A spectacular three-storey oak framed home immersed in a Dorset woodland 

David and Elizabeth's self-build story and connection with us started long before they found their plot. Elizabeth had seen one of our previous clients home's in a magazine that sparked the inspiration to live in an oak frame home. Then David met our founder Tim Crump at a business event and plans began to fall into place.

"I met Tim 10 years ago and visited the show home and workshop. I was convinced Oakwrights would do a good job and deliver a great project," says David. Seeing the craftsmanship first-hand convinced them that oak was the right choice. "We didn't look anywhere else in terms of oak frame companies," says David. Our very own sunroom at our Herefordshire offices proved to be a memorable source of inspiration. Years later, the space inspired their own tranquil sunroom. 

The more detailed design features came out of discussions with Rob. As first-time self-builders, "these details made the oak frame look great and isn't something we had any experience of," explains David. "We love the organic feel of the oak frame," says Elizabeth. 

The couple wanted a home that felt generous but comfortable and with a mixture of living spaces for people to break out into, rather than one large open-plan interior. The natural oak frame is a backdrop to David and Elizabeth's serene style with a twist, incorporating breathtaking vaulted oak framed spaces and a restful sunroom.

When it came to deciding the details, David and Elizabeth worked with interior designer Anne Haimes. "She helped us with everything, from the layouts of living areas, bedrooms and bathrooms, right down to the choice of taps and mirrors," says Elizabeth. A love of oak informed their light and airy kitchen which looks straight through to the light-filled sunroom. "We wanted a traditional look to complement the oak frame with a contemporary feel, so we decided on a shaker-inspired style by Tom Howley kitchens," says Elizabeth. 

A separate pantry, boot room and utility space keep the practical elements of family life neatly tucked away. Throughout the house the interiors complement rather than compete with the oak frame, balancing traditional materials and antiques with more contemporary touches. 

One of the most ambitious elements of the project is hidden beneath the house. David and Elizabeth originally planned on a basement under part of the ground floor. However, once they looked at the additional foundations, there was a relatively modest cost increase to extend it. They made the basement the full size of the house and the result is an extraordinary lower level designed for both entertaining and everyday life. 

The basement is an entertainment and leisure haven complete with a cinema area, a bar with seating overlooking a painted mural of the Dorset coast and a workshop. At the other end is an extensive gym and sauna, a large games room and practical storage areas. Rather than dividing the basement into a series of enclosed rooms, the spaces have been kept open and connected. Divided only by large Crittal-style glass doors, it works particularly well when the couple are entertaining. "The cinema area is one of our favourite spaces. We can entertain friends, relax, sit at the bar and watch a film, all from the comfort of our own home," says David. 

Despite its impressive scale, their home feels effortlessly personal. There are quiet spaces to retreat to, generous areas for entertaining and dedicated rooms for the hobbies and interests. "We didn't want the house to feel cavernous. We wanted it to be cosy and comfortable. We're so happy with what we've achieved with Oakwrights," says Elizabeth. 

For David and Elizabeth, the oak frame is central to that feeling. Its natural, organic character brings warmth to large spaces and gives the house a strong connection with its surroundings. After years of dreaming about an oak framed house, they've created a home that feels rooted in the village they love and immersed in the landscape that first drew them to the plot.