CFP

Architects

Designers

Project: Extension and remodelling, Northfields

The brief:  to demolish the internal walls, thereby opening up the space to provide a kitchen, informal dining area and more formal dining area. To provide an additional bathroom upstairs.

The solution:

The ground floor area was made up of a number of small rooms.  By knocking down the internal walls, the space could be opened up and made more flexible.

Due to planning restrictions on the amount a house can be extended (a loft conversion had previously been done and a full-width extension would have blocked light to neighbouring houses), any extension could not run right across the rear. Instead, with some creative thinking, two small areas were allowed.  One extended the length of the kitchen, providing the informal eating area with lots of natural sunlight through glass rear doors and roof lights. The other extended the dining area. The kitchen runs along one wall with bamboo flooring used throughout. Bamboo is hard-wearing, ecologically-sustainable and provides a warm glow to the kitchen. It is particularly suitable for bathrooms and kitchens because of its resistance to water damage.

The client also wished to have an additional bathroom, ideally en-suite to the master bedroom on the first floor. This was achieved by making the existing bathroom into a bedroom, and dividing the extra bedroom into a family bathroom and smaller bathroom connecting into the master bedroom. The client can therefore enjoy the luxury of an en-suite without losing a bedroom or compromising the proportions of the master bedroom.