Crittall ‘House of the Year’ Award Winner 2021

The Todd family have lived in Putney since 2004.  They moved into the house they fell in love with in 2016 and four years later set the wheels in motion for a ‘big renovation’ of their Victorian property.  The house had been modernised and extended but they needed an extra bedroom and bathrooms to accommodate the growing family, enlarging the house to maximise the space available for an open plan space to connect the living areas.

With the help of an experienced, award-winning architect, this family friend project managed and was able to support and guide the family through a roller coaster experience.  Having built a garden studio in 2018, the family spent some seven months in the garden to keep an eye on progress during the build.

The contractors quickly went into action turning the family home into a shell of four walls which was a very emotional experience.  It shortly became apparent that the timbers needed upgrading and the staircase had to be replaced.  Our architect worked with MJV Design to create an amazing steel frame to support the new structure, enabling the open plan spaces and large windows to be created.

Having spent a lot of time thinking about windows, initial ideas from Houzz and Pinterest had given the family ideas for the large French windows and internal screen for the kitchen, but many designs were boxy with thick frames.  ‘Our architect had previously worked with Lightfoot Windows (Kent) on a number of projects and highlighted Crittall W20 frames, which was exactly the look required.  Natalie was immediately sold and we both decided that although they were more expensive, it was exactly the look we wanted’.  The brief was to maximise light so the largest windows possible were created.

The family are all delighted with their windows, balcony door and views with the master bedroom having floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows.  ‘The kitchen dining room is flooded with light and the black Crittall windows are stunning from both the inside and outside.

Everyone who has visited the house has commented on them’ said Mr Todd.  ‘The team at Lightfoot Windows have been fantastic and despite Covid and the challenging aspects of the site, they delivered and fitted the windows on schedule and have been hugely helpful throughout.  We couldn’t have asked for more’.

The shaker kitchen was from Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch, hand painted using Graphenstone paint with a beautiful Silestone Calacatta Worktop which is the centre piece of the house.  Barton Knight were amazing providing all the electrical and plumbing works throughout, including underfloor heating.

We were able to move back into the house on 23rd December which was heaven from the garden studio.  ‘Natalie and I couldn’t be more pleased with the house and particularly the Crittall Windows which are so striking and yet so easy to live with.  It was a great decision to go with Lightfoot Windows and we have our architect to thank for guiding us towards Crittall in the first place and most of all for holding our hands through what has, at times, been a difficult journey … but we got there in the end, and it all feels worth it now!’