Transforming spaces with Evans Architecture

Monday 15 July 2024

Back in 2017, Silvie Evans made two life defining decisions when she got married, and she decided to launch her own business.

It was soon after returning from honeymoon in the autumn of that year that the new Mrs Luscombe handed in her notice, finishing work just before Christmas and launching Evans Architecture in January 2018.

"I think it was inevitable that I was going to have my own business. Back to my teenage years, I've always thought to myself that I want to own my own business. And, I think working for different companies over the years, I've been a bit of a sponge and not just done my role but I've also had an interest in how somebody runs their business.”

Recalling those very early days of Evans Architecture, Silvie admits she was “very nervous”.

“I probably come across confident, but inside I’m not always confident,” she said.

“I can doubt and second guess myself, like we all do from time to time. I think all of those things were there when I first set up my business, but I very quickly eased into it. And I think having the clients helped that. There wasn't that fear of 'I'm not going to get any work or have any work, and this is just going to land on its face’ because very quickly I did have clients coming through and that helped me ease into it.”

Pictured: An example of a design Silvie Luscombe has created for a client.

When it comes to day-to-day work now, Silvie says she very easily transitioned from working as part of a team servicing multiple clients to a solo architect, also servicing multiple clients.

“I think you really do need to be organised. I had some of the skill sets to be able to (go solo) and I've learned so much as well. It's endless how much I've learned and adapted,” she said.

"I organise my days, weeks and months in advance. So, I’ll have my ideal month set out, like what do I need to achieve? I've got these projects that I've these deadlines for, and I can really focus down on those, and then I'll set other days where I'm meeting with clients or with other professionals.

“Every day is different, and there is the spontaneity of clients or other people phoning you up or emailing out of the blue that you're not expecting and I do thrive on that as well.

"I enjoy the juggling of things as well as being able to control the management of how my business is going to be run.”

Pictured: A glimpse inside one family's home.

Working with her clients from the start to finish of their project means she can get to know them, and what they want, very well.

For Silvie that is what motivates her, especially when working on family homes.

"I love that part of it,” she says.

"Firstly I think it's a real compliment when you get a client phoning you up saying somebody's recommended you to me and you've done some work for them. That is a huge compliment, so that’s a really lovely part of it. And then there’s the excitement of going to meet them for the first time, and discussing what they want to do to their house.

“You can bounce off each other in that scenario, as I think it's very important for the client to have their ideals of what they want to achieve from their homes and what they're setting out to achieve.”

The actual decisions are always made by clients, guided by Silvie on what she thinks will work well in their home based on what they want and advising on statutory policies and regulations.

"Sometimes some clients are quite sure about what they want, so what I normally do is give them two or three concept designs and I'll do what they want me to do, because that's really important, but I'll also do my ‘wild card’. More often than not, they'll like it and it's nice for them to see the options. One is what that they've had in their mind for however many years and they want to see that played out, but there’s also this other option, which is where I come in with my expertise.

"Sometimes it's a merge of it all, and they’ll say ‘let's go for that wild card because it creates what we want and we hadn't even thought about it’. And I love that part of it. I find it very exciting.”

Added to the close nature of Silvie’s working relationship with her clients is the fact that while she’s designing their new home, she is also inviting them into hers, where her office is.

"Essentially, they come into my home as well and I think that probably puts them at ease,” she says. “I'd like to think so anyway.”

"It's nice because I've transformed my house into a home and I can show them how I've done that.

“I like them to feel comfortable and then they really open up about what it is that they need and want.”

Pictured: Silvie Luscombe.

Silvie’s work extends beyond designing extensions to family homes, but that is a core part of what she does, as many people change the way they live as their children grow up.

Other projects Silvie has recently worked on include designing six one-bedroom flats in a former office building on Victoria Road in town.

That project is in conjunction with a charity that supports young people at risk of homelessness.

Like any development project the plans can and do change, with a seventh one-bedroom unit being added to the designs recently.

"I'd like to think I'm a personable person, so I like that relationship with a client who I know is going to live in that house for many years to come. That really does do it for me, but equally transforming an office into flats for a charity is just as rewarding and exciting.

"It's about transforming spaces, whether that's a small garage into a bedroom, an existing outbuilding into a dwelling, extension or a new build, ultimately, it's transforming that space into a place that works for that client.”

When it comes to the flats being developed on Victoria Road, Silvie is keen to ensure they are developed with exactly the same sense of pride she has in every other project she has worked on.

"We all have the right to have a roof over our head and a comfortable and safe space to go to, and that's exactly what that particular project is doing. It's humbling as well,” she said.

Silvie says she always has certain thoughts in mind when coming up with her concept designs.

Open plan living remains a popular trend, she says, so she thinks, can this space be adapted? Can this be a flexible space?

As she works on each of the projects she’s agreed, Silvie sticks to her diary to ensure she meets the deadlines she sets herself.

"I typically have three to four projects on the go at any one time which needs my immediate attention, so I will look at them over the course of a week and decide what I need to achieve. So every day is different, because I'll set my intentions for what I want to achieve.

"You've got to be prepared to juggle as well with other things that happen spontaneously.

"There’s no ordinary day, but my week's planned out and deadlines are key to what I do. I put everything in my diary, whether that's my social life or my work life, everything goes in there, and I will put dates in and know that I need to achieve that by then, and you've got to factor in other deadlines, and the running of the business.

“I make sure I've got a time frame that is achievable for me to run my business, but also is going to be palatable for the client as well.”

Pictured top: Silvie Luscombe.

This article first appeared in CONNECT, Express' sister publication. 

The latest edition of CONNECT can be read HERE.