This striking home belongs to Ed and Debbie, who extended their home with Resi in 2025. Debbie consults fashion brands on their comms, and Ed advises record labels and manages DJs. The couple moved from Highbury to Buckinghamshire back in 2018, trading their North London flat for a 1930s house in the countryside. They searched for a spot that felt like the perfect midpoint between both sets of grandparents while still keeping London within easy reach, and landed on Monks Risborough, a charming and historic market town nestled at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, only a 45-minute train journey from Marylebone.
Inside, however, it was clear the house needed work. A 1990s extension had left the layout awkward and disjointed, poorly designed for modern family life. There was no proper dining space, limited flow, and the kitchen felt too small and disconnected from the garden. Plus, there was an awkwardly placed column situated right in the middle of the living room, which the purchase hinged on being removable.
Having lived in the home for six years, Ed and Debbie came to Resi armed with plenty of ideas and a clear view on their non-negotiables: a contemporary box on the back of the house, a window seat, generous glazing to let in as much light as possible, and lots of kitchen counter and storage space. Their designer’s first presentation nailed it, translating their brief into a bold yet considered design. The final design introduced a striking rear addition cladded with locally sourced wood, softened by a carefully considered roofline that complements the original 1930s house rather than overpowering it. Large picture windows and a skylight flood the space with light, with a built-in window seat to frame the dining table. The kitchen also features lots of integrated storage to compensate for the loss of the old utility room, which was situated at the back of the house facing out to the garden.
The project unfolded in stages rather than one continuous block. There were no major structural shocks, but timing and sequencing proved more complex than expected. Waiting for plaster to dry, long lead times on lighting, and coordinating kitchen installation around the builder's summer holidays all extended the timeline. They had a budget in mind going into the project, but as often happens, the ambition grew along the way. Once committed to creating their ideal space, they found themselves upgrading elements rather than compromising, as it was important to ensure that the house to felt better suited to family life long term.
Today, the extension has transformed how they live. The kitchen now handles everything from busy weekday mornings to summer parties with 20+ guests moving between the main house and into the garden. Living outside of London means friends often stay over, and the new space is designed for exactly that kind of hospitality.
We had a really good first call with Resi. We had a good idea of what we wanted, and we had a Pinterest we had been working on for about 6 months, which we shared via the dashboard. We then had our first call with our designer and she had absolutely nailed it. Everybody we spoke to at Resi was super friendly, helpful and always responsive. This will be our home for at least another ten years while our teenagers grow up. A loft extension will be next, and we'll definitely be reaching back out to Resi for designs.
Photography by Peter Furlong.
