Annual Review 2025
2025: A Year of Designing for Living
This year has been about more than just building beautiful spaces. It’s been about understanding how our clients want to live and creating homes that truly reflect their vision.
From thoughtful renovations to award-winning transformations, our team has brought new energy and elegance to homes across South Wales. We’ve helped families stay where they love, made better use of what they have, and introduced new ideas that seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces.
We’ve also laid the foundations for something big. With the launch of our new showroom on the horizon, we’re opening the door to a completely new customer experience where inspiration, design, and technology come together in new ways.
As always, none of it would be possible without the trust of our clients and the skill of our incredible team. This review shares just a few of the highlights from a year of high standards, thoughtful design, and our ongoing pursuit of better ways to live.
Hensol Villas
An open-plan sunroom that makes room for living well
This project began with a clear ambition: to design a multifunctional space that would add both beauty and utility to an already stunning home. The result is a generous sunroom that now houses a bespoke kitchen, elegant dining area, and a lounge that invites you to stay a little longer.
From the outside, the architecture blends effortlessly with the existing home. Inside, the flow between zones is natural and uninterrupted, made possible by some serious engineering. To achieve the open-plan layout, our team removed the entire rear of the property. This meant installing a nine-metre steel beam supported at each end, with reinforced footings and a ring-beam foundation to take the load. By avoiding a central column, we preserved the sense of space that was so important to the client’s vision.
At the centre of the new kitchen sits a striking island, finished in a magma gold granite that flows into a matching splashback for a bold, cohesive look. Integrated appliances, soft cabinetry and LED lighting complete the space with subtle sophistication.
Above, a large lantern roof window floods the room with natural light. Bifold doors connect the interior to a new patio area, creating seamless indoor-outdoor living and a tranquil place to gather year-round.
We also converted the property’s garage to further expand the footprint and flexibility of the home.
This was a project where strong architectural thinking and refined interior design had to work hand in hand, and it speaks to our core belief that good design goes beyond aesthetics. It’s about understanding how people want to live and building accordingly.
The Little Blue Bungalow
A home reimagined, with room to grow
For this family, the Little Blue Bungalow wasn’t just a house. It was where they’d built memories, grown together, and put down roots. But as life moved forward, space began to feel tight. Moving was a possibility, but so was reimagining what their home could be.
Working closely with the owners, we transformed the property into something that felt entirely new, while still holding onto everything they loved. A new roof structure and full rear dormer created a full upper floor, opening up space for two elegant bedrooms and a light-filled bathroom. Velux windows draw daylight into every corner, while soft LED lighting brings warmth and calm after dark.
“The list of questions was moving along swiftly and the final question we asked was “are you a member of the Federation of Master Builders?” Russell smiled and said, “yes I am, I am the President.” The list went in the bin, we had found our man, and the exciting process of a house build began. “
Inside, the craftsmanship tells its own story. An oak staircase leads to the new floor with grace and clarity. Internal doors, paintwork, electrical work and a full heating upgrade all reflect the same level of care and consideration. Every detail has been chosen to support family life, both now and for the years to come.
What began as a practical need became something much more personal: a home that feels brighter, more open, and more aligned with how this family wants to live—one they were proud to stay in.
In their words:
“We cannot quite put a finger on what it was about choosing Russell and Excel for this build, but when you meet them, you will know they are your choice every time... The quality of skill and workmanship wasn’t bad either — it was AMAZING.”
Bank Cottage
An award-winning renovation built around real lives
Every home has a story, but some deserve a new chapter. For the owners of Bank Cottage, that chapter began with a desire to reimagine their space for a growing family. What followed was a thoughtful and ambitious transformation that balanced heritage with modern comfort.
This award-winning renovation saw the creation of a new second floor, opening up space for a master bedroom retreat and spa-inspired en suite. With the addition of a bespoke staircase and full roof replacement, the project allowed the entire top level of the house to be redesigned, reshaped, and reimagined.
Two new bathrooms were created, each one tailored not just for form, but for flow and ease. The centrepiece of the project was a freestanding bath, rainfall shower and warm oak cabinetry, designed to feel like a sanctuary at the heart of the home.
Crucially, the project also brought fresh opportunity to the first floor. The layout was reconfigured so the children could move into larger, more comfortable bedrooms, while the original bathroom was also fully refurbished. These weren’t just home improvements; they were life improvements, delivered with care and precision.
The result was a project that truly stood out. So much so that it was recognised at the 2025 Cymru Master Builder Awards, taking home the title of Best Small Renovation Project. It was a proud moment for everyone involved and a powerful example of what thoughtful, design-led renovation can achieve.
The Garden Retreat
A new kind of living, right at the end of the garden
As the way we live continues to evolve, so does the way we use our space. This year, we saw a growing appetite for something a little different: a place not just to live, but to escape, unwind, entertain, and reconnect. The result was the launch of a new service at Excel: bespoke garden rooms, crafted with the same care and attention we bring to every one of our home transformations.
Our first project, The Garden Retreat, showed just how far you can take this idea. Designed as a fully independent living space, it was more than an outbuilding, it was a complete lifestyle experience, beautifully delivered.
From vaulted ceilings and skylights to a statement bar and high-spec kitchen, the interior was shaped around both elegance and functionality. Every detail, from the soft sage and blush palette to the warm brass accents, was chosen to create a calm and luxurious atmosphere.
Outside, bifold doors opened the lounge to the garden, while at the centre of the room , a hot tub brought a sense of indulgence and wellbeing. There was even a hotel-style shower room tucked discreetly into the plan, showing that style never needs to compromise practicality.
This was design for real life, whether that means summer gatherings, quiet Sunday mornings, or a midweek moment to yourself.
With more projects already in progress, we look forward to unveiling what comes next. The garden is no longer just a backdrop. With the right vision, it can become one of the most inspiring parts of your home.
Would you like to create a retreat of your own? Find out more HERE
A Personal Honour for Our Director
Recognising the craft, care and commitment behind every build
This year, our Director Russell Everett received one of the most meaningful recognitions in the industry: Outstanding Builder of the Year at the 2025 Federation of Master Builders Cymru Awards.
It’s an honour that goes far beyond technical skill. The award recognises the qualities that truly define Russell’s approach: clarity and honesty in communication, deep practical knowledge, and the trust he builds with every client.
For those who’ve worked with him, the award comes as no surprise. Russell’s hands-on leadership, problem-solving mindset, and commitment to getting the details right, not just structurally but emotionally, are a major part of what make Excel what it is.
This wasn’t his first recognition, either. Russell previously won the Heavenly Builder award from the FMB, celebrating the impact he has on the lives of those he builds for.
Behind every beautifully finished project is a team, and behind every strong team is someone who leads by example. This award is a reflection of that and a reminder that great homes begin with great people.
A Glimpse Into the Future
Something new is taking shape behind the scenes.
As 2025 draws to a close, we’re quietly putting the final touches on something we’ve been imagining for years: a new kind of showroom experience.
Set to open in 2026, this space will be far more than a collection of samples and displays. It will be a fully immersive design environment that showcases the very best of what Excel stands for: intelligent design, beautifully delivered.
At the heart of the new showroom is our VR Suite — a groundbreaking tool that lets clients step into their future space before a single brick is laid. Walk through your new kitchen. Explore your sunroom. Understand how the light moves across the floor. It’s all part of a clearer, calmer way to plan your project.
The space itself sets a new bar for what the design process can feel like: inspirational but practical, built to help you see your vision clearly and confidently from day one.
We can’t wait to reveal more in the spring.
Thank You for a Brilliant Year
As ever, none of this would be possible without the support of our customers, our trusted trades, and the expert team here at Excel.
To everyone who invited us into their homes, shared their dreams, and trusted us to bring them to life — thank you.
Here’s to an exciting 2026.
If you would like to book a no-obligation Creative Meeting with our Award Winning Director then please click here or call us on 01443 561 540.