As it comes onto the market, we uncover the story of Dapple House, a hidden-away contemporary home in Norsey Woods, Essex, which David and Michelle Parsons designed to offer privacy, flexible living and an on-site studio space for Michelle’s art practice and David’s architectural work. Read on to find out what it was like being on the TV show Grand Designs and how the house has supported the pair’s wellbeing during lockdown. 

Michelle: “We always had a little design of a house we wanted to build on our fridge. It was our dream to build a house for ourselves and then, as my painting took off, it became obvious that I needed a studio and the dream suddenly made sense practically.”

David: “We sometimes joke about having a studio with a house attached! Overall, though, the design was influenced by several factors. We managed to find this amazing woodland site, so acknowledging that context was important. We coupled that with our personal needs, which was to have a private space that would feel like a sanctuary, and then the studio.

“When we mixed those ingredients together the concept for the design became one of a clearing within a forest, with the idea of light and shade coming through the foliage of the tree canopy. You approach the house and see it surrounded by trees, and when you first enter it’s a bit darker. Then, as you move through the house the focus is on the terrace: it becomes lighter and lighter; roof lights start to appear, big sheets of glazing start to appear and the light starts to play, as if you’re reaching a glade within a forest. 

“It’s quite a simple idea, but the house designed itself from that: as you enter, the house is at its darkest, and you have private bedroom spaces, and then there’s the revelation of the living space with the brightness and larger volume. 

“We were after privacy, really, so that’s why there are no front-facing windows. But we also wanted visual contact with the surroundings, to be aware of nature and the weather, and the light, so there’s this sort of balance that we wanted to strike. It was quite a challenge to configure it like that, but we got there.”

Michelle: “We took part in Grand Designs, which was a nice process. I enjoyed it and it’s a nice memory to have now, a good record. They seem to run repeats of our episode quite a lot!”

David: “You take quite a chance going on Grand Designs, because it’s quite exposing. You can’t hide anything from a media examination, so you have to be yourself absolutely, but we loved it. It was quite a good way of questioning what we were doing at each stage, because you have to make a convincing case, and be confident about what you’re doing, which is a good discipline to have. And it worked out well, which was a relief.

Michelle: “It’s been amazing to live in a house that was custom built to our lifestyle. We have a lovely dining room/living room/kitchen set up here, so it’s really good for family and friends to come over – we can have big dinner parties and all our family over at Christmas.

“But also the studio is two steps across the terrace. If I can’t sleep I go out there at three in the morning to paint. That doesn’t happen often as our bedroom looks over the woods, so it’s really quiet and peaceful – we don’t hear anything at night except an owl sometimes! And I really like that – it’s very zen. 

“I can make as much mess as I want in the studio. I’m an oil painter so the smells are quite strong but it’s properly ventilated, which helps, and it gets north light in there, which is perfect as there are no shadows. I don’t like painting when other people can see what I’m doing, so having this space to be free and leave how I want when I’m done makes it a real sanctuary.

“Being this close to nature and the passing seasons has inspired my work too. We’ve got bird boxes, which attract blue tits that nest in there (they actually left last week) and I paint them a lot, but also squirrels and magpies. But I also paint a lot of fish and lobsters, which is what I’m known for, and Billingsgate market is only 20 miles away, which is handy.”

David: “I find this period of lockdown has shown how, although the house isn’t massive, it can be really flexible. We both get on very peacefully with our work, and there is a separation between the house and studio that helps with the work/life balance. It’s a great environment to isolate in, and the house has supported that.”

Michelle: “It’s good for the mental state as we don’t feel confined at all. We also have lovely neighbours – about 10 other houses in the area – and we all came together for a social-distanced VE Day party, and we get together when we can. It’s a small community, but a nice one.”

David: “We don’t think we could buy a house now, so we will absolutely be building the next one. This house is very bespoke, and I think it’s very important to satisfy your own brief – you can’t be generalised and speculative, because that way you water down the final product. 

“So, it’s got to suit you and how you live, which this house absolutely does. But our lives have changed: our daughters have moved out and Michelle needs a bigger studio. So, I think there will be a continuation of being as specific as possible with the new place, but we’ll place different emphasis on different rooms, so we won’t necessarily have three bedrooms, for example.”

Michelle: “We love this house, it’s beautiful, and a great place to live. We’ll miss everything, because we love it, but knowing that Dapple House v2 is on its way makes it easier to leave.

“We think Dapple House would make a happy home for anyone. The studio could be used as an office or workshop or easily convert to an annexe for a teenager or parent. David and I live here as a couple with grown-up children who have flown the nest, but equally the house would suit a growing family with its flexible living space and three secluded en-suite bedrooms.”

David: “I think we feel confident that this house was a sort of iteration of our way of living at the time we designed it, and we feel that we can capture that again. So, although we love this house, it’s not precious for us in that sense. It’s about our endeavours, and that’s an ongoing process.”