Trish and Tim’s Oxfordshire cottage was cold in winter, hot in summer, and dependent on oil. They wanted to cut their carbon footprint, lower their bills, and make the house more comfortable – but didn’t know where to start. With support from Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, they now have an air source heat pump, new insulation, and a quieter, more efficient home.

About the home

This end?of?terrace cottage in the picturesque village of Hook Norton was a blend of old and new. The front half, built from local ironstone before 1900, had all the character you would expect of a traditional Cotswolds home. The back half had been modernised over the years, with work carried out from the 1970s onwards.

After raising their family here, Trish and Tim knew the house needed significant updates. The mix of building styles meant some areas were poorly insulated, and cold draughts came through single?glazed windows. They were aware that the house could be made warmer and more efficient, but they felt overwhelmed by the potential disruption and unsure where to begin.

Why they decided to make a change

The couple had a clear motivation: to get off oil and do their bit for the climate. Years earlier, they had looked into possible improvements but ended up installing a more efficient oil?fired boiler because there were no better options available at the time.

Now, with new technology available, they knew there was an opportunity to switch to an air source heat pump and finally move away from fossil fuels. Comfort was also a big driver. The house had become increasingly difficult to live in, with cold rooms in winter and uncomfortably hot rooms in summer due to poor insulation and single glazing.

With their children grown up and moved out, this felt like the right moment to tackle a big renovation – especially turning a former playroom into a more spacious and welcoming kitchen.

How Cosy Homes Oxfordshire helped

What put them off for so long was the idea of managing all the work themselves. They knew there was a lot to do but couldn’t find the right people, and they didn’t want to be responsible for coordinating multiple trades.

That changed when they discovered Cosy Homes Oxfordshire.

“We knew there was a lot to do and didn’t want the difficult role of coordinating all the trades. Cosy Homes came highly recommended, and we felt confident trusting them to manage the work while we were away.”

Trish Lunel, Hook Norton

Once they signed up, the process began with a full home assessment. From this, they received a tailored plan that laid out the best sequence of improvements for their particular home. This kind of plan – often called a whole?house approach or “retrofit plan” – looks at how the home performs as a whole, so that every step works together.

For Trish and Tim, the plan confirmed that an air source heat pump would be a good fit, supported by insulation upgrades and replacement windows. Cosy Homes Oxfordshire then took care of managing the project from start to finish, working with Cotswold Green Energy to install the heat pump and Hook Norton Construction to carry out the rest of the work.

The difference it has made

The changes have transformed the way the home feels. With an air source heat pump now running efficiently thanks to improved insulation and new windows, the house is warmer, quieter, and more pleasant to live in.

The new kitchen – once the hottest room in the house – is now the coolest on summer days, while underfloor heating keeps it cosy in winter. The couple also noticed how much quieter the home has become thanks to better insulation.

As a result, the home now saves around 3.2 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, with lower running costs and a much smaller footprint.

“Thank you for all your hard work. We were impressed by how much was done in such a short time, without cutting any corners. The team, especially Hook Norton Construction, clearly take pride in their work, and it really showed.”

Trish Lunel, homeowner

Looking ahead

Trish and Tim are delighted with the transformation – and with the peace of mind that comes from being off oil for good. Their home is now a much more comfortable, quieter, and energy?efficient place to live, ready to handle both cold winters and hot summers.