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Without doubt the best decision I made was to look for a first floor flat, on the south side of a street, that I could transform with an upside down living arrangement. I knew that I wanted to live in Wandsworth, but I couldn’t afford the type of property I was after.
My main motivation was to have a light, bright, open plan living space, a home over 90m2 and an outdoor area, but I couldn’t afford this in the area I wanted to live. However, a first floor flat, with the potential to convert the loft space, would allow me to effectively double the size of my home with a mansard conversion and an extension along the outrigger. I eventually found the right property: a 1.5 bed first floor flat that fit the bill despite the fact that the sunniest part of the house was actually the bathroom!
My extension and conversion plan was complemented by the remodel of the ‘original’ flat — creating three double bedrooms, including a master suite (by knocking through the lightfilled old bathroom and kitchen) and
converting the small box room into a new bathroom.
I invited builders to tender for the work and many tried to talk me out of my plans. At most, they wanted to put two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. Interestingly, there wasn’t much of a price difference, but I was confident my reverse living design would give me the home I wanted and the ‘wow’ factor.
I was conscious of ensuring the top floor was flooded with light, so I added in rooflights and sash windows along with the bifold doors that open onto the terrace. My friend Neil, from Sketch London Architects, helped bring the first floor to life by recommending that I replaced a wall and door upstairs (which I thought necessary to comply with Building Regs over fire safety) with an AOV window, which satisfied building control and also brings yet more light in.
The project has greatly improved my lifestyle. My dark corridor of a flat has now become the perfect social, light and bright entertaining space. H