WHY NIKKI’S EXTENSION WON

‘Extending into the side return of a terrace might be a fairly typical way to gain space, but we love how the design of Nikki and Tom’s extension means their renovated home is anything but typical. From the modern glazed roof to the stunning sliding window and bench seat, these carefully considered details ensure their home stands out from the crowd.’ Beth Murton, Editor

Over to Nikki...

‘We bought this house with a view to doing a full renovation,’ says Nikki.

‘We got stuck in straight away by tackling the electrics and converting the loft, and then we waited for two years to save up to do the downstairs. It was a slow process and we lived here throughout the whole thing.

‘Originally, the living and dining rooms were knocked through into one room with an archway between them. There was a small kitchen, a downstairs bathroom – the only one in the house – and a hideous lean-to that went all the way around the property. Interestingly, the house’s footprint now is actually smaller than before! We’ve reduced the size slightly but completely modernised it.

‘We found our builder for the upstairs through recommendation. He was a one-man band and although he was lovely and couldn’t do more for us, it was slow, which was difficult when we had a six-month-old son crawling around in the dust. It took five months to do the loft and bathroom, whereas a specialist company could do it in six weeks. We learned a lot from that. When we came to extend the kitchen, I had an architectural designer put together a tender pack, and by the time we had the builders on board, everything was already specified. We put in a lot of work upfront, down to choosing the light switches, so there was no need for the builders to make decisions. As a project goes on, you tend to get decision fatigue, which makes choosing the smaller details harder – so it’s good to get as much done as you can beforehand.

‘We wanted the kitchen to be quite minimal with white cupboards. The only requirement from Tom for the whole build was to have a polished concrete floor in here, though this is actually poured resin. With the plain white kitchen, oak shelves and exposed brick, it feels warm, but with an industrial vibe. The idea was to create a basic canvas that we can add to with accessories – pops of colour we can change up when we feel like it.

‘Rather than a series of rooflights, we wanted a complete glass roof, and it was stressful to source – the quotes ranged from £10,000 to £65,000! We chose a company who could make and fit it for the best quality. It adds a real wow factor to the room. Our decisions were very budget-led – think about what you want, then work out what you can afford. Get quotes, realise everything’s much more expensive then decide where you’re willing to compromise.

‘We spend the majority of our time in here. It’s where we eat and the kids play. It’s at its best when the door’s open and we have people milling in and out.

‘The garden was on a slope but we wanted it all to be on one level. There were dead trees at the back, a lawn and some shrubs around the edges. I wrote down what was important to me and drew up a design, focusing on small details like what kind of decking we preferred. I like having things on angles, so the pergola juts out onto the lawn and the decking extends diagonally to the fence.

‘Looking back, it’s pretty much exactly as I designed it. We definitely made compromises on the price, though. We would have had raised concrete flowerbeds and paving, for example, but it was too much money, so we opted for decking. Controversially I went for artificial grass. We’ve had a real lawn in previous houses and have never managed to keep it looking good!

Decking, pergola and bench seating, made by landscaper. Artificial grass,

Hi Tech Turf. Star, @worktheplank. Blue and yellow tables, John Lewis & Partners. Pink chair, Homebase. Rug, Wayfair

‘We kept the majority of the hallway white and bright, but there’s a pop of colour along the bottom of the walls. I love the peg shelf – it’s perfect for displaying houseplants and other bits and pieces, but it’s also a practical feature.

‘When you walk into the house, the doors after the living room go into a utility room and WC. We sacrificed a dining room for those. It was a dark room anyway, so it seemed like a good use of space – and we love the functionality of it.

Walls painted in Sulking Room Pink and door painted in Pigeon, both Farrow & Ball. Ruler, Family Rule

‘The sitting room used to be open to a dining room, but we closed it off because we wanted it to be a cosy space. We use it for TV and snuggling up in the evening, reading. The kids aren’t allowed food or drink in here. It’s a place for us all to relax without toys and debris everywhere.

It’s great in summer when the back of the house gets hot – it’s cool in here and makes for a nice escape from the sun.

‘We replaced the fireplace and added the parquet flooring, which was from an old school. When we bought the sofa it felt wild – were we actually going to get a bright blue velvet sofa? Now it feels very pedestrian! It’s beautiful and really comfortable. My advice is that if you want something but are worried it’ll look too bold, get it anyway – those items are the ones I really love in my house. You acclimatise to them and they become your favourite pieces.

‘This picture (below) is of my great uncle Chris, who lived in Walthamstow before he died. It’s drawn by a famous artist and was screen-printed by my great uncle’s studio, Kelpra. He got an OBE for pioneering screen-printing in this country and there is a copy of this print at the Tate, in the archives, along with lots of his other work.

Sofa, Sofa.com. Bench, Swoon. Chairs

and stool, Ikea. Table, Atkin & Thyme. Rug, La Redoute. Mirror, West Elm. Fireplaces, Architectural Forum. Walls painted Pavilion Grey, Farrow & Ball.

Lamp, Cult Furniture. Ceiling light, Made

‘We replastered and painted our room when we first moved in – we wanted a “safe space” we could escape to that felt clean and sort of done. It’s a slow work in progress. We bought a reclaimed Victorian fireplace and had fitted wardrobes put in, which were designed specifically for each of us. Then I had blinds made and put in the white floorboards. I feel it needs a change now, six years on, but it’s still a nice escape: there’s no TV, no tech, just a big comfy bed where we can relax.

Bed, Feather & Black. Bedside table, Swoon. Lamp, Oliver Bonas. Prints, Juniqe

One of the key aims of the project was to add bedrooms and move the bathroom upstairs. The first floor had three bedrooms, so we turned one of those into the main family bathroom, then added two rooms and a shower room on the second floor. For me, it was more important to have a luxurious family bathroom than an extra bedroom. I’m a bath person, so it takes centre stage, but there’s a shower room in the loft for Tom.

Floor tiles and vanity unit, Fired Earth. Apothecary drawers, Vincent & Barn. Bath, Waters Baths of Ashbourne. Blind and ladder, John Lewis & Partners. Art, Homeplace

Our daughter’s room was based around a blind we had made when it was my office. I fell in love with the wallpaper, too, so I wanted to incorporate both of those patterns. The rest of the space is quite neutral.

Cot, Mamas & Papas x Bunny & Clyde. Wallpaper, Wild Hearts Wonder. For a similar

cot canopy, try the Sebra from Scandibørn. For a similar peg shelf, try Etsy

I did the kids’ rooms myself. I designed our son’s room around what he liked, which, at the time, was rainbows and polar bears. We kept the original Victorian cupboard and fireplace but made the space more child-friendly – rooms like this can often feel quite grown up otherwise. I’d seen the moon light and fallen in love with it, so I wanted to use that. I did it as a surprise and he loves it. Hilariously, he thinks I painted the polar bear myself – I haven’t told him that it’s a sticker.

Rug, La Redoute. Bed and chest of drawers, Feather & Black. For similar rainbow wallpaper, try Dunelm. Bed covers, Too Many PJS. Bedside cabinet, Mustard Made. Feature wall painted in Hicks Blue, Little Greene. Moon light, Mini Maison