FEATURES OF THE EXISTING HOUSE THAT MAY INFLUENCE THE NEW LAYOUT

• Structure Some walls and floors are such an integral part of the house that removing them uses up a disproportionate amount of the budget, so you might need to rethink things.

• Existing features There may be charming elements you should keep, such as stained glass windows, decorative cornices, feature fireplaces and glazing with good views.

• Window cill heights & locations This is especially an issue if there are traditional construction details that are hard for builders to match. For example, window cills should be over a metre high if they are next to modern kitchen worktops, but if they are raised it can look bodged from the outside.

• Daylight Some rooms such as WCS, bathrooms, and utilities do not necessarily need natural light and ventilation, so can be relocated to the centre of the house or on a boundary wall.

• Storage 21st century houses frequently overlook the need for cupboards, shelves and drawers, but you can often find space under stairs or either side of a fireplace in older properties.

• Drainage Traditionally, the drains on a property were often run along the rear of a block of houses and were shared with adjoining buildings. Moving bathrooms and kitchens to the opposite side of the house might not be straightforward if it’s difficult to connect to the existing drainage.

• Sustainability & energy efficiency Adding insulation is the single most effective way of reducing heating bills. But dry lining the inside face of the walls is relatively expensive if rooms are not otherwise going to be rewired and redecorated. External insulation will dramatically change the appearance but hide a lot of alterations and blend in new extensions.