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Catherine and Alistair Colston replaced plans to retrofit a house with a new-build designed around their future needs. The home includes a ground-floor main bedroom, a large walk-in shower, solar panels, an air source heat pump and a low-maintenance garden, alongside individually designed interiors.
Catherine Colston, owner of Black Door Stays, and her husband Alistair have created a new-build home for their phased retirement, choosing to demolish and replace a house across the road from their former home rather than compromise on a costly retrofit. The couple designed the property around future accessibility, lower-maintenance living and energy efficiency, while giving its rooms a distinct interior style.
In an interview with Ideal Home, Colston said she and Alistair had lived for 26 years in a Grade II-listed house before deciding it was time to downsize. They wanted a home that could meet their needs as they aged, informed in part by seeing mobility challenges faced by their elderly parents. The couple worked with BPB Architects and interior designer Grace King of Studio Rey on the layout and finishes.
The main bedroom suite is on the ground floor, and the couple selected a generous walk-in shower and double vanity for the en-suite. Colston also described the kitchen as designed for easier use: its drawers are ergonomic, and the dishwasher is positioned at waist height to reduce bending. Sliding doors connect the living area and main bedroom to a full-length floating balcony, a feature Colston said was challenging to build but gives the couple access to the views.
Energy-related measures include solar panels on the south-facing roof, an air source heat pump, triple glazing and underfloor heating. Colston said the couple wanted the house to be thermally efficient and expected these choices to help keep running costs low. Ideal Home’s report does not provide energy bills, performance figures or independent assessments of the home’s efficiency.
Designing for Later-Life Independence
The project shows how accessibility can be built into a home’s layout rather than treated solely as a later adaptation. A ground-floor bedroom, step-out access to a balcony and a spacious shower are among the features intended to reduce reliance on stairs and make everyday routines easier. These are design choices described by the owners; the report does not establish how the home will perform as their needs change.
The couple also combined those practical decisions with features associated with a contemporary custom home: a terrazzo kitchen island, walnut cabinetry, a large picture window and individually styled bedrooms. That combination challenges the assumption in the story’s headline that a retirement home must be visually plain, without suggesting that one design will suit every household. For readers considering a move or renovation, the account offers an example of planning around current preferences and possible future mobility needs at the same time.
The property’s energy systems and garden plans add further considerations. Solar panels and a heat pump are installed, while terraces, raised beds and an outdoor bath shape the outdoor space. The couple wanted less garden maintenance than at their previous home, though they also plan to plant fruit trees and wildflowers on nearby land. The report gives no cost comparison with a conventional build or retrofit, so it cannot show whether the choices are affordable or cost-saving for other homeowners.
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Why They Chose a New Build
The couple initially considered retrofitting the house they knew was for sale across the road. Colston told Ideal Home that the work appeared likely to be expensive and would require compromises on room sizes. They applied for permission to demolish the existing house, rebuild and extend to the side, incorporating a small former garage. The site appealed to them for its views across a valley.
The resulting home was planned not only for retirement but also for the couple’s intention to travel for longer periods. Colston said they included additional storage and considered how the space could be shared if people stayed while they were away. Outside, the couple created several terraces, added raised beds and installed an outdoor bath beneath a pergola. They also bought part of the field behind the house, which they plan to plant with fruit trees and wildflowers; a pond is intended to support rainwater irrigation.
Inside, the design uses recurring timber finishes and colours to link rooms while allowing each space a separate character. Colston highlighted the kitchen’s mix of terrazzo, ribbed painted doors and walnut, and said a framed fabric panel above the bed was a cost-effective suggestion from the designer. These details underpin the report’s central point: the home’s practical planning was paired with personalised interiors rather than a uniform, clinical scheme.
“We’re both moving into a phased retirement, and we wanted a home that was going to see us through our latter years.”
— Catherine Colston, speaking to Ideal Home
Costs and Accessibility Still Unreported
Ideal Home’s report does not state the total construction cost, project timeline or final value, nor does it compare the expense with retrofitting the original house. It also provides no measured energy-use data to verify the couple’s expectation that the home will cost little to run. The reported features are described by Colston, but no formal accessibility assessment or building-performance evaluation is included.
The couple’s future plans for the garden are not all complete: an outdoor kitchen is still to come, and the field planting is planned. The report also does not give details of the planning permission, construction standards or whether further adaptations may be needed as the owners’ circumstances change.
Further Garden Work Is Planned
The next stated work is outdoors: Colston said the couple plan to add an outdoor kitchen and plant fruit trees and wildflowers in the field behind the house. The pond is intended to help with rainwater irrigation. Ideal Home’s report does not give dates for these projects or describe any further building work.
For now, the home is presented as the couple’s completed response to a specific set of priorities. Whether its energy systems reduce bills as hoped, or how well its accessible layout serves them over time, remains to be seen; no follow-up results were included in the report.
Key Questions
Who lives in the new-build home?
Catherine Colston and her husband, Alistair, live in the house. Colston owns Black Door Stays, and Alistair is a chartered surveyor, according to Ideal Home.
What features did the couple include for later-life access?
The reported features include a ground-floor main bedroom suite, a large walk-in shower, waist-height dishwasher and sliding-door access from the bedroom and living area to the balcony. The report does not include a formal accessibility rating.
What energy systems are installed?
The house has south-facing roof solar panels, an air source heat pump, triple glazing and underfloor heating. No energy bills or measured performance data were reported.
Why did the couple build instead of retrofit?
Colston told Ideal Home that retrofitting the existing house seemed expensive and would require compromises on room sizes. The couple applied to demolish it, rebuild and extend the property.
Is the garden finished?
Some outdoor features are in place, including terraces, raised beds, a pergola and an outdoor bath. Colston said an outdoor kitchen is still planned, along with fruit trees and wildflowers in the field behind the house.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
