Houzz Tour: A Victorian Home With a Stunning Open-plan Extension
A rear addition and some creative design choices have added character and comfort to a couple’s period home
As part of the full renovation of their Victorian house, Lucy McAndrew and her partner, Richard, were keen to extend at the back, so it was important to find a professional who was experienced in extensions. “We looked on Houzz and read reviews from past clients,” Lucy explains. “We eventually chose Aflux Designs, because of the reviews and their experience of similar projects.”
The result? A beautifully renovated home with a stunning open-plan kitchen and living area, alongside cosy, luxurious spaces throughout the property that showcase the couple’s personality and style.
The result? A beautifully renovated home with a stunning open-plan kitchen and living area, alongside cosy, luxurious spaces throughout the property that showcase the couple’s personality and style.
“A lot of our input was focused on the floorplan, the layout and how it should work structurally,” Amit Malhotra says. The Aflux team project managed the whole renovation and ensured the designs complied with Planning Permission.
These plans included a ground floor rear extension where the seating area is now. A large chimney breast separated the kitchen and dining room, so to achieve the open-plan layout the couple wanted, some structural work was also required.
These plans included a ground floor rear extension where the seating area is now. A large chimney breast separated the kitchen and dining room, so to achieve the open-plan layout the couple wanted, some structural work was also required.
The sloping skylights were already in place as part of the conservatory. “We had them updated to make them airtight,” Lucy says. “It made sense to continue skylights into the extension, and they help to brighten the space even more.”
“The idea was to keep it symmetrical,” Amit says. “The new windows don’t go the whole way across, but follow the same line as the sloping ones. They’re standard sizes, so this also kept the cost down.”
Find the right renovation specialists for your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
“The idea was to keep it symmetrical,” Amit says. “The new windows don’t go the whole way across, but follow the same line as the sloping ones. They’re standard sizes, so this also kept the cost down.”
Find the right renovation specialists for your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
“Amit presented us with a choice of layouts for the space,” Lucy says. “We decided to go with the seating area by the doors, as I like to sit and look out.”
The couple opted for steel-framed doors and windows at the rear. They add a striking feel and frame the back of the room.
Steel-framed doors, Fabco Sanctuary.
The couple opted for steel-framed doors and windows at the rear. They add a striking feel and frame the back of the room.
Steel-framed doors, Fabco Sanctuary.
“Our style is a mix of traditional with more modern accessories,” Lucy says. “We wanted a Shaker kitchen, but the style isn’t overly fussy.”
A large island with a marble-effect quartz worktop provides a place for guests to perch while someone is cooking. “The bar stools are comfy for my parents to sit on and the velvet is quite forgiving,” Lucy says. “For some reason, the cat doesn’t scratch his claws on velvet.”
A large island with a marble-effect quartz worktop provides a place for guests to perch while someone is cooking. “The bar stools are comfy for my parents to sit on and the velvet is quite forgiving,” Lucy says. “For some reason, the cat doesn’t scratch his claws on velvet.”
A wall of green units contrasts with the pale grey cabinets on the island. To the left is a double breakfast pantry with a plug socket inside for the coffee machine and other small appliances. An integrated fridge-freezer is on the right of this, alongside drawers below the worktops and cupboards above.
A shelf on the right opens up the wall area and visually eases you into the living space. Below this is a wine fridge, which Richard had requested. The couple like to entertain, so the fridge has been put to good use.
Kitchen units in Copse Green and Dove Grey, Life Kitchens. Quartz worktop, Carrara. Pendants, Spark & Bell. Velvet bar stools, Rockett St George.
A shelf on the right opens up the wall area and visually eases you into the living space. Below this is a wine fridge, which Richard had requested. The couple like to entertain, so the fridge has been put to good use.
Kitchen units in Copse Green and Dove Grey, Life Kitchens. Quartz worktop, Carrara. Pendants, Spark & Bell. Velvet bar stools, Rockett St George.
It made sense to position the hob and range cooker along the wall, as Lucy didn’t want an extractor in the middle of the room. There’s plenty of space for an undermounted sink on the island, with an easy-to-access dishwasher below.
An engineered oak herringbone floor was laid over underfloor heating throughout most of the ground floor. The pattern was deliberately planned out to form an attractive pathway from the front door. To zone the cooking area, the couple chose floor tiles in a classic diamond pattern.
The dining area is zoned with a muted pink wall and woodwork. “It’s a lovely shade with soft grey tones,” Lucy says. “It works well with my family’s old dining table, which I had revarnished.”
A small window at the end faces out to a side return. “We considered making it steel-framed, but it was better to replicate the other windows at the front of the house,” Lucy says.
Dining room walls painted in Sulking Room Pink, Farrow & Ball. Engineered oak flooring, Havwoods. Floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Pendant over table, Mullan. Wall lights, Garden Trading.
The dining area is zoned with a muted pink wall and woodwork. “It’s a lovely shade with soft grey tones,” Lucy says. “It works well with my family’s old dining table, which I had revarnished.”
A small window at the end faces out to a side return. “We considered making it steel-framed, but it was better to replicate the other windows at the front of the house,” Lucy says.
Dining room walls painted in Sulking Room Pink, Farrow & Ball. Engineered oak flooring, Havwoods. Floor tiles, Topps Tiles. Pendant over table, Mullan. Wall lights, Garden Trading.
The couple decided to have some fun with the design of their cloakroom and chose a forest-patterned wallpaper and emerald green tiles. A traditional loo and basin are in keeping with the period style of the house.
While Amit’s team helped with moodboards, sourcing products and connecting with suppliers, Lucy was the driving force behind the home’s interior scheme.
“Lucy was very clear and knew what she wanted,” Amit says. “It was nice to work with someone who wanted to add their creative input. We enjoyed it and I think it’s a really nice project.“
Forest wallpaper, Cole & Son. Wall tiles, Topps Tiles.
While Amit’s team helped with moodboards, sourcing products and connecting with suppliers, Lucy was the driving force behind the home’s interior scheme.
“Lucy was very clear and knew what she wanted,” Amit says. “It was nice to work with someone who wanted to add their creative input. We enjoyed it and I think it’s a really nice project.“
Forest wallpaper, Cole & Son. Wall tiles, Topps Tiles.
The front room remains separate from the open-plan space at the back. “It works well when we want to have our own space, such as when we each have friends over,” Lucy says.
The north-facing room receives less light than the rear of the home, so Lucy decided to embrace this by painting the walls a darker tone.
The coving, picture rails and fireplace were all replaced and a gas stove was fitted to add to the snug feel of the room.
Walls painted in Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball. Pendant light, Rockett St George. Wall lights, Mullan. Coffee table, Atkin and Thyme.
The north-facing room receives less light than the rear of the home, so Lucy decided to embrace this by painting the walls a darker tone.
The coving, picture rails and fireplace were all replaced and a gas stove was fitted to add to the snug feel of the room.
Walls painted in Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball. Pendant light, Rockett St George. Wall lights, Mullan. Coffee table, Atkin and Thyme.
The first floor layout was reconfigured to give the couple a luxurious dressing room and en suite.
The guest bedroom was originally the main bedroom’s en suite. Amit closed off the door to the bedroom and added an entrance from the hallway.
The bedroom behind the main sleepspace was then turned into a good-sized en suite and the space in between became a walk-through dressing room.
You might also enjoy: Clever Design Creates Two Bathrooms From One.
The guest bedroom was originally the main bedroom’s en suite. Amit closed off the door to the bedroom and added an entrance from the hallway.
The bedroom behind the main sleepspace was then turned into a good-sized en suite and the space in between became a walk-through dressing room.
You might also enjoy: Clever Design Creates Two Bathrooms From One.
The wall tiles in the guest bathroom were inspired by a design in the El Fenn hotel in Marrakech, which Lucy had seen online. “They had the herringbone tiles in their pool, so I was obsessed with getting the look,” she says.
Her builder suggested using a terracotta grout, which tones well with the blue tiles and brass fittings in the room.
Wall lights, Spark & Bell. Sanitaryware, Lusso Stone. Taps, Bespoke Taps. Wall tiles, Parkside. Floor tiles, Pietra Wood & Stone.
Her builder suggested using a terracotta grout, which tones well with the blue tiles and brass fittings in the room.
Wall lights, Spark & Bell. Sanitaryware, Lusso Stone. Taps, Bespoke Taps. Wall tiles, Parkside. Floor tiles, Pietra Wood & Stone.
“We asked for the pattern to continue in the recessed shower shelf, which was quite a challenge,” Lucy says.
A walk-in shower maintains the open feel of the room, as do the frameless glass shower screens.
A walk-in shower maintains the open feel of the room, as do the frameless glass shower screens.
The main bedroom previously had cupboards either side of the chimney wall. These were removed and a traditional fireplace surround was fitted to give the room character.
Oyster-hued walls are complemented by cosy floral curtains and bold fabrics on the bed, while a jute carpet adds even more texture.
Walls painted in Almost Oyster, Dulux. Bed, Love Your Home. Jute floor covering, Alternative Flooring. Curtains, Hillarys. Pendant, Spark & Bell. Wall lights, Rockett St George.
Oyster-hued walls are complemented by cosy floral curtains and bold fabrics on the bed, while a jute carpet adds even more texture.
Walls painted in Almost Oyster, Dulux. Bed, Love Your Home. Jute floor covering, Alternative Flooring. Curtains, Hillarys. Pendant, Spark & Bell. Wall lights, Rockett St George.
A wall of wardrobes provides ample storage. The doorway leads through to the dressing room and en suite.
Cupboards, La Redoute.
Cupboards, La Redoute.
The couple felt there were enough bedrooms in the house for them to turn one into their dressing room and washing space.
“It took ages to find this pink marble floor,” Lucy says. “We asked for it to be laid in a diamond pattern as you look into the room, so the shower screen cuts nicely across all of them.”
A traditional-style double basin is complemented by an attractive roll-top bath, which Lucy painted. The deep plum tone turns it into a stylish centrepiece.
Marble floor tiles, Artisans of Devizes. Double basin, The Water Monopoly. Wall lights, Pooky.
A traditional-style double basin is complemented by an attractive roll-top bath, which Lucy painted. The deep plum tone turns it into a stylish centrepiece.
Marble floor tiles, Artisans of Devizes. Double basin, The Water Monopoly. Wall lights, Pooky.
The walk-in shower has two walls of stone tiles. “We’d looked at having polished plaster, but it was just too expensive,” Lucy says. “These massive tiles give the same effect.”
Stone wall tiles, Porcelain Superstore.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite room in Lucy and Richard’s period home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Stone wall tiles, Porcelain Superstore.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite room in Lucy and Richard’s period home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Design graduate Lucy McAndrew with her partner, Richard, and cat, Maxwell
Location South London
Property A Victorian terraced house
Size Four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs
Photos by Adam Butler Photography
The back of Lucy and Richard’s house was originally divided into three rooms – a kitchen on the right, a living room on the left, and a conservatory at the back. The aim was to open it all up to create a light, airy cooking, eating and living space where they could look out on the garden.