Haddonstone - Fulfilling Lifelong Dreams

An ambitious private redevelopment in Northamptonshire has seen a traditional dwelling replaced with a striking contemporary residence defined by architectural clarity, refined detailing and material quality. Conceived as a modern family home with a strong sense of permanence, the purpose-built design balances clean-lined aesthetics with enduring elegance, creating a home that feels both contemporary and timeless.

For homeowner Harry Barnes, Managing Director of Barnes Building Services, the project represented the realisation of a vision he had held for many years. Constructed by his own company, the new house was designed to embody an image he had carried with him since childhood.  "Since I was young, I have had a picture in my mind of the house I wanted to build," says Barnes. "With that image in mind, and a few suggestions from my fiancée, I built my long-time vision."

From the outset, cast stone was a fundamental component of the design. To help achieve the desired architectural aesthetic, Barnes enlisted the expertise of Gregory Crane of GC Stonework Ltd, a specialist installer with extensive experience delivering Haddonstone projects across the UK. Crane's previous work includes an award-winning private residence in South Buckinghamshire, which received the BUILD Magazine Best Luxury Development Project award in 2020, as well as the National Military Working Dogs Memorial in Wales.

"Cast stone was integral to the design of the house," Barnes explains. "I knew Gregory Crane was an excellent stone installer and he recommended Haddonstone." Acting on that recommendation, Barnes visited Haddonstone's showroom with his plans to explore how cast stone could be incorporated into the project. "They came up with a design that suited the project and my expectations," he says.

A comprehensive cast stone package was subsequently specified from the earliest stages of the development, enabling a coordinated approach across the main residence and adjoining outbuildings. Central to the scheme is a bespoke entrance portico that creates a strong sense of arrival, complemented by continuous cornice detailing, wall dressings and a range of architectural features that unify the overall composition.

The project utilised Haddonstone's TecStone, a premium wet-cast stone selected for its smooth, dense surface finish, low porosity and high durability. These qualities made it particularly well suited to the clean, contemporary lines of the design while ensuring long-term performance in the UK's variable climate. Compared with natural stone, TecStone offers greater consistency in colour and finish, faster production times and improved cost efficiency, while still delivering the crisp detailing and sense of permanence required for a high-end residential development. 

For Crane, the quality of Haddonstone's products played a significant role in the success of the project. "The sharp, crisp detailing of the stone really stands out and makes the installation process a pleasure from start to finish," he says. "The consistency of the materials and the ability to produce bespoke units made them the ideal choice for a project of this calibre."

Close collaboration between client, manufacturer and installer helped keep the project on track from specification through to completion. "Having Haddonstone involved from the beginning allowed us to plan the installation carefully and avoid delays," Crane explains. "Communication was clear throughout, and their team worked collaboratively with us whenever site-specific adjustments were needed."  Barnes was equally impressed by the support provided throughout the process.

"I dealt with Frank Manning at Haddonstone and he was very helpful," he says. "The company has good customer service, and the quality of the stone is very high." The project was challenging as it involved the installation of large stone components weighing up to 175kg. Reflecting on the installation, Barnes says simply: "Greg is very good at what he does."

The completed residence delivers a cohesive and highly refined architectural statement, combining contemporary design with timeless detailing. "The finished property has a timeless look but still feels modern and elegant," Crane adds. "Projects like this show what can be achieved when quality materials, careful planning and skilled installation come together. The final result exceeded the client's expectations and created a truly striking home."

More than a year after completion, Barnes concludes "I'm really impressed with the finish," he says. "The stonework looks very sharp. It's been a year since the house was finished and it looks good." Asked whether he would recommend Haddonstone to others undertaking a similar project, his response is unequivocal: "Yes." For further information, call 01604 770711 or visit www.haddonstone.com