The Tool Desk
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Derwent Valley Villa is a new-build family house in Duffield, Derbyshire, completed in July 2020 by Blee Halligan. Its defining idea is movement: two brick pavilions form an entrance court, a glazed passage draws you through the site, and the main house opens to garden rooms and long views toward a mature willow, fields and hills. Rather than treating a constrained suburban plot as a limitation, the architects extended the plan so that arrival, circulation and landscape become one continuous experience.
Where is Derwent Valley Villa?
The house occupies a half-acre site in Duffield, a Derbyshire village with neighbours on three sides and views west toward open fields and hills. Before construction, much of the approach was an unhelpful expanse of asphalt between the street and the existing bungalow. The new design uses the site’s raised ground and gently undulating terrain to replace that leftover space with a sequence of courts, paths and planted edges.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchArchitectural Record identifies Craig and Lisa Foster as the clients. The couple initially considered remodelling their modest bungalow, but Blee Halligan concluded that the old building had limited potential. A new house could provide the relaxed, contemporary family home they wanted, with robust finishes and an interior that did not feel too precious for children.
The project is contemporary, but it is not detached from its setting. Blee Halligan relates the proportions and functional clarity of the design to Derbyshire’s historic red-brick cotton mills, while the lower blue brick and village scale acknowledge local building traditions and nearby Edwardian houses. Those references guide material and proportion rather than reproduce a particular historic building.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
Who designed the villa?
Blee Halligan was the architect, with Greg Blee, Lee Halligan and Matt Hudspith credited on the project. Heyne Tillett Steel provided structural engineering, Derwent Valley Construction was the general contractor, and J & L Gibbons advised on the landscape. Craig and Lisa Foster were the clients.
Published project credits also name Freshfield Lane for masonry, Protan for roofing, Velfac and Maxlight for windows and glass doors, Mosa for tiles, Havwoods for wood flooring, Buster + Punch for hardware, Collingwood for lighting, and Schluter, Mode and Kast for plumbing. These are construction credits for this house, not a specification guide or recommendation for current products.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What makes the layout distinctive?
Greg Blee described the central strategy succinctly: “Stretching a building through a confined site can have a powerful effect.” The plan turns that stretch into a carefully paced route. Instead of entering a single large volume, visitors move through linked pieces whose changing height, light and outlook reveal the house gradually.
1. Brick pavilions make an entrance court
Two linked brick pavilions sit at the front of the plot and frame a small entrance court. Their separate volumes reduce the apparent scale of the house from the street and create a threshold before the main living spaces appear. The court is an arrival space rather than a driveway left over from the old bungalow.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
2. A glazed passage becomes the hinge
From the court, a glazed passage leads toward the two-storey main house. Garden courts sit on both sides of this link, so circulation is accompanied by changing views of planting and sky. The passage is neither an internal corridor with no outlook nor a fully external path: it is a daylight-filled hinge between the smaller front volumes and the larger family rooms.
3. Axial routes end in framed views
RIBA’s account describes a series of axial routes, each terminating in a landscape view. The composition is deliberate: doors and openings line up with courts, trees or distant terrain, making the act of walking through the house a sequence of visual discoveries. One of the strongest endpoints is the mature willow seen beyond the living room.
4. The main house opens to the garden
The two-storey main house contains the principal family accommodation. Extensive glazing connects living areas to the outdoor rooms, while the long plan keeps those views directional rather than turning every elevation into an undifferentiated glass wall. The result is openness with a sense of focus: each room has a relationship to a particular part of the garden.
How the materials connect the house to Derbyshire
The external palette combines red and blue brick with precast concrete banding and capping. Lower blue brick gives the base visual weight; lighter red brick above relates to the county’s brick buildings and the warm masonry of historic mills. Concrete bands provide horizontal control across the linked volumes and help the different heights read as one composition.
Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
Inside, exposed concrete block and black steel bring an industrial toughness that echoes mill construction without turning the interior into a replica. Douglas fir beams and linings soften those harder surfaces, while broad glazing supplies changing reflections and views. The balance is intentional: durable structure remains legible, but timber and daylight keep the rooms suitable for everyday family life.
Black steel appears in details and framing, setting up a fine-grained contrast with the brick and wood. Douglas fir is not used as decorative wallpaper; it is part of the building’s visual warmth, helping the transition from masonry courts to planted garden feel continuous.
How the landscape completes the architecture
J & L Gibbons designed the garden as a series of outdoor rooms with a wet-woodland character. The landscape project describes a wet woodland fen that collects water, establishes shelter and creates places for play, reflection and relaxation. Ponds, silver birches, paths and native planting give the garden a changing sequence rather than a single lawn around the building.
That strategy mirrors the architecture’s linked pavilions. A court beside the glazed passage can feel enclosed and intimate; a path then opens toward water, trees or the western view. Planting also performs practical work, filtering sightlines to neighbouring properties on three sides and reinforcing the sense of seclusion without claiming that the house is isolated.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
The garden’s wet character is especially important to the project’s identity. Water is not an ornamental feature added after the building was designed; it is part of the site response, helping the house sit within a landscape of damp woodland planting and reflecting the local terrain.
Light, privacy and the indoor–outdoor relationship
Because the plot is suburban and closely bordered, the house has to balance openness with privacy. The plan points major views west toward fields and hills, while courts, brick walls and planting screen the more exposed edges. Glazing is therefore selective and strategic. It brings daylight into the passage and living spaces, but the sequence of walls and garden rooms prevents the interior from feeling publicly displayed.
The long route also changes how daylight is perceived. Front pavilions and the entrance court establish a more contained, shaded arrival. The glazed link introduces side light and views of planting. In the main house, larger openings and two-storey volume provide the brightest, most expansive connection to the garden. Moving through the building becomes a progression from enclosure to release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Project facts and published figures
| Fact | Published information |
|---|---|
| Location | Duffield, Derbyshire, England |
| Completion | July 2020 |
| Site | Half-acre plot with neighbours on three sides; west-facing views toward fields and hills |
| Area | 4,380 square feet, as reported by Architectural Record (2022) |
| Gross internal area | 407 m², as reported by RIBA Journal (2022) |
| Construction cost | £1.2 million, as reported by RIBA Journal (2022) |
| Listed project cost | $1.57 million, as listed by Architectural Record (2022) |
The two area figures and two cost figures should be read as published, attributed numbers. The sources do not establish whether they use the same area definition, cost scope or currency-conversion date, so they should not be added together or treated as a single reconciled budget.
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
Why the sequence matters for a family house
The design’s sophistication is spatial rather than showy. A child moving from the entrance court through the glazed passage encounters planting, water and changing light before reaching the main rooms. Adults can see across courts and toward the willow, while the separate pavilions and garden edges provide quieter pockets. The arrangement supports both togetherness and retreat without relying on a huge open-plan room.
Materials reinforce that practical brief. Brick, concrete block and steel can withstand busy use; timber, rugs and daylight temper the industrial elements. The clients asked for an unprecious interior, and the exposed construction gives the rooms character without requiring fragile finishes or elaborate ornament.
The personal context behind the commission
Architectural Record’s published interview describes a painful change during the project. After Lisa Foster received a terminal-illness diagnosis and later died, Craig Foster continued with the house. He said: “Building the house is also a legacy for her, which has been positive for the family.” That statement is the client’s account of what the project came to mean; it does not alter the architectural facts, but it explains why the completed home carries significance beyond its materials and plan.
Awards and critical response
RIBA records an East Midlands Award and an East Midlands Client of the Year Award in 2022, and lists the project as longlisted for RIBA House of the Year 2022. J & L Gibbons lists a 2022 Landscape Institute award for Excellence in Small Landscape and Garden Design. Blee Halligan reports that the house received a 2023 Best Contemporary Home award.
In the practice’s published awards announcement, the judges’ citation called the project “a masterclass of restraint and rigour, both externally and internally — the detailing is exquisite, it shows just what can be delivered with a highly experienced architect.” The phrase is useful because it identifies where the praise is directed: disciplined planning, consistent detailing and close control of the interior as well as the exterior.
How to read Derwent Valley Villa as a design project
- Site response: the extended plan converts a difficult asphalt approach and a tight suburban boundary into courts, links and planted thresholds.
- Circulation: movement from pavilion to passage to main house supplies the project’s narrative, with axial routes ending in specific landscape views.
- Privacy: brick volumes, garden walls and planting screen neighbours while west-facing openings capture the best distant outlook.
- Material language: red and blue brick, concrete and black steel refer to Derbyshire masonry and mill proportions; Douglas fir and glazing keep the interiors warm and light.
- Landscape integration: ponds, wet-woodland planting, silver birches and paths make the garden a set of usable rooms rather than a decorative surround.
Seen together, these decisions explain why the villa feels larger and more private than its constrained plot might suggest. Its architecture is not a single object placed in a garden; it is a route through buildings and landscape, with each threshold calibrated to reveal the next view.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
