House of TUDOR

KAREN AND GREG BRACKEN TOOK INSPIRATION FROM THEIR HOME’S HISTORY TO CREATE A WARM KITCHEN THAT WILL LAST LONG INTO THE FUTURE

- LINDA CLAYTON

Having dreamt of living in the countryside for many years, Greg and Karen Bracken finally bit the bullet in 2015, making the decision to leave London. ‘Originally our search focused on Kent and Sussex,’ says Karen. ‘It was only when my brother moved to north Essex that we realised just how beautiful the area is. As soon as we viewed this Tudor house, built in 1483 – with its ancient exposed beams, ogee door frames and priest hole – we knew we’d found our home.’

The couple had been warned that the original kitchen was disproportionately small compared with the size of the house. Undeterred, they added an extension to their renovating to-do list and proceeded with the purchase. Extensions on listed properties are never straightforward but, by working with the local listed building department, Greg and Karen were able to achieve the generous addition they were after.