Richoak

Richoak Traditional oak framed buildings & structural carpentry

How to improve a perfectly lovely home…Sometimes you don’t need to.You just need to give it a rather lovely front door.T...
28/08/2026

How to improve a perfectly lovely home…

Sometimes you don’t need to.

You just need to give it a rather lovely front door.

This was the original entrance.

Perfectly functional.

But it was missing something...

So we built a little oak porch.

And suddenly there’s somewhere to stand when it’s raining, somewhere to put the shopping down while you find your keys, and somewhere to admire your handiwork while pretending you weren’t just looking at the weather app.

More importantly, it gives the entrance some character.

The oak works with the existing house rather than shouting:

“LOOK AT ME. I’M NEW.”

Which is generally a good rule when adding something to an older property.

The best additions don’t look like they’ve been added.

It looks like it’s always been there - more so than the original porch.

And that’s exactly what we were after here.

Small change.
Big difference.

What do you think?

Would an oak porch transform the entrance to your house?

The roof might be one of the most important decisions you make when designing a garden room.And it’s surprisingly easy t...
24/08/2026

The roof might be one of the most important decisions you make when designing a garden room.

And it’s surprisingly easy to think about it as an afterthought.

What style do we like?

What tiles should we use?

Done.

But the roof affects much more than the view from above.

It changes the proportions of the building.

It changes how the building sits alongside the existing house.

And, perhaps most importantly, it changes how the room feels when you’re standing inside it.

That’s why we spent so much thought on the mansard roof on this project.

From outside, it gives the garden room a more refined and considered profile.

From inside, it helps create a generous sense of space without relying on a huge, imposing roof.

And that’s the bit people often miss.

Good design has to work from both sides of the glass.

It needs to look right from the garden…

and feel right when you’re sitting inside it.

Because nobody builds a garden room just to admire the roof.

They build it to live in.

Would you choose a traditional pitched roof, a flat roof or a mansard roof for your garden room?


24/08/2026

The garden room that doesn’t look like one.

One of the biggest design decisions on this project was the roof.

Rather than simply putting a conventional pitched roof on the building, we used a mansard-style roof to give the exterior a more considered, architectural appearance.

Why does that matter?

Because a garden room should feel like it belongs to the property.

Not like someone has dropped a very expensive shed at the bottom of the garden.

The roof design helps keep the external profile relatively restrained while giving us plenty of volume inside.

And that’s where it gets interesting.

Walk inside and the space feels completely different.

The oak frame gives it warmth and character, while the roof design creates a generous feeling of height without making the building dominate the garden.

It’s one of those decisions that can be easy to overlook when you’re looking at a set of plans.

But get it right…

And the difference is enormous.

Good design isn’t always about adding more.

Sometimes it’s about making the right things work harder.

So calling it a “garden room” doesn’t really do it justice.

Would you choose a traditional pitched roof or a mansard roof for your garden room?

Pre porch…Post porch…How a porch can transform the entrance to your home.
19/08/2026

Pre porch…

Post porch…

How a porch can transform the entrance to your home.

There’s a strange thing about building projects.People will spend hours choosing a kitchen tap……but sometimes make the b...
08/08/2026

There’s a strange thing about building projects.

People will spend hours choosing a kitchen tap…

…but sometimes make the biggest decisions in about ten minutes.

Where should the building sit?

Where will the morning sun come from?

Where will the family sit?

Where will you look when you’re having dinner?

Where will the Christmas tree go?

Yes, Christmas.

We’ve learnt that it’s surprisingly important.

The best oak-framed buildings aren’t simply beautiful structures.

They work beautifully with the house, the garden and the people who live there.

That’s why the design stage matters so much.

Get it right before the ground is broken and everything that follows becomes easier.

Get it wrong…

Well, that’s when the expensive conversations tend to begin.

Sounds harmless.

It isn’t.

The decisions made before construction starts can affect everything from the foundations to the glazing, heating and furniture layout.

A building can look fantastic from the garden…

…and work terribly from inside the house.

The important question isn’t just:

“How will it look?”

It’s:

“How will we actually live in it?”

Move the building a few metres.

You can completely change:

* The light
* The views
* Privacy
* Garden connection
* How the existing house flows into the new space

Sometimes the best design starts with standing in the garden with a cup of tea.

No architect’s drawing required.

Roof lantern.

Bifolds.

Kitchen island.

Fireplace.

They’re all lovely.

But they’re not a design.

They’re ingredients.

The room needs to work first.

Then design the building around it.

Tell us what you’d choose.

These oak joints will probably outlive all of usNo screws.No steel brackets.Just centuries of proven craftsmanship.And a...
05/08/2026

These oak joints will probably outlive all of us

No screws.
No steel brackets.
Just centuries of proven craftsmanship.
And a dash of good old elbow grease!

Every joint is carefully cut and fitted by skilled craftsmen.
It’s designed to work with the natural movement of oak, not fight against it.

The same principles have helped oak-framed buildings stand for hundreds of years.
We’re simply continuing tradition.

Somethings don’t need reinventing. They just need doing properly.

Most homeowners spend months deciding on kitchens, flooring and paint colours.But almost nobody spends enough time think...
29/07/2026

Most homeowners spend months deciding on kitchens, flooring and paint colours.

But almost nobody spends enough time thinking about how they’ll actually live in the space.

That’s usually the biggest mistake.

Before drawing a single plan, ask yourself:

• Where will the morning sun be?

• Where will you drink your first coffee?

• Will you naturally look out over your best garden views?

• Can you walk effortlessly between the house and the garden?

The most successful orangeries or garden rooms aren’t necessarily the biggest.

They’re the ones that become part of everyday life.

A well-positioned room that’s used every single day is far more valuable than a larger space that’s only used at Christmas.

Good design isn’t measured in square metres.

It’s measured by how often you want to spend time there.

Question…

If you could add just one room to your home, what would you use it for?

30/06/2026

Another one finished. This orangery is all about the light. Between the lantern roof and the glass that wraps the build, it is a bright, airy space that connects the house directly to the garden. Open those doors and the transition is seamless. A great spot to sit and enjoy the view.

Old bones and new life. It is always nice looking back at our portfolio, he’s a lovely barn conversion we converted a fe...
19/06/2026

Old bones and new life. It is always nice looking back at our portfolio, he’s a lovely barn conversion we converted a few years back.

People often ask why we enjoy these projects so much. The truth is that you are starting with a building that has so much character already. The goal for us is always to respect the history while making it a space that actually works for modern life.

We kept the original scale and the feel of the place but added the oak trusses, new oak windows and doors a lounge area and a beautiful bar (which we know has had much use!).

If you have an old building you are thinking about doing something with, feel free to send us a message. We are always happy to chat about what is possible.

First impressions are everything, and this green oak-framed porch transformation completely redefines the entrance to th...
21/05/2026

First impressions are everything, and this green oak-framed porch transformation completely redefines the entrance to this home.

From the initial massive oak trusses to the pristine overclad glazing, every detail is engineered to create a structural legacy that ages gracefully. By blending the natural warmth of traditional hand-hewn textures with modern high-end glazing, we have crafted a space that feels timeless, durable, and solid.

➡️ Thinking of transforming your home entrance? Click the link in our bio to view our porch gallery or request a bespoke consultation.

Address

Bridgnorth

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+441746718885

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