Our clients loved their existing house with quirky, intimate spaces and traditional interior features that created a family home full of character. However, some of the room sizes were on the smaller side including the kitchen / dining area and the children’s bedrooms that required ensuite bathrooms. Space was also required for visiting relatives; a music room; a study and a games room. We were therefore tasked with creating this additional space, improving natural daylighting and vistas, enlarging the hallway, whilst retaining the qualities of the existing property. Our clients are delighted with the completed project, that was a result of close collaboration between the client, the contractor and ourselves.

The external front elevation was designed to retain the traditional two storey bay windows with handmade clay tiles to the roof. The new oak framed porch was added to provide shelter and define entrance. The roof was removed and rebuilt to a higher level so a second floor could be provided. Left: front view of existing house. Right: completed front view.

Left: rear view of existing house. Right: completed rear view.

The design concept for the alterations retained traditional front reception rooms accessed from the main hallway. Towards the rear more modern spaces were created where the molded cornices and picture rails were removed and the house was extended. The size of the Living Room was increased and two bespoke recessed bookcases were designed. These incorporate timber architraves to match the window details opposite. Antique mirrored glass was sourced by our client and fitted to the rear of the bookcases creating additional depth and light reflection.

Where possible we incorporate new vistas within our design layouts to connect spaces and create a sense of openness and connectivity. Left: view from hallway to rear kitchen area with new cut string timber staircase. Right: view from front family reception room to rear kitchen area.

The new kitchen design incorporates a set of bi-folding doors centred on the entrance hallway, with full height windows to either side. In some projects the full width of the rear wall to the open-plan kitchen is removed and replaced with one large set of sliding or bi-folding doors, however for this project a different solution was adopted so that the scale of the new work related to the intimate scale of the traditional rooms and openings to the front.

Left: view of kitchen island with ovens and sink along rear wall. The pair of cupboard doors to the right of the oven open up to reveal a hidden pantry. Right: rear view of kitchen and new patio.

The design of the new ground floor cloakroom area includes a vestibule so that two doors separate the toilet from the hallway. This vestibule then becomes a convenient location to hang coats for visitors. Traditional half-height timber paneling and dado rails with Victorian style floor tiling complete this new space.

We provide 1:20 layouts for all new bathrooms and design the waste pipework and building services requirements so that these can be costed at tender stage. Our clients then select the sanitaryware required during the construction period. We also provide full design services for bathroom interior design if this is required for an additional fee.

Left: sketch ground floor plan. Right: sketch first floor plan.

Left: proposed front elevation. Right: proposed rear elevation.

3D massing studies prepared early to review options for building forms. During a meeting the planning risks of each option were discussed along with the various floor areas these would achieve.

These are early 3D computer model studies exploring the loft rooms and rear dormers. We use 3D modelling regularly to explore ideas and these are then reviewed with you in your home before the design progresses too far.

Detailed construction drawing.

Detailed construction drawing.

Detailed construction drawing.