Home Extension in North London | Before and After Design Projects
March 30, 2020
This ground flat in North London was too small for a family and despite having a big rear garden, the indoor rooms were quite dark and narrow. Having in mind that the owners didn’t spend much time in the garden, the best idea was a flat extension to use those square meters and maximise the interiors of the flat.
We worked in the design of this home extension thinking about 2 simple goals: we wanted to make the most of the available space and we needed to get as much natural light as possible in its rooms. With those premises, the design took shape and we achieved to create 1 more bedroom with ensuite bathroom, a generous kitchen with a dining area, a laundry cupboard, and new entrance storage. You can take a look at the entire project here: Rear Extension in North London.
Continue reading to know more about this home extension and to see a selection of before and after pictures that explain the transformation of this property.
Before and After | Home Extension
The connection between the new and the existing flat
The connection between the newly extended area with the original flat starts in the living room, where the door and the garden find each other. We decided to remove the wall that divided the living room from the garden to create a sense of open space and bigger areas, at the same time that allowing the flow of light in all rooms.
Focused on developing a design that would enhance and maximise the interior of the flat, we proposed a layout that covered all requirements. From a starting point of a 40sqm one-bedroom flat, we were able to make room for a larger kitchen, a new bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and plenty of storage.
The patio and garden would become smaller, but still, the outdoor space would be enough for the owners at the same time that practical and beautiful.
The before and after layout above explains quite well the home extension and the proposed design. The extended new area highlighted in grey shows the new construction and rooms added to the flat.
“Every square meter of this flat was designed to make the most of the property in the best cost-effective way“
We proposed the new master bedroom where the kitchen was originally located. We needed to extend this room to create a larger space for the bed and wardrobe. Also, the design of the ensuite bathroom and entrance cupboards took advantage of the narrow space between the living room and the new master bedroom.
One of the most important requirements of this project was to develop a cost-effective design to maximise the interior of the flat. With that in mind, we proposed a design that was respectful of the original structure. Interfering the least with the architecture of the building would keep the costs down.
The design was centered around the wall that divided the original kitchen and the patio. We needed to maintain this structural wall and we wanted to take advantage of it for the division of the areas in the new design.
We still needed to modify some parts of the structure to extend the flat, but we tried to keep these modifications as minor as possible. In any case, designing around the large structural wall seemed the most effective way to achieve our goals for the home extension.
Before and After | Home Extension
New construction: The kitchen
The design of the kitchen was inspired by the shape of its surroundings. We counted with a large and narrow area, so we needed to think about the best way to make the kitchen practical and beautiful in that space. We studied and discussed the location of the kitchen. Immediately we discovered that the original patio was the best area for it. It was the largest and the brightest area. Also, its location between the dining and living room seemed very convenient.
Another requirement for the kitchen was to create a breakfast area. Someplace with stools for fast meals, like an island. As the available space was narrow, an island seemed quite difficult to obtain. However, we decided to design the kitchen in L shape, to create two different areas in one. We emphasized the difference between areas with 2 different worktops and heights: a white worktop for the kitchen and a wooden worktop for the “island” slightly higher.
Besides, the L shape had the function of separating environments. You could still see the garden and dining area from the kitchen, but with the wooden island, we were creating a division between them and the sense of a wider space at the same time.
To be able to create the extension of the flat, we needed to remove a large quantity of soil from the garden, and initially, this was a concern for the timeline of the project.
“Our professional builders found the best solution to remove the soil in the fastest and easiest possible way and everything went smoothly at the right time”
At The White Interior, we always have into account your priorities and your preferences not only in the final result of the project but in the process as well. We manage every aspect of the process to make it as easy and smooth for you as possible. We believe that the process is as important as the result and we pride ourselves on delivering a great experience.
Before and After | Home Extension
New construction: The dining area
To create the dining area our builders removed a big amount of soil and greenery. The extension of the flat was completely a new building created from the starting point of the removal of this soil. Digging, foundations, pillars, beams, walls, and everything necessary to add new rooms to the flat.
The concept of the dining area was based in a conservatory, with big areas of glass and very bright. As this area would be open and seen from many parts of the flat, we also wanted to make it look like part of the extension, in harmony with the rest of the property.
With big windows, roof light and sliding doors, the dining area was close to the patio and the garden. The interiors were connected with nature and the outdoor space.
Before and After | Home Extension
Making the most of small spaces
We decided to take advantage of the shape of the building at the beginning of the project. Making the most of it was our main goal and maximise its square meters was the solution.
For the design of the ensuite bathroom, we explored different creative alternatives until we found the best result. Even though the available space was quite small, we wanted to create a relaxing retreat. A wet room where the shower was the main character.
Playing around with the new walls and the distribution of the space, we were able to achieve a large shower where it first seemed impossible. Clever thinking once more proved that every room can be stunning and functional in any space.
Before and After | Home Extension
Living room Makeover
The layout of the living room didn’t change with the design of the extension. However, we wanted to enhance the beauty of this important part of the flat. The living room was the core of the property. It was the connection with the extension and we needed to style it according to the rest.
It was vital to give meaning and sense to the connection between the extension and the rest of the flat. We wanted to create harmony and a smooth transition from the living room to the new home extension. The use of the same colour scheme for the different areas was key to unify the space.
We maintained some of the existing furniture and we added some new pieces to make the living room feel more complete. One of the things we had into account during the design of the whole property was to create minimal and airy areas with light furniture. Every detail would benefit the main goal of the project: maximise the property and enhance its interior.
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View Project | Rear Extension in North London
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