real home

An innovatively designed side addition gave Laura Edwards and Matt Jackson the chance to make a mark on their colourful family home

See how a side extension allowed Laura Edwards and Matt Jackson to make a mark on their home

WHY WE LOVE LAURA’S HOUSE...

Awkward situations can often lead to creative solutions, and that was certainly the case with Laura and Matt’s end-of-terrace house. Keen to stay put but desperate for more space, they looked to the oddly shaped, tapered plot of land to the side of their property as a chance to expand their home and create an extension that better accommodated their young family.

But one question remained: what could they do with such a strange space? With help from a local architect, the couple designed a standout extension with real architectural merit – a staggered structure that fits snugly in a tight space, complementing the house while setting it apart from its neighbours. For an ordinary ex-council house to undergo such a fantastic transformation is no mean feat.

Of course, the inside of a house is just as important as the exterior, and you can’t underestimate how dramatically even the smallest extension can impact the way you live. As well as creating a new light-filled bedroom for the couple, building an addition has allowed Laura and Matt to revisit the open-plan layout of their house and create carefully thought-out zones – all united by the considered use of zingy shades throughout. We were keen to delve inside the couple’s bright and colourful home to find out more…