‘Building an extension was stressful but worth it’
Location was the main motivation behind Jasmine Headley’s move from a three-bedroom house in Leeds to another of a similar size. ‘I was pregnant at the time with Milo, now five, and my husband Tom and I wanted to live in the part of the city where I’d grown up,’ she says. ‘We moved six days before my due date and knew from the outset that we’d have to extend as the old kitchen was so small.’
The solution was to add an extension and knock through the original exterior wall at the back of the house, creating a spacious all-in-one kitchen-diner that’s flooded with natural light. This freed up space for a utility and downstairs loo, and the old dining room is now a relaxing room for reading.
While it looks amazing now, it wasn’t all plain sailing, as Jasmine explains. ‘A friend who works for a new-build company did the drawings and we applied for planning permission, which was approved, and were all set for our builder – who’d done an extension for a relative – to start work in March 2020. Then Covid struck and the start date was delayed until last September, which meant that much of the work was carried out during the winter. We thought it would take about three months but it took six, with bad weather, Christmas and lockdown contributing to the delay. We’d ordered all the materials, which were stored in the garden, but had problems getting the glass for the bi-fold doors, and the worktops were very late. Fortunately the old kitchen wasn’t ripped out until the new one was ready to be installed so we were still able to cook. We also contended with a leaking roof and having to board up the opening for the roof light because the glass was the wrong size.’
Despite the various issues, the couple kept to their budget and are delighted with the results. ‘It was very stressful but 100 per cent worth it,’ smiles Jasmine. ‘Our extension is exactly what we wanted and has really changed how we live here. The bi-folds open up the house into the garden and the kitchen is now a nice sociable space. When we have people round it’s great to be able to chat to them while I’m cooking.’