‘WE WANTED A LARGE MULTI-PURPOSE OPEN-PLAN SPACE’
Extending into a side return has created a multifunctional space with a view of the garden
Tell us about the old kitchen...
It was dingy with dark wooden cabinets, chipped laminate worktops, a brown sink and laminate flooring. After a lot of scrubbing, we were able to make the space usable and, for a year, made do with the small oven, two hob rings, a dishwasher our builders had ripped out from another job and a washing machine donated by relatives.
Why did you decided to extend the existing room?
The original layout was small and disjointed, with no view of the garden. The dining area had a bay window and faced onto a side return while the kitchen, at the other end of the room, led to a plastic-roofed lean-to and an outhouse toilet. We wanted a large, multi-purpose, open-plan space that included a streamlined kitchen and central island, a dining area, room for a sofa, a utility cupboard, toilet and lots of storage – and an extension was the perfect option.
Who designed the new space?
We enlisted a local firm, Gruff Architects, who helped us design a modern side return extension that takes up just a metre of the garden and retains the side access. The kitchen is about four steps lower than the rest of the house and the old rear reception room had French doors with steps leading down to the garden, so it was a challenge to work out how to integrate these original openings and different levels into the extension.
Were there any problems getting planning permission?
It took quite some time to actually get to the planning stages. We first talked to the architects in late 2016, and, as we live in a conservation area, found we needed to jump through quite a few hoops to be granted planning permission. After attending a meeting where we had to make our case, the full plans were finally approved in 2017 and work started in August that year.
Did you have a specific style in mind?
I liked the idea of a monochrome look but wanted to add some warmth to the scheme, which we did by including natural materials and colourful accessories. To tie the modern-style kitchen in with our period property, as well as create flow, we incorporated similar colours and materials throughout the rest of the house.
How did you decide on the room’s design?
We’d already planned the layout and finish but ironed out the finer details with the help of Estetiko, a local boutique furniture manufacturer. The company helped us with the design and made all of our bespoke units – the 3D illustrations really helped us to visualise the final look. In our previous kitchen we’d ended up with appliances taking up all the space on the worktop, so here we wanted a clutter-free look. We also like mixed materials, so decided early on to use two contrasting worktops to create separate zones. A wooden floor brings a natural feel to the whole space.
And who did the work?
Local builders constructed the room, laid the floor, plastered and decorated the space and fitted the kitchen. It took about seven months in total including the extension construction. The process could have been quicker, but there were a few challenges along the way, such as discovering a previously unmapped sewage pipe under the foundations.
Now it’s completed, what’s your favourite part of the room?
We love it all so much we barely use the rest of the house. The larder cabinet and built-in storage are fantastic, and the skylights and doors make it bright, even in the depths of winter. But the best thing about the room is sitting at the island with a cup of tea in the rare moments of peace and quiet.