"I will say from the outset Steve did not want me as a client.

A close friend of mine, a façade architectural engineer, no less, recommended Steve most highly. My husband and I had bought a wreck of a property, and this poor Leviathan needed more than a second wind.

We contacted Steve. He agreed to meet us at said ‘wreck’ where we gave him a tour with the addition of our visionary expectations. Our budget was sadly meagre, not through lack of funds but rather ignorance to what construction costs. This area was soon ironed out, but Steve had clearly left with the impression that I was a ‘diva’.

I’m a writer. I’m an archaeologist. I have a Master’s in dealing with the dead. If there’s something I’m not, it’s a diva. My hands are acquainted with dirt. But to convince Steve was an act of diplomacy all its own.

Thankfully, he saw the light. Partly, I think, because I promised we would not be living at the building site. With three feral children, I had no intention of them going rogue.

Steve set about working on the drawing for our upgrade and extension. We wanted a significant extension, and the first floor ceilings needed to be lowered to make a second. This was a Herculean task, but Steve put pen to paper and made it happen with no fuss.

He was concerned about the attic’s height. It really bothered him. He, very sweetly, put tape on the wall, then called me to check if I was happy with the dimensions. I’m 6ft and found no reason to complain.

Steve saw to everything. He designed the building, and then built it. Understanding architecture, I was keen that the person who created the vision put it into practice. Only the designer truly knows his work.

To sum this up, my little, feral family have been living in this amazing property for over a year. I’ve left it this long to write a review because I wanted it to be honest. It takes time for construction to settle; it takes time for odds and ends to be ironed out… and yet, there have been no odds and ends. Thus, is Steve’s legacy.

Steve is an extraordinarily talented designer and builder. We’re very grateful to him. What can I say… we live in the house Steve built".