10 Two-storey Extensions That Make a Statement
More space, more light, spectacular style. Could you improve your home with a design like one of these?
Sarah Warwick
19 November 2017
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines and websites. A serial house revamper, I love great design, beautiful interiors and practical solutions.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines... More
An extension on two floors really can turn your property into a whole different proposition that makes the decision to improve rather than move the right one. Your head can be satisfied because going up as well as out could provide good value for money – an extension needs a roof whether it’s on one floor or two, after all. Your creative side, meanwhile, might be engaged by the potential to add a striking new part to your home.
Looking for ideas? Start here.
Looking for ideas? Start here.
Repeat the palette
A side and rear extension was part of a scheme to make this home open and contemporary. Reclaimed London stock bricks were used for the addition, while vertical oak panels clad the lower section. The glazing is oak-framed, too.
The design is a great lesson in creating a strong connection between an original house and a new extension. Oak is used in the interior, too, and the bricks link old and new exteriors.
See more photos of this project (and most of the others featured here) by clicking on the photo and then on ‘Other Photos in This Project’.
A side and rear extension was part of a scheme to make this home open and contemporary. Reclaimed London stock bricks were used for the addition, while vertical oak panels clad the lower section. The glazing is oak-framed, too.
The design is a great lesson in creating a strong connection between an original house and a new extension. Oak is used in the interior, too, and the bricks link old and new exteriors.
See more photos of this project (and most of the others featured here) by clicking on the photo and then on ‘Other Photos in This Project’.
Step outside
A two-storey extension doesn’t have to be solely about new rooms.
Here, a walk-on glass roof – access is via a window – is part of the arresting new design for this Victorian house. There’s also an office-with-views on this floor.
The architects used blue slate brick as a contrasting material that’s also a pleasing complement to the original house.
What you need to consider when planning a rear extension.
A two-storey extension doesn’t have to be solely about new rooms.
Here, a walk-on glass roof – access is via a window – is part of the arresting new design for this Victorian house. There’s also an office-with-views on this floor.
The architects used blue slate brick as a contrasting material that’s also a pleasing complement to the original house.
What you need to consider when planning a rear extension.
Add another face
The front of this Victorian home stays true to its origins, but this rear extension is an injection of contemporary style, including a modern take on the bay window. It’s open to a courtyard garden that blurs the distinction between inside and out (see next photo).
The front of this Victorian home stays true to its origins, but this rear extension is an injection of contemporary style, including a modern take on the bay window. It’s open to a courtyard garden that blurs the distinction between inside and out (see next photo).
The extension looking into the courtyard garden.
If you’re embarking on a two-storey addition like this, it’s worth discussing other improvements with your architect to maximise the benefits of improvement work. Here, the entire house was remodelled and made more energy-efficient.
Architecture: do you really need Planning Permission for that?
If you’re embarking on a two-storey addition like this, it’s worth discussing other improvements with your architect to maximise the benefits of improvement work. Here, the entire house was remodelled and made more energy-efficient.
Architecture: do you really need Planning Permission for that?
Look out
An extension that’s complementary to an old home needn’t lack impact. This one takes its cue from the house, but is glazed to make the most of the country views of its Devon location.
Using matching materials? Don’t forget to take into account that those used for the original house will have come to look the way they do over time and you’ll need to bear in mind their current colouration.
An extension that’s complementary to an old home needn’t lack impact. This one takes its cue from the house, but is glazed to make the most of the country views of its Devon location.
Using matching materials? Don’t forget to take into account that those used for the original house will have come to look the way they do over time and you’ll need to bear in mind their current colouration.
Double the door
The wonderful surprise of this extension that spans basement and ground floor levels is that both floors can be opened to the garden via the 5m-high French windows.
On the upper level, the glass balustrade lets the light flow through as well as keeping the view unimpeded. Check out the wall here, too, in colours that link to the garden that’s clearly in view. If you want to make a connection as overt as the one here (isn’t that panelled green artwork effective?), you could alternatively look at wallpaper or a rug with a foliage motif.
How French windows can add light and character
The wonderful surprise of this extension that spans basement and ground floor levels is that both floors can be opened to the garden via the 5m-high French windows.
On the upper level, the glass balustrade lets the light flow through as well as keeping the view unimpeded. Check out the wall here, too, in colours that link to the garden that’s clearly in view. If you want to make a connection as overt as the one here (isn’t that panelled green artwork effective?), you could alternatively look at wallpaper or a rug with a foliage motif.
How French windows can add light and character
Go for an upgrade
This extension replaced a previous addition that didn’t make the most of the space; this one is full-width. The architects also lowered the ground floor for a more comfortable ceiling height inside. As a result, the new part makes less impact on the neighbouring properties, since it’s not so tall.
On the first floor of the house, a new bathroom has been added. The floor plan had to be redrawn here – a factor you’ll need to be aware of with a two-storey addition, which can’t just be ‘bolted’ onto the back of a house without having an impact on the layout.
This extension replaced a previous addition that didn’t make the most of the space; this one is full-width. The architects also lowered the ground floor for a more comfortable ceiling height inside. As a result, the new part makes less impact on the neighbouring properties, since it’s not so tall.
On the first floor of the house, a new bathroom has been added. The floor plan had to be redrawn here – a factor you’ll need to be aware of with a two-storey addition, which can’t just be ‘bolted’ onto the back of a house without having an impact on the layout.
Light downwards
Here’s another way the first floor element of a double-storey extension can be designed to maximise its benefits. With this house, not making the upper level full-width allowed the owners to add a roof light to illuminate the dining area below, which you can see in the next photo.
Here’s another way the first floor element of a double-storey extension can be designed to maximise its benefits. With this house, not making the upper level full-width allowed the owners to add a roof light to illuminate the dining area below, which you can see in the next photo.
The roof light sits above the dining table.
It’s a good reminder that it’s not just garden-facing glazing that can boost daylight when an extension’s constructed.
It’s a good reminder that it’s not just garden-facing glazing that can boost daylight when an extension’s constructed.
Brighten up
Going up two storeys can be about the qualities of the addition rather than maximising square metres. Here, rather than adding extra living space on two floors, the extension is partly double-height to bring daylight into an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space.
I like the way the new part of the house opens out fully to the garden. If you want an indoor-outdoor room feel like this, consider a door design with a flush threshold – but take professional advice on whether it’s suitable for your home’s situation.
Going up two storeys can be about the qualities of the addition rather than maximising square metres. Here, rather than adding extra living space on two floors, the extension is partly double-height to bring daylight into an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space.
I like the way the new part of the house opens out fully to the garden. If you want an indoor-outdoor room feel like this, consider a door design with a flush threshold – but take professional advice on whether it’s suitable for your home’s situation.
Stack it up
Two sleek black boxes make this extension command attention. Like the previous design, this one also uses the upper level of the box at the back to accommodate the staircase and introduce light into the open-plan lower floor.
Whether you’re extending on two floors or one, opting for super-slim door frames like these will leave garden views as unobstructed as possible.
Two sleek black boxes make this extension command attention. Like the previous design, this one also uses the upper level of the box at the back to accommodate the staircase and introduce light into the open-plan lower floor.
Whether you’re extending on two floors or one, opting for super-slim door frames like these will leave garden views as unobstructed as possible.
Work from home
The addition to this listed house created a home office with en suite above. It’s distinguished from the original house by its roof line, and the partial timber cladding teamed with render, which makes the new part sympathetic to the home.
If there isn’t space to add independent rooms like these, a two-storey extension can still be of benefit. Why not build out simply with the aim of giving existing rooms better proportions?
Which is your favourite design? And do you have any double-height extension tips to share? Let us know in the Comments section.
The addition to this listed house created a home office with en suite above. It’s distinguished from the original house by its roof line, and the partial timber cladding teamed with render, which makes the new part sympathetic to the home.
If there isn’t space to add independent rooms like these, a two-storey extension can still be of benefit. Why not build out simply with the aim of giving existing rooms better proportions?
Which is your favourite design? And do you have any double-height extension tips to share? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Great article! Love Your Postcode
Some lovely sympathetic extensions here except for the House7 pics. Inside looks beautiful and no doubt the owners are delighted with it ...but the outside effect is awful .I think it is ugly and visually obtrusive , never mind overshadowing the neighbour's house. How on earth did they get planning to put this monstrosity in?
Some great examples! For our clients with homes in tricky conservation areas, we sometimes design the upper part of the extension to closer match the traditional style of the property but still have freedom on the ground floor. More house extensions here.