Al & Co. was created as a result of Alex and his wife's decision to purchase a grade II listed cottage. Their daughter Phoebe had just been born, and they wanted to build her the kind of family home she would cherish growing up in. (This is why the house, to this day, is referred to as “Phoebe’s House”). It’s a project that will never be truly completed, as Al is constantly finding new ways to tinker with the house and improve it.
The existing stone cottage required a complete renovation, a major task that involved lowering the property’s internal floors to create more head height for modern-day occupants. However, an added benefit came when this procedure opened the door to think of other ways the home could be improved and updated.
Alex added underfloor heating before restoring the original elm floors where possible. In places where this was not an option, they sourced local elm flooring to match what was originally there and preserve the cottage’s rich interior identity.
In addition, Alex restored oak timber craftsmanship throughout the property, fitted a stylish modern bathroom upstairs, and added beautiful panelled joinery to the living room – a flourish that really completed the space and added character to the building.
As well as underfloor heating, Alex decided to restore a gorgeous old fireplace that was part of the original building. This maintains the sense of history that all listed buildings have, as well as providing a cosy heat source to settle down in front of in the winter. They also installed an air source heat pump, bringing this beautiful old building into the modern age, and ensuring that it remains both well heated, and energy efficient.
