‘We lowered the f loor to link to the garden’
A desire to make the most of their garden prompted James Whyte and Tina Reiss to build this sleek extension
A sleek extension seamlessly connects to the outdoors
Though James Whyte and Tina Reiss had always loved the innate historic charm of their Victorian home, it needed work. ‘We knew when we bought the house that it needed a massive overhaul,’ says James. ‘It was delightful in its bones with lovely big rooms, but it was a bit old and ramshackle.’
The house provided plenty of space for the family of four but was disconnected from the garden, which was positioned half a storey lower than the main living area.
ALL CHANGE ‘We wanted to create a large, open-plan kitchen with a spacious workbench the family could congregate around,’ says James. A seamless connection with the garden was also at the top of the wish list. The couple appointed Spencer Guy from Levitate Architects to handle the design. ‘Spencer had renovated a house for one of our friends,’ says James. ‘He quickly proposed an idea we liked, so it was a case of fine tuning that until we pinned down all the details.’
FULL STEAM AHEAD Spencer’s plan involved removing the floor of a living room at the back of the house and lowering it to garden level. This zone was converted into a double-height kitchen-diner, which was then extended out into the garden to provide the allimportant outdoor connection. ‘We were able to live in the house while
the work was being carried out, so our lives weren’t disrupted too much,’ says James. ‘It also meant we could see the day-to-day progress.’
NEW HEART OF THE HOME Now the transformation is complete, James and Tina are ecstatic with the results. ‘It’s perfect, we spend all our time downstairs. We eat there together and the kids do their homework in the lovely winter garden – the glazed area where the house meets the garden,’ says James. The sunshine that pours into the kitchen-diner is James’s favourite feature. ‘Because of the floor-to-ceiling glass, you get the view of as much of the outside as it’s possible to get,’ he says. ‘I also like the dimensions of the room and all the angles that have been incorporated. They’re very satisfying to look at.’ Now their vision has been realised, the couple has no plans to move anytime soon. ‘We’re very happy here and we plan to stay for quite some time.’
1 A FLUSH THRESHOLD ISN’T
EASY TO ACHIEVE Ensure the junction doesn’t allow rain to blow in under the door. You’ll also need to check the glazing frame drains properly, normally out via small weep holes. Large patio areas near the doors need to be well-drained and often the falls need to be steeper than you’d think, for periods of heavy rain.
2 ONE CORNER OPENED UP CONNECTS TO THE GARDEN
This takes away the normal indicator of the structure of a ‘room’ and enables the internal space to flow out to the garden more freely.
3 FLOOR TILES PROVIDE THE
BEST FLOOR FINISH Most internal tiles aren’t suitable for external use – they get too slippery and potentially crack in frosts. It’s better to go for a slightly different colour in a grippy tile if the internal finish you like is not available in external grade. 4 LOTS OF GLAZING ISN’T
ESSENTIAL A continuation of surfaces, floor, walls and roof, or even an outdoor space designed like another room, can work just as well instead of a full wall of glass.
5 CLEVER PLANTING MAKES
Try to get ALL THE DIFFERENCE plants and trees close to the building, while being mindful of the tree roots and foundations. When the doors are open it helps the inside feel closer to outdoors.