CASE STUDY
Marta Nowicka
Telephone: 01993 833155
St John, Rye offers the perfect blend of heritage and modern comfort. Originally built in the 1950s as the St John’s Ambulance Headquarters, this unique property sits in a private walled courtyard beside a Grade II listed Georgian house.
Today, thanks to award-winning interior architect Marta Nowicka, the building has been transformed into DOMstay – a striking four-bedroom holiday retreat. Marta has carefully preserved authentic character while adding a contemporary two-storey extension, creating a space that feels both timeless and fresh. The project was a celebrated winner of the AJ Retrofit Award and was a finalist in the World Architecture Awards.
To maximise light and atmosphere, Conservation Rooflights (1020mm x 1180mm) were installed throughout the original and new structure. Designed with solid hand cast winders in a chrome finish and fitted blinds, they not only complement the sleek interiors but also provide effortless control over natural light, privacy, and shading—enhancing both comfort and style for every stay.
This project gallery captures the transformation of a modest mid-century building into a sophisticated retreat. The images highlight how Conservation Rooflights preserve heritage character while delivering modern comfort and beautifully balanced daylight.
‘The Planning Officer in Rother was very strict about what materials could and couldn’t be used on this project – your Conservation Rooflights were the only ones allowed on the specification! However, I am very happy with the finished result. The Conservation Rooflights look great installed flush and I am really pleased with the handwinders. Overall it is a great quality rooflight.’
Marta Nowicka
St John, Rye began as a 1950s St John’s Ambulance Headquarters sitting quietly beside a Grade II listed Georgian house. Under the guidance of interior architect Marta Nowicka, the building has been reimagined as DOMstay, a comfortable yet character-rich holiday home.
Marta’s approach balanced preservation and innovation. The original structure was retained wherever possible, its character sensitively enhanced rather than overwritten. A contemporary two-storey extension now expands the property, harmonising modern living expectations with the building’s mid-century roots.
Central to the re-design was natural light. Conservation Rooflights measuring 1020mm x 1180mm were selected for both the existing building and new extension. Their traditional external detailing satisfied strict planning requirements, while their internal frameless appearance supports the clean, modern aesthetic of the revitalised home.
With chrome-finished, solid hand-cast winders and integrated blinds, these rooflights bring refined functionality to the space. They deliver excellent daylight, ventilation and atmosphere while maintaining visual coherence throughout the property.
The result is an elegant and award-winning retreat that celebrates heritage, contemporary styling and practical comfort in equal measure.
Share
Meet the experts behind this project – our dedicated team who brought this vision to life.
Passionate about helping people make the most of natural light in their spaces, Becca works closely with you to find the right solution for your project. She’s here to make the process simple and stress-free, taking care of not just the rooflight but also all the extra details and accessories needed for a smooth installation. Whatever the size or style of your project, Becca is ready to support you every step of the way.
Our standard terms and conditions of sale provide a warranty of 12 months from date of delivery. We recommend you register your products within this timeframe to extend your warranty, where applicable.
I agree for my data provided on the form submission to be sent to CD Blinds Ltd and stored by CD Blinds Ltd only for the purposes of consulting on shading solutions.
I agree for CD Blinds Ltd to contact me using the contact information I have provided on the form submission for shading consultation purposes.
I understand that I can easily withdraw consent at any time by contacting CD Blinds Ltd via email to info@cdblinds.co.uk.
CD Blinds Ltd will interact with you under their terms of service.
By using their services, you agree to be bound by the CD Blinds terms of service located here https://www.cdblinds.co.uk/privacy-policy/.
If you have any questions about the terms, please email us at shading@therooflightco.com.
We invite you to complete the fields below and a member of our technical sales team will be in touch.
