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Room of the Week: A Modern Extension Updates a Victorian Home
A two-storey extension and loft conversion have been added to this period home, and now the new flows seamlessly into the old
This handsome, double-fronted Victorian villa was a complete wreck when the homeowners bought it. ‘It hadn’t been touched for 30 or 40 years,’ explains Martin Hughes of design and build firm Hughes Developments. ‘The homeowners couldn’t even live in it at first.’
It was the period features that sold this house, however, and the owners have lovingly restored and extended it to create a warm and inviting family home that manages to remain true to its Victorian roots.
It was the period features that sold this house, however, and the owners have lovingly restored and extended it to create a warm and inviting family home that manages to remain true to its Victorian roots.
‘We added a two-storey extension to the back of the house to create a large, informal cooking, eating and living space downstairs and a master bedroom suite upstairs, plus further rooms in the loft,’ explains Hughes. ‘The focus throughout the design and build, however, was on ensuring the whole house still felt very much like a Victorian property.’
The large, bifolding doors allow the open-plan kitchen-diner and living space to flow seamlessly into the garden. Traditional London brick was used for all the brickwork on the extension to ensure the new building was sympathetic to the heritage of the house.
Bifold doors, Schüco.
Bifold doors, Schüco.
‘One of the home’s owners is American and she came to us with a lot of images showing oversized American-style kitchen units. We have our own team of joiners, so we made this kitchen bespoke for her to include many of her favourite finds,’ explains Hughes.
The simple, Shaker-style kitchen features higher-than-standard wall units, plus a roomy island topped with Carrara marble that doubles as a breakfast bar.
Kitchen, Hughes Developments. Kitchen wall and base units painted in French Grey, Little Greene. Kitchen island painted in Dark Lead, Little Greene.
Find out whether you have room for a kitchen island
The simple, Shaker-style kitchen features higher-than-standard wall units, plus a roomy island topped with Carrara marble that doubles as a breakfast bar.
Kitchen, Hughes Developments. Kitchen wall and base units painted in French Grey, Little Greene. Kitchen island painted in Dark Lead, Little Greene.
Find out whether you have room for a kitchen island
The couple wanted the inside of the kitchen units to look just as pretty as their exterior. They all feature oak carcasses and this larder unit has the added detailing of named drawers and an internal worktop with plug sockets for regularly used small appliances. This avoids having to keep them on display in the kitchen.
‘To ensure the informal living area would feel homely, we added the fireplace, which we designed from a photo the client showed us of what she wanted,’ says Hughes.
The room always feels toasty thanks to underfloor heating laid under the travertine flooring.
Sofas and armchairs, Sofa.com.
The room always feels toasty thanks to underfloor heating laid under the travertine flooring.
Sofas and armchairs, Sofa.com.
A bespoke panelled wall was built at the rear of the living space so the TV can be hidden away when not in use.
TV unit panelling painted in Dark Lead, Little Greene.
TV unit panelling painted in Dark Lead, Little Greene.
As the homeowners are keen golfers, they asked for a boot room to be included in the scheme where they can keep all their equipment. It’s been tucked in just off the entrance hallway. ‘The tiles in the hallway and boot room were chosen to replicate tile configurations found in traditional Victorian entrance halls,’ says Hughes.
‘The homeowners had a photo booth at their wedding and they found a company to turn all the resulting snaps into this bespoke wallpaper, which they’ve used in the downstairs cloakroom,’ explains Hughes.
Custom-made wallpaper, Photowall.
Check out 10 ways to give your cloakroom character
Custom-made wallpaper, Photowall.
Check out 10 ways to give your cloakroom character
Wooden panelling was added to the landing and hallways to enhance the home’s Victorian period features and to help each floor flow into the next.
Carpet and stair runners, Chelsea Flooring Company.
Carpet and stair runners, Chelsea Flooring Company.
The first floor extension encompasses the master bedroom suite, which features a walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom. ‘Our joinery team sat down with the homeowners and designed the walk-in wardrobe so it would provide a place for all of their clothing and accessories,’ explains Hughes.
It features a mix of deep drawers, pull-out shoe compartments, short and long hanging space and high shelving for less-used items, such as hats.
It features a mix of deep drawers, pull-out shoe compartments, short and long hanging space and high shelving for less-used items, such as hats.
An authentic Victorian fireplace moved from another part of the property was installed in the master en suite to help it feel like a natural extension of the original building.
The carpet runs from the dressing room into the master bedroom beyond, so it feels like part of the same room.
Carpet, The Chelsea Flooring Company.
The carpet runs from the dressing room into the master bedroom beyond, so it feels like part of the same room.
Carpet, The Chelsea Flooring Company.
A traditional, Victorian-style roll-top bath with claw feet is the focal point in the master en suite, while the ceramic floor tiles have been laid in a herringbone pattern in another nod to the home’s Victorian origins.
Bath, Bathroom Discount Centre. Floor tiles, European Heritage.
Bath, Bathroom Discount Centre. Floor tiles, European Heritage.
The shower doors in this stylish monochrome bathroom were made to look like Crittall windows by adding metal flashing to standard shower doors.
Discover why Crittall windows are in the frame
TELL US…
What do you think of this extended Victorian villa? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Discover why Crittall windows are in the frame
TELL US…
What do you think of this extended Victorian villa? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A professional couple
Location Southwest London
Property A semi-detached, double-fronted Victorian villa
Size 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Design and build Martin Hughes of Hughes Developments