Lincolnshire Builders: Ladybird Homes & Construction
This month we’re meeting Woodhall Spa’s Emma Mowbray, who worked with Ladybird Homes & Construction to create a superb new extension for her family’s property, offering a wealth of practical living space. Emma tells us about her journey and her experience working with the company’s Josh and Emily Tilley
“We knew straight away,” says Woodhall Spa’s Emma Mowbray, recalling when she first met up with Ladybird Homes & Construction to discuss extending their home to provide a new living kitchen space.
“Having lived in Boston for a number of years, we found ourselves spending more and more time in Woodhall Spa, enjoying how friendly and quiet the village is. We moved here in 2023 and though we loved the house we found, we always knew at the time that the kitchen was its biggest compromise.”
Being keen cooks and with three children aged four, eight and 11, the family wanted to create a living kitchen with more worktop space, and a larger area in which to dine, both as a family and more formally when entertaining friends.
“We’d heard about Ladybird and we knew by their reputation that they were the people to trust. We set up a meeting and began working with their recommended architect Rick Smith to design an extension that could incorporate a larger kitchen and give us a better pantry and utility room, as well as a dining area and sitting room.”
The family’s project evolved as discussions continued until a final design was agreed, then Ladybird took over as the main contractor. The company completed the groundworks, and built the 100m2 extension, installing the glazing and liaising with the family’s kitchen contractor.
“Ladybird were fantastic,” says Emma. “They managed the schedule and communicated with other companies. They were punctual, polite and really tidy on site.”
It was a rather different experience from that with the kitchen supplier which Emma had sourced and entrusted to create her kitchen. Communication broke down and Emma lost her faith in the supplier to deliver the service they promised. Happily, Ladybird was able to recommend one of their contacts, Ryan North Bespoke Furniture, who was able to come in halfway through the project and saved the day, working with Ladybird to deliver a stunning-looking kitchen, with much better communication, better customer service and better interaction with the other trades working on site, ensuring that the project didn’t fall behind schedule.
“It was a big job, with a massive RSJ and bespoke glazing. The skylight was really large and the 10 aluminium bifold doors were the biggest that the glazing contractor had ever supplied. Still, it was all handled really smoothly by Ladybird, who handed over to Ryan to create the kitchen.”
“The whole project was finished on 22nd December 2024, and until then I didn’t want to tempt fate by planning for Christmas. When it was all done, I frantically decorated it and put the tree up. One year on and Christmas was much calmer. For Christmas dinner this year we cooked for 12 people, with plenty of space to prepare food and plenty of space to sit and pull crackers, raise a glass with friends and watch the kids open their presents… we enjoy using the space and we’d definitely use Ladybird in the future!”
Ladybird Homes & Construction was founded in 2019 by Josh and Emily Tilley, who first met when they were studying on the same construction course in 2008. In 2014 the two purchased their first piece of land and built their own home, utilising not only their own skills but all of the contacts they’d gained from a number of years working in the construction industry for specialist services.
Josh now has 20 years working in the industry whilst Ladybird is entering its seventh year providing building work with full project management, offering their clients total peace of mind.
“Building our home brought us so much joy,” says Josh and Emily. “We wanted to create a company that could do the same for our clients too, with an ethos of excellent service and good communication.”
“Our projects include everything from internal layout changes to existing buildings, the creation of commercial or agricultural buildings, right up to extensions and the building of new homes.”
“As the complexity of a project increases, so too does the need for a project manager with experience and an ability to enfranchise the client in what’s happening, allowing them to get involved in all of the fun bits whilst taking away the stress of coordinating tradespeople and protecting timescales and budgets.”
“We’ve made significant investments in our own heavy machinery and equipment which means no waiting for hire services, and greater availability. We’ve a combined 70 years of experience among team members, who are all friends and family, which ensures reliability, accountability and trustworthiness.”
Ladybird Homes & Construction’s work has been recognised in North Kesteven District Council’s Building Excellence Awards, but the feedback the company values most is the wealth of enthusiastic feedback and testimonials on the company’s website, and their reputation in the area. What’s more, the journey for future clients begins with a free, no obligation chat about your project with the team, who can offer knowledge and experience from the very first conversation.”
Ladybird Homes & Construction provides building services from internal work to renovations, extensions and new build projects for domestic and commercial clients. For a free, no obligation chat about your project, call 07979 437368 or see www.ladybirdhomesandconstruction.co.uk.
Read our full feature in the March edition of Lincolnshire Pride, available at https://www.pridemagazines.co.uk/lincolnshire/view-magazines?magazine=March-2026