THE OPENPLAN KITCHEN

Rather than a simple kitchen update, Sarah Bradley opted for a side-return extension to add space to the terraced home she shares with partner kevin Wilson and son alejandro

‘The original kitchen was of the fairly standard type you find at the back of a terrace,’ says Sarah. ‘There was space to eat, but it was limited, particularly in terms of having people round.

‘I also didn’t particularly like the living room area – two rooms had been knocked through to make one lengthy space, but it felt too long for a living room and not quite big enough for a separate dining area, so the final third was rather wasted.

‘We just extended into the side return, not further back. However, we also took the back third of the living room, gaining extra space for the kitchen that way, too. The kitchen is now genuinely the hub and key social space. It’s light, bright and a real pleasure to spend time in, whether that’s preparing meals, eating them or just chatting. The living room remains separate, as we wanted, but it is a place to which you feel you can withdraw – to relax, watch TV, read etc.

‘The extension has a mirrored end wall. The architect was looking for ways to ensure the back of the kitchen wouldn’t be too dark. The proportions match those of the patio door opposite and reflect the garden back into the room. It increases the light, makes the space appear deeper and produces an optical effect where you see the garden whichever way you look.

‘The slot window next to the mirror further adds to the light in the kitchen and the living room next door. It helps integrate the living room and the kitchen without providing direct access between them, which I didn’t want.

‘The extension feels much more like a place we want to spend time in now, and the ground floor, including the garden, feels like a series of separate but connected spaces.’

COST AND CONTACTS Project cost £108,000 architect roger Crimlis of Architect Your Home, 0333 251 6301, architect-yourhome.com