Navigating Early Design with a Grade ll Listed Cottage

Starting a project in a listed building can feel daunting. How do you balance comfort, sustainability and cost while protecting the character of a historic home? At Barefoot Architects, we see the early stages as an opportunity to ask the right questions, bring clarity, and set a confident course.

*grade II listed cottage in devon. we’re in the early stages, but we’re excited to be supporting the client retrofit their home.*

In Devon, we recently joined a client, heritage officer and heritage consultant for a Stage 1 workshop at a Grade II listed property. Together we reviewed the building’s history and explored ambitions ranging from extensions to windows, roof works to moisture control. Almost everything was acceptable “in principle” but design, detail and phasing are critical.

This is where we add value. Beyond design, we help clients develop a planning and construction strategy: what to prioritise, when to phase works, and how to frame proposals so they gain support from heritage officers and planners. Our advice can save time, money and uncertainty- leaving our clients not only with planning consent, but with a building that is joyful, sustainable, and enhances its historic character.

We think holistically from the outset. A whole-house approach, as advised by Historic England, looks at fabric, moisture, insulation and energy together. This means weaving sustainable technologies like MVHR, heat pumps or solar into a breathable, resilient fabric, rather than bolting them on as afterthoughts.

Early design is about more than drawings. It’s about construction expertise, planning insight, and building a strategy that brings contemporary living, sustainability, and heritage into harmony.

4 Key Takeaways for Early Design in Historic Homes:

Start with a whole-house review before committing to any one particular strategy.
Focus on removing moisture, improving ventilation, and using natural, breathable materials.
Phase works strategically to balance cost, consent and your long-term priorities.
Collaborate early with your local council, consultants, and builders to come up with holistic strategies.

If you have a home or building of historic value that you’d like to improve or repurpose, we’d love to help you. Get in contact with us or sign up for an Initial Design Consultation to find out more.