Rooms with a view

You only need to explore Britain's historic houses to appreciate the benefits of a beautiful setting. Jeremy Spencer of Janine Stone shares the secret to making the most of an often overlooked asset with COUNTRY LIFE'S Executive Editor, Giles Kime

- Giles Kime

Why do you think it's important to take orientation into consideration when designing a new house?

The position of a newly built house has a transformative impact on both its interior and exterior. Among the most significant factor are the views, including the surrounding landscape, neighbouring houses, roads and, if you are lucky, the sea. The way in which a house is designed, the outlook of the principal rooms, the topography of the site and the position it occupies all need careful, detailed consideration when planning a new home. Privacy is another factor that should be addressed and this can be achieved both by positioning and landscaping.

How does one address orientation when refurbishing an old house?