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There may not be many people who have the imagination to turn a 19th century squash court into a home, but Carol and Martin Druce have always had an incredible vision when it comes to property and dreamed of creating this unique dream home from the original building at the end of the garden of their Victorian family home.

The couple decided to convert the property’s squash court, which dates back to 1870-1880, into an apartment to generate rental income from luxury holiday stays. They eventually applied for planning permission to use the squash court as a self-contained apartment. Once this was granted, they sold the family home and moved to live in the garden.

“Mom and Dad were a great team and renovated houses together throughout their marriage,” explains their daughter Sarah. “Dad was always much braver with real estate than anyone else I knew, and Mom was a talented interior designer with her own business.”

A gradual renovation

The couple designed the entire project together and the building was meticulously restored over four years by a single contractor with occasional help from a family friend. It was convenient for the couple to do the work in phases as they could continue the project as and when they could afford it – a way to plan and stay on budget when undertaking a renovation.

“We both wanted to preserve the original structure and character of the squash court,” says Carol. “We kept the wooden roof and walls, added insulation and kept some of the original flooring but left it exposed in the entrance area.”

Light and bright

The squash court was designed for games against solid walls and therefore had few windows and little natural light. One of the most striking features of the renovation is the new windows in the traditional Dutch style, such as in the living room, which was created from the body of the original squash court.

Carol and Martin had previously lived in South Africa and admired this style of architecture. The iroko wood windows and entrance door to the squash court were made by a carpenter in Cape Town and delivered to Surrey. This proved to be the perfect window style for the property.

As a wall cladding idea, the walls and ceiling were panelled and painted in a light shade that adds texture and warmth to the converted space. Large alcove cupboards are panelled to match at the back.

Kitchen extension

Sarah helped her father update the plans for the kitchen extension when his original, even more ambitious plan was rejected by the planning department. The kitchen floor is tumbled Opus limestone from Mandarin Stone and the kitchen cabinets were made by a local joinery.

Carol reused the original squash court light fixtures above the kitchen island and hung them from the newly panelled ceiling. Sarah suggested using unequal width reclaimed boards with uneven spacing between them as she had seen this in Sri Lanka.

When they decided to move into the squash court themselves, with the help of their architect friend Geoff Bowman, they obtained planning permission to extend the kitchen into a kitchen-diner and add a utility room, guest bedroom and cloakroom on the ground floor, with Sarah helping with the design.

Carol wanted to take the Welsh chest of drawers from the original family house at the top of the garden. Amazingly, it fitted perfectly into the space between the original external brick pillars of the squash court – a happy coincidence that convinced Carol that the squash court was her new home.

Sarah suggested giving the bricks a weathered finish to soften them and help the new extension blend in better with the original building.

Luxurious bedroom suite

Converting a building like the squash court was always going to pose major challenges, but one area where Martin and Carol were unwilling to compromise on scale was the master bedroom suite, which runs the full width of the original building. “We could have created two or three bedrooms here,” says Carol, “but instead we went for one really big, special room.” The result is an understated, tranquil luxury bedroom.

Martin had the brilliant idea of ​​designing a large glass coffee table in the middle of the bedroom, which also serves as a light shaft and clever light source for the living room below.

Tongue-and-groove walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s White Tie create a light and calming ambience in the master bedroom.

The spacious room offers plenty of space for a dressing table corner, which is furnished with an antique pedestal table, a chest of drawers and an upholstered armchair.

In a short hallway leading to the bathroom, fitted wardrobes with sliding doors have been installed to provide storage space in the bedroom, these are also panelled to complement the panelled walls elsewhere.

Outdoor living space

Unfortunately, this was Carol and Martin’s last project together due to his ill health. He was only able to enjoy the squash court for less than a year, but his bold vision for the property is evident even in the most recent additions.

The porch and enlarged first-floor balcony are new additions inspired by her daughter Sarah’s designs for the patio of her own carriage house.

Carol chose a large terrace for alfresco dining and a balcony off the master bedroom that creates an even more impressive covered veranda. Lutyens-style benches provide shady seating and views of the parterre garden.

“Knowing that Martin had always wanted to extend the bedroom balcony, Sarah designed this additional outdoor space,” says Carol. “I’m so glad she did.”

Martin would be proud that Carol and Sarah have finished what he started in great style and created this comfortable, unique home.

“He always wanted a home that made him feel like he was on vacation,” Sarah recalls. “He enjoyed being in beautiful places all over the world, but the most satisfying thing for him was coming home and being able to say: That was nice, but our house is much better.”