Some of the most elegant homes are built from materials that stand the test of time. Natural stone brings warmth, texture, and durability to a design, and we love incorporating it into our projects.

Bath stone, sourced from a local quarry, was used to create a Doric portico for this classical country house.

Timber sash windows are a defining feature of Britain’s architectural history, from elegant Georgian townhouses to Victorian terraces.

At Alex Oliver Associates, we prioritise high-quality, handcrafted timber sashes to maintain authenticity in restoration projects and traditional-style new builds.

This Georgian style country house was designed to have a formal character, reflecting the gentrification and rising affluence which led to the introduction of more formal and varied living accommodation to traditional farm holdings.

We really appreciate Classical architecture and count ourselves lucky to often work in this style in both our new build and conservation work.

The effortless elegance of this entrance porch could never be mistaken for being of any other style. The cyma recta moulding of the porch canopy is perfectly balanced by the corbel brackets which combine ovolo, cyma recta and cavetto profiles. An understanding of these different components and their language is key to producing architecture worthy of the Classical label.

There’s just something very welcoming about a portico. Not only does it provide shelter from the rain when opening the door on a purely practical level, but aesthetically it also provides depth and interest to the façade of a building.

A portico can also set the tone of the experience of being in the building, from the very grand and formal, to the more relaxed and welcoming as seen here. The portico on this country house in the South Downs is elegantly restrained so as not to feel overpowering and is immaculately executed by Agincourt Contractors.