Virginia Lodge is now a beautifully updated Georgian property that blends original character with modern comfort—ready to serve the next chapter in its history.
