‘We stole SPACE FROM THE GARDEN’
By extending her home, Betsy has created a flexible kitchen and living space to enjoy with family and friends
Our plans for a kitchen extension began when our search for a bigger family home came to a grinding halt,’ says Betsy. ‘We wanted more space for family gatherings and socialising with friends, but couldn’t find anything that gave us the space we needed in the locations we liked.
This dilemma led us to talk to an architect and, as a result, we decided that altering our own home was a more realistic option. By extending the ground floor, we were free to create an open-plan kitchen and dining room that suited us.
Expert advice
Our builders Cross & Co did a great job completing the extension within five months – we’d already chosen the kitchen, right at the beginning of the build. We wanted painted solid oak cabinets in a Shaker style, and the Chatham range from Joseph & Kingsley gave us the quality we were looking for. Their kitchen designer,
Zoe Bocking, came up with the layout, and we were really happy with the design. The only down side was needing to pinch a bit of the garden and losing a lovely plum tree. But now, the bifold doors we included open out onto the garden, connecting the two spaces.
When it came to finishing off the scheme, our food mixer influenced our choice of red as an accent colour. i was thrilled to come across the original red American diner bar stools at a bargain price in a barn sale. We also added a wood burner as a cosy focal point on the opposite side of the room to the kitchen, while a blackboard wall creates a striking background for the dining area.
The new living space has ticked all of our boxes and has become the hub of our family home. We love the new kitchen and now have plenty of space to invite friends and family over to enjoy it too!’